Market Hold Calculator

Calculate Sportsbook Hold Percentage

Hold percentage represents the theoretical profit a sportsbook will make on a market if action is perfectly balanced. It's another way to measure the bookmaker's edge and is directly related to vig. Lower hold percentages indicate more competitive odds and better value for bettors.

Different markets have different hold percentages. Popular markets like NFL point spreads typically have holds around 4-5%, while niche markets or player props can have holds of 10-20% or more. Knowing the hold helps you identify which markets offer the best betting value.

Hold Comparison by Market Type

Sharp Books (Pinnacle)2-3%
Reduced Juice Books3-4%
Standard Lines (-110)4-5%
Props (Player markets)5-10%
Same Game Parlays15-30%

Understanding Hold

Hold (or "market hold") represents the sportsbook's theoretical profit margin on a two-sided market. It's calculated as the sum of implied probabilities minus 100%.

Hold = (Implied Prob 1 + Implied Prob 2) - 100%

Lower hold = better for bettors. Sharp books typically have 2-3% hold, while recreational books might have 4-5%+. Avoid markets with high hold percentages (10%+) as they offer poor value.