Hedge Betting Calculator
Enter the odds and stake of your original bet, then the current odds on the opposite result. The tool gives you the stake to bet on the other side so the outcome is the same whichever way it settles.
Fill in the fields above to see the result.
You placed a bet, the line moved your way, and now you can back the other side and walk away with the same result either way. The calculator above tells you exactly how much to put on the second side and what is left over.
How the math works
The goal is for both scenarios to pay the same. The original bet returns stake × odds, and the hedge stake is the one that reproduces that number at the other side's price:
hedge stake = (original stake × original odds) ÷ hedge odds
What gets locked in is the difference between that return and everything you laid out:
locked result = return − (original stake + hedge stake)
There is a turning point worth memorising. A hedge only locks a profit while the other side's price is above:
breakeven odds = return ÷ (return − original stake)
Worked example
A 100 bet at 3.00, so a potential return of 300, with the other side available at different prices:
| Hedge odds | Hedge stake | Total outlay | Return | Locked result | On the outlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.00 | 150.00 | 250.00 | 300.00 | +50.00 | +20.0% |
| 1.80 | 166.67 | 266.67 | 300.00 | +33.33 | +12.5% |
| 1.50 | 200.00 | 300.00 | 300.00 | 0.00 | 0.0% |
| 1.30 | 230.77 | 330.77 | 300.00 | −30.77 | −9.3% |
For this bet, the breakeven price is 1.50. Above it the hedge locks a profit; exactly at it you break even; below it you are paying to reduce variance, which is a legitimate decision but needs to be a conscious one.
Where it misleads
Hedging almost always costs expected value. If your original bet had an edge, covering the other side with the bookmaker's margin on top hands part of that edge back. You are trading EV for certainty, and certainty has a price.
Locking early is not always locking better. If the line moved your way because your read was right, it may keep going. Hedging on the first move turns a good bet into a small good bet.
The calculation assumes both bets settle together. Different void rules across markets or books can leave one leg alive and the other not, and then nothing is locked at all.
FAQ
When is hedging worth it?
When the position has grown too large for your bankroll, when you need the money before the event, or when information changed and your original read no longer holds. None of those reasons is "I feel nervous".
Is hedging the same as cashing out?
The logic is the same, but cash out is calculated by the bookmaker, with their margin built in, and usually returns less than a hedge you build yourself in the market. A manual hedge is more work and almost always pays better.
Can I hedge only part of it?
You can, and in practice it is the most common route. Applying half the hedge stake locks half the result and leaves half the position exposed, which preserves some of the expected value.
If you are weighing whether the original bet still holds value at the current price, the EV calculator answers that, and if the other side is generous enough that the two add up to less than 100%, the case has become arbitrage. The line movement guide helps read why the price moved. Betting is entertainment for adults 18 and over and carries a risk of loss.