How much return do I need to recover from a 50% drawdown?

To recover from a 50% portfolio loss, you need a 100% gain. This is because you need to double a halved amount. The recovery required is always greater than the loss — this is called drawdown asymmetry.

How much return to recover from a 30% loss?

A 30% drawdown requires approximately 42.9% gain to recover. The formula is: Recovery = Drawdown / (1 - Drawdown). For 30%: 0.30 / 0.70 = 42.9%.

Drawdown Recovery Calculator — How Much Return to Break Even? | Clearmind

← All calculators

Portfolio drawdown−30%

−1%−95%

Asymmetry curve — loss vs recovery required

−30%

Portfolio loss

→

+42.9%

Recovery needed

Drawdown vs recovery — quick reference

Drawdown	Recovery needed	Multiplier
−10%	+11.11%	1.11×
−20%	+25%	1.25×
−30%	+42.86%	1.43×
−40%	+66.67%	1.67×
−50%	+100%	2×
−60%	+150%	2.5×
−75%	+300%	4×

Illustrative math only. Actual recovery depends on your strategy, the nature of the drawdown, and market conditions. Not investment advice.