Hedge Bet Calculator
By the TheyShoot editorial team. Updated
A hedge bet backs the opposite outcome of a bet you already hold, to lock in a profit or cut a loss whatever happens. Enter your original stake and odds, then the odds on the other side: the calculator shows the hedge stake and your profit both ways. It works for a single bet or an accumulator's last leg.
Hedge stake
£32.00
- If your original bet wins
- +£38.00
- If the hedge wins
- +£38.00
How do you use the hedge calculator?
- Enter your original stake and odds. For an accumulator waiting on its last leg, enter the acca's combined odds.
- Enter the odds you can get now on the opposite outcome.
- Choose a hedge: equal profit either way, your stake back if the original loses, or a stake of your own.
How is the hedge stake worked out?
For equal profit, the hedge stake is the original bet's potential return divided by the hedge odds. Both bets then return the same amount, so your profit is the same whichever wins.
To get your stake back if the original loses, the hedge stake is the original stake divided by (hedge odds − 1). The hedge then wins exactly your original stake, and you keep most of the upside if the original bet comes in.
Worked example
You backed a team at £10 and 7/1 (8.00), so your bet returns £80. Before the match, their opponents are 6/4 (2.50). An equal-profit hedge is £80 ÷ 2.50 = £32 on the opponents, for a £38 profit either way. A stake-back hedge is £10 ÷ 1.50 = £6.67: you break even if the opponents win and make £63.33 if your team wins.
Should you hedge a bet?
Hedging swaps some expected profit for certainty, because you pay the bookmaker's margin twice. It's worth it when the odds have moved strongly in your favour since you bet, or when a large accumulator return would hurt to lose. If the hedge odds are short, compare the guaranteed profit with a cash-out offer: the one that pays more wins.
FAQs
What is a hedge bet?
A second bet on the opposite outcome of a bet you already hold, placed to guarantee a profit or reduce a possible loss.
Is hedging better than cashing out?
Often, yes. A cash-out offer usually includes an extra margin, so hedging at a good price elsewhere can guarantee more. Compare the two figures before deciding.
Can I hedge an accumulator?
Yes. When only one leg is left, enter the acca stake and its combined odds as the original bet, then the odds against the last leg as the hedge.
What if there are three outcomes, like a football match?
To cover both other outcomes, use the dutching calculator to split the hedge stake between the draw and the other team.