1. What is a Hold Calculator?
A hold calculator is a simple betting tool that shows the profit margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. By comparing the implied probabilities of both sides, it calculates the percentage hold, helping you spot which sportsbook offers the fairest and most profitable odds.
- Needs only two odds as inputs.
- Outputs hold as a simple percentage.
- Lower hold = better value for bettors.
- Compare sportsbooks to find the smallest margin.
- Use alongside vig or no-vig tools for deeper analysis.
2. What is Hold in Sports Betting?
Hold (%) = [($100,000 - $95,000) / $100,000] * 100 = 5%.
Typical Hold by Market Type
| Market Type | Typical Hold % | What It Means for Bettors |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | 3 – 5 % | Most competitive; small margins if you line-shop |
| Point Spread | 4 – 6 % | Books offset risk on both sides; still hunt for <5 % |
| Totals (Over/Under) | 4 – 6 % | Similar to spreads; watch for promos to drop hold |
| Player Props | 6 – 10 % | Higher juice; compare 2–3 books before betting |
| Futures / Outrights | 10 % + | Big long-term margin; best tackled with no-vig analysis |
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What Our Experts Say
"Hold is the sportsbook’s built-in cushion. It’s how they stay profitable regardless of the game’s outcome. Learning to spot high-hold markets gives bettors a huge edge when shopping for lines or targeting value with boosted promos."
- Chris Allen, Sports & Matched Betting Expert at ProfitDuel
3. How do I Use a Hold Calculator?
To use a hold calculator, follow these four simple steps:
- Choose a Sportsbook Event: Choose any sporting event from a sportsbook that involves two sides facing each other.
- Input the Odds: Input the odds for one side to win in the ‘Side 1 Odds’ cell, then input the odds for the other side to win in the ‘Side 2 Odds’ cell.
- View the Hold: The calculator will automatically calculate the sportsbook's percentage hold for this event.
- Repeat With Other Sportsbooks: Repeat the process using other sportsbooks' odds on the same event. If their hold is higher, this means they're trying to make more profit from the bettor, and may be a sign of less fair odds.
Hold Percentage Cheat Sheet
| Hold % Range | House Margin | Actionable Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 % | Minimal | Exceptional value—consider pouncing quickly |
| 2 – 5 % | Low | Fair market; line-shop for the best price |
| 5 – 8 % | Moderate | Acceptable only if your edge is strong |
| 8 – 12 % | High | Proceed with caution or seek alternatives |
| 12 % + | Very High | Usually avoid unless tied to a risk-free promo |
4. How is Hold Calculated?
If you've got a hold calculator to hand, you don't need to know any formulas to work out sportsbook hold. But in case you're curious, you can manually calculate hold following two steps:
- Convert Odds Into Implied Probabilities:
Each set of odds will have a chance of winning attached to it (in per cent). This is known as the implied probability. For American odds, there are two ways of converting odds into implied probabilities - one for positive odds, one for negative. Alternatively, you could just use an implied probability calculator.
a) Positive Odds Formula: 100 / (odds+100)
For Example: If the odds are +150, your calculation would be: 100 / (150+100) = 0.40
40% implied probability of winning.
b) Negative Odds Formula: odds ignoring minus sign / (odds ignoring minus sign + 100)
For Example: If the odds are -200, your calculation would be: 200 / (200 + 100) = 0.66
66% implied probability of winning. - Add Implied Probabilities and Subtract by 100:
Now you've converted the two odds into implied probabilities, add them together to get the 'total book value', then minus that by 100 to get the hold percentage.
For Example: (40% + 66% = 106%) - 100% = 6%
Hold = 6%
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What The Data Says
"According to the American Gaming Association, U.S. sportsbooks achieved a national hold rate of 9.3% in 2024, up from 9.1% the previous year, as the industry posted a record $13.71bn in revenue demonstrating robust profitability and opportunity for sharp bettors who understand margin dynamics"
- ESPN
5. How do I Remove Hold?
Now you've calculated the hold, you might be curious about what the sportsbook really thinks the chances are of each outcome (AKA their true probabilities or ‘true odds’). If so, you can remove the hold to find this out.
To remove the hold, divide the odd's implied probability by the total book value (both calculated in the last section), before multiplying that figure by 100.
Using the examples used in the last section, here's how we would do that:
Sportsbook true probability that team A will win = (40 / 106 = 0.38) x 100 = 38%
Sportsbook true probability that team B will win = (0.66 / 106 = 0.62) x 100 = 62%
Notice how these true probabilities add up to make 100%, whereas the sportsbook's implied probabilities in the last section added up to 106% (including their 6% hold).
Knowing how to remove hold isn't a must when picking the fairest odds (as the hold calculator does the heavy lifting for you). However, it can be a handy trick to sharpen your betting toolkit.
Hold Calculator vs No-Vig Calculator
Both tools reveal sportsbook pricing tactics, but they answer different questions. A hold calculator tells you the book’s overall profit margin for a two-way market, helping you compare which operator takes the smallest slice from bettors. A no-vig calculator removes that margin entirely, showing the “true” implied probability for each side.
Use hold first to shortlist fair books, then apply no-vig to weigh whether the price still offers positive expected value. Combining the two prevents you from chasing “cheap” odds that remain negative EV after juice is stripped out and keeps your line-shopping process fast and data-driven.
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What Our Experts Say
"A hold calculator shows you who’s slicing off the biggest margin, but the no-vig calculator helps you decide if the remaining price is still worth betting. Used together, they form a powerful filter for identifying positive EV bets"
- Casey Halpern, Sports Betting Expert at ProfitDuel
6. Hold vs Vig: What's the Difference?
Though both hold and vigorish (AKA ‘vig’ or 'juice') relate to the amount of profit sportsbooks make from bettors, there is a slight difference.
Vig is the commission a sportsbook charges on each individual bet to make a profit, whereas hold relates to the overall profit margin percentage a sportsbook aims for on each event.
Because of this, a hold calculator, vig calculator and no-vig calculator can all play an effective role in a betting strategy.
7. How to Make Money Using a Hold Calculator: the Winning Strategy
By now you're probably wondering "How can I actually use a hold calculator to make money?". Well, we'll walk you through the one strategy that stands head and shoulders above the rest for building profits: matched betting.
Also known as free bet conversion, matched betting involves betting on every outcome of a sporting event to unlock a sportsbook promo (such as a free bet) without risking your own money.
Matched betting process (simplified)
But wait, it gets better. After this promo is unlocked, you then shop around for the best odds on events (using tools like a hold calculator) and repeat the process to lock in a withdrawable profit, regardless of the outcome.
It really is as easy as:
- Sign up to a reputable matched betting platform
- Place two bets (on either side of a sporting event) to unlock your free bet promo
- Shop for favorable odds (using tools like the hold calculator)
- Place another two bets to lock in your profit
The best part? We're so confident you'll love our matched betting platform, we're offering a ProfitDuel trial for new members. That's all of the software, strategies and support you need to start banking serious monthly profits.
Sound too good to be true? Try us. You'll soon see why we've had 500,000+ happy customers across the U.S. and Europe.
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