Betfair Exchange commission calculator
- Commission model
- net winnings
- Rate (placeholder)
- 5%
- Even money after commission
- 1.950
- Lay bets
- yes
- Net profit if it wins
- 95.00
- Loss if it loses
- 100.00
- Break-even win rate
- 51.28%
- Equivalent bookmaker odds
- 1.950
- Commission on a win
- 5.00
| Commission | Effective odds | Break-even | Net profit if it wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 2.000 | 50.00% | 100.00 |
| 1% | 1.990 | 50.25% | 99.00 |
| 2% | 1.980 | 50.51% | 98.00 |
| 3% | 1.970 | 50.76% | 97.00 |
| 4% | 1.960 | 51.02% | 96.00 |
| 5% | 1.950 | 51.28% | 95.00 |
| 6% | 1.940 | 51.55% | 94.00 |
| 7% | 1.930 | 51.81% | 93.00 |
| 8% | 1.920 | 52.08% | 92.00 |
| 9% | 1.910 | 52.36% | 91.00 |
| 10% | 1.900 | 52.63% | 90.00 |
Break-even win rate 51.28%
The calculator above starts with Betfair Exchange's commission model selected. Enter a price and a stake to see the effective odds, the net profit on a win, the break-even win rate and the bookmaker price you would need to beat.
Effective odds at Betfair Exchange
| Odds | Effective | American | Break-even | Net profit on 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | 1.475 | -211 | 67.80% | 47.50 |
| 1.91 | 1.865 | -116 | 53.63% | 86.45 |
| 2.00 | 1.950 | -105 | 51.28% | 95.00 |
| 2.50 | 2.425 | +142 | 41.24% | 142.50 |
| 3.00 | 2.900 | +190 | 34.48% | 190.00 |
| 5.00 | 4.800 | +380 | 20.83% | 380.00 |
| 10.00 | 9.550 | +855 | 10.47% | 855.00 |
Because commission comes off profit only, the effect grows with the odds. Short prices lose very little; long prices lose a meaningful slice. A bettor who mostly backs favourites therefore feels 5% commission far less than one who backs outsiders.
Lay bets
Laying at Betfair Exchange reverses the bet: you accept a backer's stake and risk a liability of stake × (odds − 1). Commission is charged on your profit when the outcome loses. Switch the calculator to "lay" to see liability, profit after commission and break-even for a lay at any price.
Comparing with a bookmaker
The honest comparison between an exchange price and a bookmaker price is after commission. Take the exchange price, apply Betfair Exchange's rate, and read off the effective odds; if the bookmaker offers more than that, the bookmaker is the better bet. The break-even column is the same comparison expressed as a win rate: a bookmaker price whose implied probability is below the exchange's break-even rate beats the exchange.
When the rate changes
Commission is not fixed. Exchanges vary it by country, discount activity-based tiers apply, and promotional rates come and go. The calculator's custom option lets you type any rate, and the table above shows how much a percentage point of commission is worth at each price: at even money one point costs about half a hundredth of a decimal point, at 10.00 it costs nearly a tenth.
Frequently asked questions
What does 5% commission do to my odds at Betfair Exchange?
On net winnings, commission takes 5% of the profit on a win and nothing on a loss. Even money becomes 1.950; the effect is larger at longer odds because the profit slice is larger.
What bookmaker price equals a Betfair Exchange price?
The break-even odds shown by the calculator: a bookmaker offering more than that beats Betfair Exchange after commission, one offering less does not.
How is a lay bet's liability calculated?
Liability = backer's stake × (odds − 1). If you lay 100 at 2.10, you risk 110 to win 100 minus commission.
Is the 5% figure current?
No guarantee. It was entered as a placeholder on 2026-09-09 without checking Betfair Exchange's schedule. Confirm it in your account and edit the rate in the calculator.