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Put ratio spread calculator

Buy one put and sell two lower puts. Profit to the shorts; large loss on a crash.

OutlookBearish
Max profitLimited
Max lossNearly unlimited
LevelExpert

What is a put ratio spread?

A put ratio spread is net short a put. A modest drop can pay. A collapse through the short puts is nearly stock-like downside.

Legs

  1. Buy one put at A
  2. Sell two puts at B
Profit
Payoff at expiration, sketched. The live example below has the real prices.

Live example on SPY

Put Ratio Spread

SPY · Dec 18
Net credit$1,479.00
ROIC1.96%
Max loss$73,620.00
Max profit$1,679.00
Chance of profitLocked: ProUpgrade
BreakevenAbove $736.21 (−2.6%)At expiration
Est. margin$73,751.50
  • 755P+112/18 · $16.18
  • 753P−212/18 · $15.48
SPY · Oct 30, 2026, 3:59 PM ET

With SPY at 755.53, on the Dec 18 expiration (49 days out): buy 1 755 put and sell 2 753 puts. Net credit $1,479. Max profit $1,679; max loss $73,620. Breakeven at expiration: Above $736.21 (−2.6%).

Open this put ratio spread in the calculator to move the strikes, change the date and implied volatility, and read profit and loss by price and date.

Questions

What is a put ratio spread?
A put ratio spread is net short a put. A modest drop can pay. A collapse through the short puts is nearly stock-like downside.
When does a put ratio spread make money?
Buy one put and sell two lower puts. Profit to the shorts; large loss on a crash.
What is the max profit of a put ratio spread?
Limited: there is a ceiling on what it can make. The calculator gives the figure for your strikes and expiration.
What is the max loss of a put ratio spread?
Nearly unlimited: a large move against it can lose many times what it takes in. The calculator gives the figure for your strikes and expiration.
How do I calculate a put ratio spread's profit and loss?
Open the put ratio spread in the strategy calculator. It places the legs on a real expiration, and you can drag the strikes, change the date, and read profit and loss by price and date, with max profit, max loss, and the breakevens.