updated regularly – latest review: October 2026
Matched Betting Calculator
Matched Betting Calculator
Work out your lay stake, liability and profit for qualifying bets and free bets.
You need enough in your exchange account to cover the liability. Results assume both bets are placed at the odds shown. Odds move, so recheck before you place the lay.
Watch: How to Use the Matched Betting Calculator
A step-by-step walkthrough, with narration.
Try a matched betting service free
The calculator works out each lay for you, but a matched betting service lists every current offer with step-by-step instructions and finds the best back and lay prices for you. Both services below have a free trial, so you can try them before paying.
One of the longest-running UK matched betting services, from the team behind the original OddsMatcher.
- Free trial that walks you through your first offers
- Starter plan: £39.99 a month or £249.99 a year
- Casino offers from the Advanced plan up
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Formerly Profit Accumulator, one of the original matched betting services, rebranded as Outplayed in 2024.
- 7-day free trial with full Platinum access
- Platinum: £249.99 a year, with every sportsbook offer, the oddsmatcher and calculator
- Diamond plan adds casino offers
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Prices and trial terms last checked on 12 October 2026, against each service's own website. They change from time to time, so check the current price when you sign up. These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you join, at no extra cost to you. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
How to use the matched betting calculator
Matched betting means backing an outcome with a bookmaker and laying the same outcome on a betting exchange, so you make roughly the same result whatever happens. The calculator tells you how much to lay. New to the idea? Start with our guide to what matched betting is.
1. Choose the bet type. Use Qualifying bet for the real-money bet that unlocks a free bet. Use Free bet (stake not returned) for most UK free bets, where you only keep the winnings. Use Free bet (stake returned) only if the terms say the stake is paid back with the winnings.
2. Enter the back bet. Type your stake and the bookmaker’s decimal odds.
3. Enter the lay bet. Type the exchange’s lay odds and its commission. Betfair Exchange charges 5% by default, and Smarkets and Matchbook usually charge 2% or less.
4. Place the lay. Lay the stake shown, and check you have the liability in your exchange account first.
What the results mean
On a qualifying bet, both profit figures should be a small loss, usually a few pence to under £1 on a £10 bet. That is the cost of unlocking the free bet. On a free bet (stake not returned), aim for about 70–80% of the free bet’s value as profit. Higher back odds usually give a better return, as long as the back and lay odds are close.
Matched betting calculator FAQs
Is matched betting legal in the UK?
Yes. It uses normal bets and bookmaker promotions. Profits from gambling are not taxed in the UK. Bookmakers can, however, limit or close accounts that only take offers.
Why is my qualifying bet showing a loss?
The gap between back and lay odds, plus exchange commission, means qualifying bets normally lose a little. Look for closer odds to reduce it.
Is there a risk?
The main risks are mistakes: laying the wrong selection, the wrong stake, or odds moving before you lay. Always place the lay straight after the back bet and double-check both.
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