Matched Betting Stake Calculator

Optimal lay stakes for qualifying and free bets.

Please enter a valid stake amount
Please enter valid odds
Please enter valid odds
Results
Lay Stake --
Lay Liability --
Profit if Back Wins --
Profit if Lay Wins --
Overall Result --

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Pick the bet type — Normal (qualifying), Free Bet SNR, or Free Bet SR
  2. Input the back stake
  3. Input the bookmaker back odds
  4. Input the exchange lay odds
  5. Input the exchange commission rate (usually 5%)
  6. Read the lay stake, liability, and profit per outcome

Formula

Normal Bet Lay Stake = (Back Stake x Back Odds) / (Lay Odds - Commission Rate)

Free Bet SNR Lay Stake = (Back Stake x (Back Odds - 1)) / (Lay Odds - Commission Rate)

Free Bet SR Lay Stake = (Back Stake x Back Odds) / (Lay Odds - Commission Rate)

Lay Liability = Lay Stake x (Lay Odds - 1)

Frequently Asked Questions

Define matched betting.

Matched betting exploits bookmaker promotions (free bets, bonuses) for guaranteed profit. Backing at a bookmaker while laying at an exchange covers every outcome and extracts the promotion’s value.

SNR versus SR free bets?

SNR (Stake Not Returned): a winning free bet pays the profit only, not the free-bet stake. SR (Stake Returned): you receive both the profit and the free-bet stake. SR free bets are more valuable and convert higher.

Which commission rate applies?

Most exchanges charge 5% on winning lay bets (Betfair standard); Smarkets charges 2%, and Betfair may grant reduced rates. Enter the rate that applies to your exchange account.

How are qualifying losses minimized?

Target events where back and lay odds sit close (small overround). Lower odds generally mean smaller qualifying losses. Seek odds between 2.0 and 5.0 with a tight back-lay spread.