Where to find your purchase price on Vanguard's website

Your purchase price appears in the Cost Basis section of your Vanguard account. Log in to your account, go to Accounts, select the account holding the ETF, then click Positions. Find the ETF you bought and look for the column labeled Price Paid or Cost Per Share — this is your purchase price per share.

Vanguard calculates your total cost basis by multiplying the price per share by the number of shares you own. If you bought the same ETF multiple times at different prices, Vanguard shows the average cost per share across all purchases in that account. This average is what appears in the Cost Basis section.

The exact column names vary slightly depending on whether you use Vanguard.com on a computer or the Vanguard mobile app, but both show the same information in the Positions view. On mobile, you may need to scroll right to see all columns.

Key Takeaways

  • Your purchase price per share is listed in the Positions section under Price Paid or Cost Per Share when you log into your Vanguard account.
  • If you bought the same ETF multiple times, Vanguard shows your average cost per share across all those purchases in that account.
  • Cost basis information is available on both Vanguard.com and the mobile app, though column names may differ slightly.
  • Your purchase price is used to calculate capital gains or losses when you sell the ETF, which affects your taxes.

How Vanguard calculates average cost basis

When you buy the same ETF more than once, Vanguard uses the average cost method by default. This means it adds up the total amount you spent on all shares and divides by the total number of shares. For example, if you bought 10 shares at $50 and then 10 shares at $60, your average cost per share is $55, not $50 or $60.

Vanguard applies this calculation per account, not across all your accounts. If you own the same ETF in a taxable account and a retirement account, each account tracks its own cost basis separately. This matters because you may have different average costs in each account depending on when and how much you bought in each one.

Viewing cost basis on the Vanguard mobile app

Open the Vanguard app, tap Accounts, select the account with your ETF, and tap Positions. Scroll right to see additional columns — your purchase price information is usually in the rightmost columns. The app may label it Cost Per Share or Total Cost depending on your phone's screen size.

If you cannot find the cost basis column on the mobile app, try rotating your phone to landscape mode, which often reveals hidden columns. You can also log into Vanguard.com on a mobile browser for the full desktop view, which shows all columns without scrolling.

Cost basis for ETFs bought before Vanguard's tracking began

If you bought an ETF before Vanguard began tracking cost basis for that specific holding, the purchase price may show as zero or blank. This sometimes happens with very old purchases or transfers from other brokers. In these cases, you will need to find your original trade confirmation or statement from when you bought the shares.

Check your email for old Vanguard statements or confirmations. You can also contact Vanguard directly with your account number and the date range of the purchase — they can look up the historical trade price. Keep this information for your tax records, since you will need the actual purchase price to calculate capital gains when you sell.

Using cost basis to track capital gains

Your purchase price is the starting point for calculating whether you have a capital gain or loss. When you sell an ETF, subtract your cost per share from your sale price per share. If the result is positive, you have a capital gain; if negative, you have a capital loss. Multiply that difference by the number of shares to get your total gain or loss.

Vanguard shows your unrealized gain or loss (the gain or loss if you sold today) in the Positions view as well, usually in a column labeled Gain/Loss or Return. This is calculated automatically using your purchase price and the current market price. When you actually sell the ETF, Vanguard reports the realized gain or loss to the IRS on Form 8949, and you report it on your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my cost basis method from average cost to something else?

Vanguard uses average cost by default and does not allow you to switch methods through the website. If you need a different method (such as first-in-first-out or specific identification), contact Vanguard directly. You can also use specific identification when you sell by telling Vanguard which shares to sell, though this requires advance notice.

Why does my cost basis show zero?

This usually means the purchase was made before Vanguard began tracking cost basis for that holding, or the shares were transferred from another broker without cost basis information. Check your old statements or contact Vanguard with the purchase date so they can look up the historical price.

Does my cost basis include commissions or fees?

Vanguard's displayed cost basis shows the price per share you paid, not including any trading commissions. However, if you paid a commission when you bought the ETF, you can add that to your cost basis for tax purposes. Keep your trade confirmation to document the exact commission amount.

If I buy an ETF in multiple accounts, do I see separate cost bases?

Yes. Each account tracks its own cost basis separately. If you own the same ETF in a taxable account and an IRA, each shows its own average cost per share based on purchases within that account only.