Home >
Blog > Decimal vs Fractional Odds
Decimal vs Fractional Odds: Which Should You Use?
Last updated: April 2026 | By WinFulltime Team
If you've bet with different bookmakers, you've probably noticed they show odds differently. Some use numbers like 2.50, others use fractions like 6/4. Some show plus/minus like +150.
These are just different ways of expressing the same thing - the probability of an outcome and how much you'll win. Let me break it down simply.
📌 In This Guide:
• Decimal odds explained
• Fractional odds explained
• How to convert between them
• Which format is better
• How bookmakers use both
Decimal Odds: The European Standard
Decimal odds are the most common format globally. They're popular because they're easy to understand - just multiply your stake by the decimal to get your total return.
The formula: Stake × Decimal Odds = Total Return
Decimal Example
You bet £10 on odds of 3.50
£10 × 3.50 = £35 total return
Your profit: £25 (£35 - £10 stake)
Why Decimal Is Great
- Easy to compare - Just look at the number
- Easy to calculate - One simple multiplication
- Includes your stake - You see exactly what you'll get back
- Standard in most of Europe, Canada, Australia
Fractional Odds: The UK Traditional
Fractional odds are the old-school British way. They're still popular in the UK, especially for horse racing and some football markets.
The formula: Stake × (Fraction) = Profit
Fractional Examples
Evens (1/1): Bet £10, win £10 profit + £10 stake = £20 total
6/4: Bet £10, win £15 profit + £10 stake = £25 total
5/1: Bet £10, win £50 profit + £10 stake = £60 total
Reading Fractional Odds
- 6/4 = For every £4 you bet, you win £6
- 2/1 = For every £1 you bet, you win £2
- 1/2 = For every £2 you bet, you win £1 (odds on)
- 5/1 = "Five-to-one" - five times your stake in profit
Conversion Table
Here's a quick reference for converting between formats:
| Fractional | Decimal | Probability |
|---|
| 1/1 (Evens) | 2.00 | 50% |
| 4/5 | 1.80 | 55.5% |
| 5/4 | 2.25 | 44.4% |
| 6/4 | 2.50 | 40% |
| 9/4 | 3.25 | 30.8% |
| 5/1 | 6.00 | 16.7% |
| 10/1 | 11.00 | 9.1% |
💡 Quick Conversion Formula
Decimal = (Fraction + 1)
Example: 6/4 + 1 = 2.50 (which is 6/4)
To convert Decimal to Fraction:
Decimal - 1 = Fraction
Example: 3.00 - 1 = 2/1
Which Format Should You Use?
Use Decimal If...
- You want to easily compare odds between bookmakers
- You're building accumulators
- You prefer seeing your total return at a glance
- You're betting on football (most use decimals)
Use Fractional If...
- You're betting on horse racing (traditionally uses fractions)
- You're more comfortable with the UK system
- You want to quickly calculate implied probability
Why Bookmakers Offer Both
Most online bookmakers let you switch between formats in your account settings. They offer both because:
- Customer preference - Different bettors prefer different formats
- Different markets - Some markets traditionally use fractions
- It's easy to implement - No technical cost to offering both
💡 Pro Tip
Always check your account settings and choose your preferred format. Then stick with it - switching between formats makes it harder to judge value quickly.
Next Steps