Hold Calculator

Calculate the total margin (hold percentage) of a betting market.

ArbitrageExpected ValueBonus BetHedgeKelly CriterionNo-Vig Fair OddsImplied ProbabilityOdds ConverterParlayHoldVigRound RobinPoissonHalf PointPoint Spread

Inputs

Hold Benchmarks

Sharp Books (Pinnacle)2-3%
Good Retail Books4-5%
Average Retail5-7%
High-Hold Props10-20%

Results

Market Hold
4.76%
Good
Total Implied Probability104.76%
Implied Prob Side 152.38%
Implied Prob Side 252.38%

The sportsbook expects to keep 4.76% of all money wagered on this market over time.

How to Use This Calculator

Hold (also called overround or margin) is the percentage the sportsbook expects to keep from all bets placed on a market. Lower hold means better odds for bettors.

Understanding Hold

In a fair market, the implied probabilities of all outcomes would sum to exactly 100%. Sportsbooks inflate this total to build in their profit margin. At -110/-110, the total is 104.76%, meaning a 4.76% hold.

Why Hold Matters

  • Lower hold = better prices for you
  • High hold makes it harder to be profitable long-term
  • Sharp books have lower holds but may limit winners
  • Always compare holds across sportsbooks before betting

Hold by Market Type

Main market spreads and totals typically have low holds (3-5%). Player props and exotic markets often have holds of 10-20% or more. The more niche the market, the higher the hold tends to be.