What is an each way bet?
An each way (E/W) bet is really two bets in one:
- Win bet — your selection must win outright.
- Place bet — your selection must finish in one of the bookmaker’s specified places (e.g., top 3, top 5).
You stake the same amount on both parts.
👉 Example: A $10 each way bet = $10 win + $10 place = $20 total stake.
Working out an each way bet
To calculate returns, you need:
- The odds offered
- The place terms (e.g., 1/5 odds, top 3 places)
- Your stake
Example 1 — Horse Racing
- Horse odds: 10/1 (decimal 11.0)
- Place terms: 1/5 odds, top 3
- Bet: $10 each way ($20 total)
Win part:
- $10 × 10/1 = $100 profit + $10 stake = $110 return if horse wins.
Place part:
- Place odds = 10/1 × 1/5 = 2/1 (decimal 3.0)
- $10 × 2/1 = $20 profit + $10 stake = $30 return if horse places.
Total outcomes:
- If the horse wins: you get both = $110 + $30 = $140 return.
- If the horse places only: you lose the win bet, but the place returns $30.
- If the horse finishes outside: you lose both = $0 return.
Example 2 — Golf (Top 5)
- Golfer odds: 20/1
- Place terms: 1/4 odds, top 5
- Bet: $5 each way ($10 total)
Win part: $5 × 20/1 = $100 profit + $5 stake = $105 return.
Place part: Adjusted odds = 20/1 × 1/4 = 5/1 → $5 × 5/1 = $25 profit + $5 = $30 return.
- If golfer wins: $105 + $30 = $135 return.
- If golfer finishes top 5 but not 1st: only place bet wins = $30.
Why each way betting is popular
- Safety net: Even if your pick doesn’t win, you can still profit from a place.
- Great for longshots: Boosts chances of a payout when betting outsiders.
- Flexible: Common in horse racing, golf, and sometimes football outrights.
How BetRocket helps
Manually “working out” each way bets can get messy, especially when juggling multiple markets. BetRocket makes it easier:
- Each way calculators that instantly show win, place, and total returns.
- No-vig analysis so you know the fair value behind both win and place parts.
- EV+ detection to highlight when an each way bet is actually profitable.
- Surebet finder to uncover arbitrage between win-only and place-only markets.
- Bankroll management tools like Kelly to size stakes correctly.
Final thoughts
Working out an each way bet means splitting your stake into a win part and a place part, then applying the odds and place terms. Once you understand the math, you’ll see why each way betting is so popular for longshot picks in horse racing and golf.
With BetRocket’s calculators and EV+ insights, you don’t just “work out” each way bets — you work them out smarter.