- Pick an Odds Format and enter odds for every outcome in the market (optionally label them).
- Read the output. Vig %, Total Implied Probability, and the per-outcome implied probability table.
Vig Calculator
A vig calculator that measures the bookmaker's margin on any sportsbook line. Compare commissions across books to find the lowest-vig betting markets.
How to Use This Calculator
What is a vig calculator?
A vig calculator measures the commission a sportsbook builds into a betting line. The vig (vigorish) is the bookmaker's margin, also called the juice or hold. It is how sportsbooks generate consistent profit regardless of which side wins.
On a typical moneyline of -110 / -110, the vig is approximately 4.76%. That is the sportsbook's expected profit margin if action is balanced on both sides. A line of -105 / -105 has a vig of about 2.38%, half as much.
Formula
Convert each side's American odds to implied probability, sum them, and the amount above 100% is the vig.
\[
\begin{aligned}
\text{Vig} &= \left( \sum \text{Implied Probabilities} \right) - 100\%
\end{aligned}
\]
Worked example
A standard NFL spread is priced at -110 on both sides.
\[
\begin{aligned}
\text{Each side} &= \dfrac{\strut 110}{\strut 210} = 52.38\% \\[6pt]
\text{Sum} &= 52.38\% + 52.38\% = 104.76\% \\[6pt]
\text{Vig} &= 104.76\% - 100\% = 4.76\%
\end{aligned}
\]
The sportsbook keeps approximately $4.76 of every $100 wagered when action is balanced.
Why the vig matters for sports bettors
The vig is the friction every bettor pays. Over enough bets, even a small difference in vig adds up to a meaningful change in long-run results. A bettor who routinely takes -105 lines instead of -110 lines is keeping money that would otherwise go to the sportsbook.
Vig also signals how seriously a sportsbook prices a market. Sharp books like Pinnacle and Circa run tight vig because they trust their lines and want volume. Recreational books often run wider vig on player props and parlays, where they expect less sophisticated action.
For a closer look at why hold percentages alone do not tell the full story, read The Low Holds Fallacy. The closely related No Vig Calculator shows the fair odds with the vig removed.
Common mistakes
- Chasing the lowest vig at the expense of the best price. A book with 2 percent vig but a worse line on the side you want to bet may still pay less than a book with 4 percent vig and a sharper line. Compare the actual price, not just the hold.
- Confusing vig with the bookmaker's margin. The two are related but not identical, especially in three-way markets. Use the formula above on the specific market in front of you.
- Assuming low vig means a fair line. Reduced-juice books often have lower limits and faster line moves. The lower vig is real, but the available volume may be smaller.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vig calculator?
A vig calculator measures the percentage commission baked into a sportsbook line. The output reveals the bookmaker's margin on any market, which makes it easy to compare books and find the ones with the lowest vig.
How do you calculate vig?
Convert each side of the market to implied probability, then sum the probabilities. The amount the sum exceeds 100% is the vig.
\[
\begin{aligned}
\text{Each side} \ (-110) &= \dfrac{\strut 110}{\strut 210} = 52.38\% \\[6pt]
\text{Sum} &= 104.76\% \\[6pt]
\text{Vig} &= 4.76\%
\end{aligned}
\]
What is a normal vig in sports betting?
Most American sportsbook moneylines and spreads carry a vig between 4% and 5%. Sharp books run lower, often 2% to 3%. Player props and exotic markets typically run higher, sometimes 8% or more.
Which sportsbooks have the lowest vig?
Sharp books like Pinnacle and Circa Sports run the lowest vig, often 2% to 3% on major markets. Most US recreational books run 4% to 5% on major markets and higher on props.
How does the vig affect my expected return?
The vig is the long-run cost of placing bets. A bettor with no informational edge will lose at a rate roughly equal to the vig over a large sample of bets. Reducing the vig paid per bet directly improves long-run results.
Is lower vig always better?
When placing a straight bet without a promotion attached, yes. Lower vig means the bettor keeps more of any edge. When converting a sportsbook promotion, conversion rate is the more important metric. See The Low Holds Fallacy for the full reasoning.
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