Betfair Commission Calculator: Know Your True Profits

Betfair charges commission on net winnings in each market—not on every bet. Our calculator shows your exact take-home profit after commission, helping you understand true returns from exchange betting.

What Is Betfair Commission?

Betfair commission is a fee charged on your net profits in each market. The base rate is 5%, but active bettors can earn discounts down to 2%. Unlike bookmaker margins built into odds, exchange commission is transparent and only charged when you win.

Quick Answer: Commission = Net Market Profit × Commission Rate. With 5% commission, a £100 profit becomes £95 take-home. If you're in profit by £100 but lost £30 on related selections, commission applies only to £70 net profit (£3.50 commission = £66.50 take-home). Discount rates based on Betfair Points can reduce commission to 2%.

How to Use Our Commission Calculator

Use the Betfair Commission Calculator →

Enter your market profit and commission rate to see net winnings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Market Profit: Your gross winnings

2. Input Commission Rate: 5% default or your tier

3. Add Market Losses: If any offsetting bets

4. View Net Profit: What you keep

5. Compare Rates: See discount tier impact

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Gross Profit	Winnings before commission	£100
Market Losses	Losing bets in same market	£0
Net Market Profit	Profit - losses	£100
Commission Rate	Your current tier	5%
Commission Amount	Fee charged	£5
Take-Home Profit	What you receive	£95

Betfair Commission Rates

Base Rate

Situation	Rate
New accounts	5%
Inactive accounts	5%
Standard rate	5%

Discount Tiers (Betfair Points)

Points Range	Discount	Effective Rate
0-999	0%	5.00%
1,000-4,999	10%	4.50%
5,000-9,999	20%	4.00%
10,000-24,999	30%	3.50%
25,000-49,999	40%	3.00%
50,000+	60%	2.00%

Earning Betfair Points

Activity	Points Earned
£10 commission paid	10 points
Weekly activity	Bonus multipliers
Market type	Varies

Commission Calculation

Basic Formula

Commission = Net Market Profit × Commission Rate

Example:
Profit: £100
Rate: 5%
Commission: £100 × 0.05 = £5
Take-home: £95

With Market Offsets

Market positions:
Back bet win: +£150
Lay bet loss: -£50
Net market profit: £100

Commission: £100 × 5% = £5
Take-home: £95 (not £142.50)

No Commission on Losses

If net market result is loss:
Commission = £0

Lost £100 in market = No commission
(You keep your losses entirely—they're yours!)

Back vs Lay Commission

Back Bet Wins

Stake	Odds	Profit	Commission (5%)	Net
£10	2.0	£10	£0.50	£9.50
£50	3.5	£125	£6.25	£118.75
£100	1.5	£50	£2.50	£47.50

Lay Bet Wins

Liability	Odds	Profit	Commission (5%)	Net
£20	2.0	£10	£0.50	£9.50
£80	1.5	£40	£2.00	£38.00
£100	3.0	£50	£2.50	£47.50

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Simple Back Bet Win

Bet: £50 back at 3.0 Result: Selection wins

Calculation:

• Gross profit: £50 × (3.0 - 1) = £100
• Commission: £100 × 5% = £5
• Net profit: £95

Example 2: Matched Betting Scenario

Bets in same market:

• Back £100 at 2.5 (wins) = +£150
• Lay £100 at 2.6 (loses) = -£60

Net market result: +£90 Commission: £90 × 5% = £4.50 Take-home: £85.50

Example 3: Trading Scenario

Trade on tennis match:

• Back at 1.8, £200 stake
• Lay at 1.6, £225 stake

If player wins:

• Back profit: +£160
• Lay loss: -£135
• Net: +£25
• Commission: £1.25
• Take-home: £23.75

If player loses:

• Back loss: -£200
• Lay win: +£225
• Net: +£25
• Commission: £1.25
• Take-home: £23.75

Example 4: Discount Rate Impact

Same £100 profit:

Rate	Commission	Take-Home
5.0%	£5.00	£95.00
4.0%	£4.00	£96.00
3.0%	£3.00	£97.00
2.0%	£2.00	£98.00

Annual difference (£10,000 profit):

• 5% = £500 commission
• 2% = £200 commission
• Savings: £300/year

Commission vs Bookmaker Margin

Comparing Costs

Factor	Betfair (5%)	Bookmaker (5% margin)
Odds 2.0	2.0 (pay 5% on win)	~1.90
Effective on win	£95 on £100 profit	£90 on £100 stake
On loss	£0 extra cost	Margin already in odds

