Betting guide
Horse racing bet calculator: each-way, Lucky 15 and accumulator returns
Work out what any horse racing bet returns before you place it — or check that a bookmaker has settled it correctly afterwards. Add your selections, enter the odds and the result, and the calculator shows the stake, the return and the profit.
Bet calculator
Returns include your stake. Non-runners count as winners at 1.00; dead heats divide the stake; Rule 4 reduces winnings only. Bookmaker bonuses and consolations are not included. 18+.
How to use the horse racing bet calculator
- Choose the bet type. Singles, doubles and trebles, accumulators, or a full-cover bet such as a Trixie, Yankee or Lucky 15. The calculator adds the right number of selections.
- Enter your stake per bet. A £1 Lucky 15 is £1 per bet, £15 in total. The total stake is shown underneath.
- Tick each-way if you need it, and choose the place terms: a quarter or a fifth of the odds. Our each-way guide shows which terms apply to which race.
- Enter the odds for each selection. Fractional (5/2, 100/30, evens) or decimal (3.5) both work.
- Set the result: won, placed, lost, non-runner or dead heat. For a dead heat, choose how many horses shared the finish.
- Add a Rule 4 deduction if a horse was withdrawn from that race. Our Rule 4 guide has the full table.
The return updates as you type.
Bet types covered: from singles to Goliaths
| Bet | Selections | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | 1 or more | 1 per selection |
| Doubles / trebles | 2+ / 3+ | Every combination of two or three |
| Accumulator | 2 to 8 | 1 |
| Trixie | 3 | 4 |
| Patent | 3 | 7 |
| Yankee | 4 | 11 |
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 |
| Canadian (Super Yankee) | 5 | 26 |
| Lucky 31 | 5 | 31 |
| Heinz | 6 | 57 |
| Lucky 63 | 6 | 63 |
| Super Heinz | 7 | 120 |
| Goliath | 8 | 247 |
Each-way doubles the number of bets.
Bet calculator examples from real races
A big-priced each-way winner. Natural Ability won at Sedgefield on 18 October 2026 at 40/1 in an eight-runner handicap (a fifth of the odds, three places). Set Singles, £5 each-way, 1/5, odds 40/1, Won: the return is £250 for £10 staked.
A Champions Day Lucky 15. Almeraq 11/10, Minnie Hauk 5/1, Talk Of New York 3/1 and Ombudsman 5/4 all won Group 1s at Ascot on 17 October 2026. Set Lucky 15, £1, all four Won: £351.63 for £15.
A Rule 4. A £10 single at 3/1 with a 2/1 rival withdrawn: set the Rule 4 deduction to 30p and the return drops from £40 to £31.
How non-runners, dead heats and Rule 4 are settled
- Non-runners are treated as winners at odds of 1.00: your stake is returned on a single, and in a multiple the bet carries on with the other selections.
- Dead heats divide the stake by the number of horses that dead-heated (how dead heats are settled). Two horses sharing first place at 4/1 return half of a normal 4/1 win.
- Rule 4 deductions reduce the winnings, not the stake.
- Each-way bets are split into a win bet and a place bet of equal size. The place part pays at the fraction you choose.
The calculator doesn’t add bookmaker bonuses or consolation payments on Lucky 15s and similar bets, because they differ from bookmaker to bookmaker. Check your bookmaker’s terms for those.
Before you place your bet: price, BOG and odds
- Shop around for the price. The same horse can be 9/4 with one bookmaker and 11/4 with another. Our best odds page shows the biggest price on every UK runner from 12 bookmakers.
- Take a price with Best Odds Guaranteed. If the starting price is bigger, you get it. See the BOG betting sites.
- Read the odds properly. Our guide to how to read horse racing odds explains fractions, decimals and implied chances.
Betting calculator: common questions
How do I calculate an each-way bet?
Split the stake in two. The win half pays at full odds if the horse wins; the place half pays at a quarter or fifth of the odds if it wins or is placed. Add the two returns together.
How do I calculate a Lucky 15?
Work out the four singles, six doubles, four trebles and the four-fold, then add the returns. The calculator does all 15 at once.
How are non-runners settled in an accumulator?
The non-runner counts as a winner at odds of 1.00, so a four-fold becomes a treble on the remaining three selections.
How is a dead heat settled?
Your stake is divided by the number of horses in the dead heat, and that part is paid at full odds. The rest is lost.
Does the calculator include Best Odds Guaranteed?
Enter whichever price you are being paid at. If you took 4/1 and the horse started at 6/1 with a BOG bookmaker, enter 6/1.
18+. Gambling can be addictive — please play responsibly. National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 · GambleAware.org · GAMSTOP.co.uk