Hedge calculator
Lock in profit on open bets
Lock in guaranteed profit on a winning bet by staking the opposite outcome.
What is hedging?
Hedging means placing a second bet on the opposite outcome of your original bet to lock in profit or limit losses. It's most common with futures bets (where odds move in your favour over a season) and in-play markets (where lines shift during games). Hedging differs from Arbitrage — arb is two simultaneous bets on a single market, while hedging is a follow-up bet on an existing position. For multi-outcome markets, see Dutching.
See also: Dutching calculator, Kelly criterion, Lay bet (Exchange)
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter your original stake and the odds you got.
- 2Enter the current odds available on the OPPOSITE outcome.
- 3The calculator shows the optimal hedge stake and your guaranteed profit either way.
Example: locking a futures bet
In August, you bet €100 on Liverpool to win the Premier League at 8.00. By April, Liverpool is top of the table and the odds have shortened to 1.50. Original payout if they win: €800. To hedge, you back the field (anyone but Liverpool) at 2.50. Optimal hedge stake: about €320. If Liverpool wins, you get €800 minus your €320 hedge = €480 profit. If they don't, your €320 hedge pays €800 minus your original €100 stake = €700 profit. Either way, big profit locked in.
When to hedge
- Pre-season futures that have moved heavily in your favour
- Big parlays approaching the final leg with a large potential payout
- In-play when your team takes an early lead in a high-stakes bet
- When the peace of mind from locking profit outweighs the EV cost of hedging
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hedge calculator calculator?
Hedging means placing a second bet on the opposite outcome of your original bet to lock in profit or limit losses. It's most common with futures bets (where odds move in your favour over a season) and in-play markets (where lines shift during games).
How does the Hedge calculator calculator work in practice?
In August, you bet €100 on Liverpool to win the Premier League at 8.00. By April, Liverpool is top of the table and the odds have shortened to 1.50. Original payout if they win: €800. To hedge, you back the field (anyone but Liverpool) at 2.50. Optimal hedge stake: about €320. If Liverpool wins, you get €800 minus…
When should I use the Hedge calculator calculator?
Pre-season futures that have moved heavily in your favour. Big parlays approaching the final leg with a large potential payout. In-play when your team takes an early lead in a high-stakes bet.