True Comparison

Betfair back at 2.0:
Win £100 at odds 2.0 = £100 - £5 commission = £95

Bookmaker at 1.9:
Win £100 at odds 1.9 = £90 profit

Betfair advantage: £5 better per £100 stake

When Bookmaker Wins

Situation	Better Option
Low odds	Often Betfair
High odds	Compare carefully
Promotions	May favor bookmaker
Accumulator	Often bookmaker (no commission)

Betfair Commission Strategies

Minimizing Commission Impact

Strategy	Implementation
Increase volume	Earn discount tiers
Market selection	Trade actively for points
Rate awareness	Track your tier progress
Consolidate accounts	One account = better tier

Optimal Betting Volume

To reach 2% commission (60% discount):
Need 50,000 points
= £50,000 commission paid
= £1,000,000+ profit historically

For most: 4-5% rates are realistic targets

Commission-Aware Pricing

When placing bets, factor commission:

Target profit after commission: £100
Commission rate: 5%
Needed gross profit: £100 / 0.95 = £105.26

Adjust stake/odds to achieve £105.26 gross

Common Mistakes

1. Forgetting Commission in Calculations

Mistake: Expecting £100 on a £100 profit Problem: Take-home is actually £95 Fix: Always factor 5% (or your rate) into projections

2. Per-Bet Commission Thinking

Mistake: Assuming commission on every winning bet Problem: Commission is on NET market profit Fix: Understand market-level netting

3. Ignoring Discount Potential

Mistake: Staying at 5% forever Problem: Active bettors qualify for discounts Fix: Track points, aim for lower tiers

4. Comparing Wrong Numbers

Mistake: Comparing Betfair odds directly to bookmaker Problem: Need to adjust for commission Fix: Calculate effective odds after commission

Frequently Asked Questions

Is commission charged on losses?

No. Betfair only charges commission on net winning markets. Losing markets incur no commission.

When is commission deducted?

Immediately when the market settles and you're in profit. You see net profit in your account.

Do I pay commission on free bets?

Yes. Commission applies to profits regardless of stake source. Free bet profits are still profits.

Is commission the same for all sports?

Generally yes at 5% base, but some markets (especially smaller ones) may have different rates. Check specific market rules.

Can I reduce my commission rate?

Yes, through Betfair Points. More trading activity = more points = discount tiers. Very active traders reach 2%.

Does commission apply to Sportsbook?

No. Betfair Sportsbook (fixed odds) has no commission—margin is in the odds. Exchange = commission model.

Advanced Concepts

Market Consolidation

Same market, multiple bets:
Back A: +£100
Lay A: -£40
Back B (related): +£20
Lay B (related): -£30

Net = +£50
Commission = £2.50 (on net, not £100)

Green Book Commission

When trading to guaranteed profit:

Green book position: £25 profit any outcome
Commission (5%): £1.25
Guaranteed net: £23.75

Factor commission into green-up calculations

Cross-Market Commission

Each market settles independently:

Match 1: +£100 profit → £5 commission
Match 2: -£80 loss → £0 commission

Total: £100 - £80 = £20 net
But commission is £5 (not £1)

Markets don't offset for commission purposes

Pro Tips

• Calculate effective odds: Back odds × 0.95 = effective return

• Track your tier progress: Points accumulate over time

• Net within markets: Multiple bets in same market offset

• Compare fairly: Betfair 2.0 minus commission vs bookie odds

• Plan for commission: Include in all profit projections

Related Calculators

• Betting Odds Converter - Odds formats
• Lay Bet Calculator - Lay calculations
• Matched Betting Calculator - Arb calculations
• Betting Arbitrage Calculator - Arb opportunities
• Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis

Conclusion

Betfair commission is transparent and only charged on net market profits—a fairer model than bookmaker margins hidden in odds. Our calculator shows your exact take-home after commission, helping you accurately assess exchange betting returns. Factor commission into every calculation, work toward discount tiers through volume, and understand that despite the fee, exchange odds often beat traditional bookmakers.

Calculate Your Betfair Commission Now →

Exchange betting success requires understanding your true costs. Commission is the exchange's revenue model, and knowing exactly how it impacts your bottom line is essential for serious bettors. Our calculator makes commission math instant, letting you focus on finding value in the markets.