Volatility calculator

    Annualized volatility from a price series

    Paste closing prices to get the standard deviation of daily returns, annualized volatility, and the typical one-day move that implies.

    Annualized volatility
    10.01%
    Daily standard deviation
    0.63%
    Prices used
    15

    What the inputs mean

    Closing prices
    Comma or line separated, oldest first. At least three.

    Formula

    annualized σ = stdev(daily returns) × √252

    Worked example

    20 daily closes drifting from 100 to 108 with 1% swingsAbout 16% annualized volatility.

    Questions people ask

    Why multiply by the square root of 252?

    Variance scales with time and there are roughly 252 trading days in a year, so the daily standard deviation is scaled by the square root of that count.

    Limitations

    Every result here is arithmetic on the numbers you enter. It carries no view on any specific security, assumes returns are steady when real returns are not, and ignores taxes, slippage and commissions. Use it to size and sanity-check, not to forecast.

    Now run it on a real ticker

    Score any name free, then bring the number back here.

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    Autonium publishes research, not recommendations. Scores, factors and written reads describe historical and current data and are not buy or sell advice. Not financial advice. Market data is refreshed on a schedule and may lag. See our methodology and disclosures.