Free tool

Kelly criterion bet sizer

Calculate the optimal fraction of your bankroll to wager based on your edge and the odds, for a sportsbook line or a prediction-market price. Full, half, and quarter Kelly, with an overbetting warning.

Kelly criterion bet sizer

Your total betting bankroll

$

Your estimated chance of winning

%

The odds you're getting

Kalshi / Polymarket price (overrides odds)

Full Kelly
$55.005.50% of bankroll
Half Kelly (recommended)
$27.502.75% of bankroll
Quarter Kelly (conservative)
$13.751.38% of bankroll

Kelly maximizes long-run growth · assumes accurate probability estimates

How Kelly sizes a bet

Enter the odds, your estimated win probability, and your bankroll. Kelly returns the stake that maximizes long-term growth. The bigger your edge and the longer the price, the more it tells you to bet.

Why most pros bet a fraction of Kelly

Full Kelly is the growth-optimal size, but it's volatile: a bad run can halve your bankroll. Half- and quarter-Kelly give up a little growth for a much smoother ride, which is why most disciplined bettors use them. The tool warns you when a stake gets aggressive.

Frequently asked

Q.01

What is the Kelly Criterion?

A formula that calculates the optimal fraction of your bankroll to wager given your edge and the odds. It maximises long-term growth while avoiding ruin. Many sharp bettors use half or quarter Kelly to reduce variance while still sizing bets proportional to their edge.

More tools

← All betting tools