Fractional odds show your profit compared with your stake. 5/2 ("five to two") means you win 5 for every 2 you bet, so a $10 bet wins $25 profit.
When the first number is bigger, the selection is an underdog. When it's smaller, like 1/2, it's a favorite. 1/1 is called evens, the same as even money.
To convert to decimal odds, divide the first number by the second and add 1. 5/2 becomes 3.50.
How it works
Fractional odds are read as "profit to stake". The number on the left is what you win, and the number on the right is what you bet to win it. Your stake comes back on top of the profit when you win.
They're traditional in UK and Irish betting shops, especially for horse racing and football, and you'll still hear them on TV and radio. Many UK sites now offer decimal odds as well.
| Fractional | Decimal | American |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 1.50 | -200 |
| 10/11 | 1.91 | -110 |
| Evens | 2.00 | +100 |
| 6/4 | 2.50 | +150 |
| 3/1 | 4.00 | +300 |
Some fractions look odd at first, like 13/8 or 4/6, because bookmakers use a set list of familiar prices rather than every possible fraction. "Odds-on" means a price shorter than evens, like 4/6, where you win less than you stake. "Odds against" means longer than evens, like 5/2.
Examples
- Example 1
10/11 is the fractional version of -110. You win $10 for every $11 staked.
- Example 2
A $20 bet at 7/4 wins $35 profit (20 × 7 ÷ 4), so you get $55 back. That's 2.75 in decimal or +175 in American odds.
- Example 3
A $30 bet at 4/6 wins $20 profit, so you get $50 back. 4/6 is the same as -150.
- Example 4
At 100/30, a $3 bet wins $10. Bookmakers often use 100/30 instead of 10/3.
Read more: How to read betting odds
Common questions
What does 5/1 mean in betting?
You win $5 for every $1 you bet, plus your stake back. A $10 bet at 5/1 returns $60. It's the same as +500.
What does odds-on mean?
It means a price shorter than evens, like 1/2 or 4/6, where you win less than you stake. Odds-on selections are favorites.
How do I convert fractional odds to American odds?
If the fraction is above evens, divide the first number by the second and multiply by 100 (5/2 becomes +250). If it's below evens, divide the second number by the first and multiply by -100 (1/2 becomes -200).