Bankroll and Unit Size Calculator
Choose your unit as a share of bankroll; see its size and a losing streak.
- A bet of 1 unit
- $20.00
- Losses in a row to lose a quarter
- 29
- Losses in a row to lose half
- 69
| Unit | Size | Losses to lose half |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5% | $10.00 | 139 |
| 1% | $20.00 | 69 |
| 2% | $40.00 | 35 |
| 3% | $60.00 | 23 |
| 5% | $100.00 | 14 |
Losses are counted for a stake of a fixed share of the current bankroll, so each one is a little smaller than the last.
Educational tool. Bandwagon does not take or place wagers. Results are arithmetic on the numbers you enter, not advice.
How the bankroll and Unit Size Calculator works
A unit is a fixed share of the bankroll, commonly 1% to 2%. Unit size = bankroll × unit %. A bet of two units risks twice that.
With a stake of a fixed share u of the current bankroll, n losses in a row leave (1 − u)^n of it. The streak that takes the bankroll down to a fraction f is n = ln(f) / ln(1 − u). The table shows how many losses it takes to lose half at 0.5% to 5%.
The unit size is a risk setting, not a forecast. The longer the losing streak you want to survive, the smaller the unit should be. The Kelly Criterion Calculator sizes a stake from an edge instead.
Bankroll and Unit Size Calculator example
You enter
- Bankroll
- $2000
- One unit is
- 1%
- Units per bet
- 1
You get
- A bet of 1 unit
- $20.00
- Losses in a row to lose a quarter
- 29
- Losses in a row to lose half
- 69
| Unit | Size | Losses to lose half |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5% | $10.00 | 139 |
| 1% | $20.00 | 69 |
| 2% | $40.00 | 35 |
| 3% | $60.00 | 23 |
| 5% | $100.00 | 14 |
On a 2,000 bankroll a 1% unit is 20. At 1% a bet it takes 69 losses in a row to lose half the bankroll; at 5% a bet it takes 14.
Bankroll and Unit Size Calculator questions
What is a good unit size?
Commonly 1% to 2% of the bankroll. Smaller survives longer losing streaks; larger grows or shrinks faster.
Should a unit change as my bankroll changes?
If you want a constant share, recompute it. Many people reset it weekly or monthly rather than after every bet.
How many losses in a row should I be able to survive?
That is your choice; the table shows how many 1% or 2% losses it takes to lose half the bankroll.
Is a unit the same as a stake?
A unit is a bankroll-relative size. A stake is the amount of one bet, in units or in money.
Related calculators
Kelly Criterion Calculator
Full, half and quarter Kelly stakes from the odds, your win probability and your bankroll.
Expected Value Calculator
The average result of a bet if your win probability is right, and the edge over the price.
Parlay Odds by Number of Legs
What two to twelve legs at the same price pay, and the win rate each leg needs.
Bankroll unit size calculator: turn a bankroll and a unit percentage into a dollar unit, and see how many straight losses it takes to lose a quarter or half.