Fractional odds show how much profit you stand to make on a winning bet, relative to your stake. Commonly used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, this traditional odds format expresses potential winnings as a ratio. Fractional odds are an alternative to both American odds and decimal odds, which are the standard in the United States and the rest of Europe, respectively.
The following guide will explain how to read and understand fractional odds. We’ll cover how they compare to other formats, how to calculate payouts using them and much more.
What are fractional odds?
Fractional odds are one of the oldest and most traditional ways to represent betting odds, expressing the profit you can earn relative to your stake. They’re written as a ratio, such as 5/2, and have long been the standard format in the UK, Ireland, and parts of Europe, especially in horse racing and other legacy betting markets.
Simply put, fractional odds display how much profit you stand to make for every dollar wagered. For example, if you see odds of 5/2, this means you’ll win $5 in profit for every $2 you bet. Your total return would therefore be $7 – the $5 profit plus your original $2 stake. Similarly, if the odds are 10/1, you’ll earn $10 in profit for every $1 wagered, returning a total of $11 if you win.
This format provides a clear and intuitive way to understand your potential winnings at a glance. The first number (numerator) represents the profit, while the second number (denominator) represents the stake required to make that profit. If the numerator is larger than the denominator (like 5/2 or 10/1), the outcome is considered less likely, but offers a higher reward. Conversely, when the denominator is larger (such as 1/4), it indicates a heavily favored outcome, with smaller profits for each dollar wagered.
How do you read fractional odds?
Reading fractional odds is all about understanding how much profit you’ll earn compared to your stake. The odds are written as a ratio, such as 5/1, 10/3, or 1/4, and they express exactly how much you stand to win relative to what you wager.
The first number represents your potential profit, and the second number represents the amount you need to bet to earn that profit. For example, if you bet $10 at 5/1 odds, you’ll win $50 in profit, plus get back your original $10 stake, for a total payout of $60.
Here are a few quick examples to help visualize it:
- 1/4 odds: -400 American odds, a heavy favorite.
- 1/1 (Even) odds: +100 American odds, even money.
- 5/1 odds: +500 American odds, a clear underdog.
- 10/1 odds: +1000 American odds, a total long shot.
The higher the first number is compared to the second, the bigger the underdog and the greater your potential payout. Conversely, smaller ratios indicate favorites with lower returns.
Unlike decimal odds, which display your total return, fractional odds focus purely on profit, making them a traditional yet intuitive way to calculate how much you can win.
How can I tell the difference between favorites and underdogs using fractional odds?
With fractional odds, identifying favorites and underdogs is incredibly simple once you understand the ratio. The smaller the potential profit compared to the stake, the stronger the favorite. On the other hand, when the profit is larger than the stake, you’re looking at an underdog.
For example, if the Jaguars are favored over the Dolphins, you might see odds listed at 1/2 (-200) for Jacksonville and 8/5 (+160) for Miami. That means you’d need to bet $20 to win $10 on the Jaguars, while a $20 bet on the Dolphins would return $32 in profit if they pulled off the upset.
This format makes it easy to assess value at a glance without needing to interpret positive or negative signs like with American odds. The ratio itself tells the story: smaller profits indicate favorites, while larger returns signal underdogs.
How do you calculate payouts using fractional odds?
Figuring out your payout with fractional odds is easy – remember, fractional odds display your potential profit relative to your stake, so the first number is how much you’ll win, and the second number is how much you need to bet to earn that profit.
To calculate your total return, you can use this easy formula: (Your Stake × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)) + Your Stake = Total Payout
Your profit is just the first part of that formula – the stake multiplied by the ratio – while your total payout includes both your profit and your original bet amount.
Here’s a step-by-step example. Let’s say you’re betting $25 at 5/2 odds:
- Use the ratio to find your profit: 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5.
- Multiply your stake by that number: $25 × 2.5 = $62.50 profit.
- Add your original stake back in to get the total return: $62.50 + $25 = $87.50 total payout.
So if your bet wins, you’ll collect $87.50 in total, which includes $62.50 in profit and your original $25 stake.
Fractional odds vs. Decimal odds vs. American odds
While decimal, American, and fractional odds may look different at first glance, they all communicate the same key concept: how much you stand to win from a wager. The difference lies in how that information is presented.
Fractional odds are the most traditional format of the bunch. They represent how much profit you can earn relative to your stake. For instance, odds of 2/1 tell you that for every $1 bet, you’ll win $2 in profit. Add back your stake, and your total return would be $3.
Decimal odds are the simplest format of the three. The number you see represents your total return per unit wagered, which already includes your stake. So, if you bet at odds of 2.50, every $1 bet would return $2.50 total if you win.
American odds use plus (+) and minus (-) symbols to indicate underdogs and favorites. +150 odds mean you’d earn $150 profit from a $100 bet, while -150 means you’d need to wager $150 to win $100. This system revolves around a $100 base unit and provides a quick way to gauge both risk and reward.
In essence:
- Fractional odds show profit-to-stake ratio
- Decimal odds display your total return
- American odds show profit or required stake around $100 units
No matter which format you prefer, the underlying probabilities and payouts are identical – the only difference is how they’re displayed. Once you understand one, converting between the three formats becomes second nature.
How can I switch to fractional odds at Hard Rock Bet?
Players at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook have the ability to switch between fractional, decimal and American odds on both the app and website. If you’re interested in checking out fractional odds or even want to try your hand at using a different format, here’s how to adjust your settings:
- Head over to the Account tab.
- Select Settings.
- Then, choose Preferences.
- From there, you will see three options listed under Odds Display Format.
- Make your pick between Fractional, American or Decimal.
- Exit that menu and you will see your preferred format reflected on the board!
FAQ about fractional odds
Still have questions about how fractional odds work? We’ve got you covered.
Are fractional odds better than decimal or American odds?
No odds format is “better” than another – they all represent the same probabilities. It’s just a matter of which display is easiest for you to read and understand.
How do I calculate my total payout with fractional odds?
Simply multiply your stake by the fraction (numerator ÷ denominator) to find your profit, then add your original stake to get the total return.
For example: if you bet $10 at 3/1 odds, divide 3 ÷ 1 = 3, then multiply by $10 to get $30 in profit. Add your $10 stake for a total payout of $40.
What happens if my fractional odds include unusual numbers, like 7/4 or 13/8?
These are just less common ratios that still reflect the same profit-to-stake principle. For instance, 7/4 means you’d earn $7 profit for every $4 wagered – the math works exactly the same way as any other fraction.
Are fractional odds offered in every Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook state?
Yes. All active Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook players will have the option to switch to fractional odds, regardless of which state they are based in.
These states include:
