Blackjack house edge calculator
Not all blackjack tables are equal. Toggle the rules to see exactly how the house edge changes — and which rules to walk away from.
Decks
Soft 17
Blackjack pays
Double
Double after split
Late surrender
House edge
0.40%
About $0.40 lost per $100 wagered, long run.
Base (6 decks, S17, 3:2, DAS)0.40%
Edges from independent Monte Carlo simulation of basic-strategy play. Rule effects are summed (a standard first-order model); exact figures vary slightly with rare rule interactions and perfect per-rule strategy.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the house edge in blackjack?
- It's the casino's long-run advantage — the percentage of each bet you expect to lose over time with perfect basic strategy. A typical good game is around half a percent, among the lowest in the casino.
- Which rule hurts the player most?
- By far, blackjack paying 6:5 instead of 3:2 — it adds well over a full percent to the house edge. Avoid 6:5 tables. Dealer hitting soft 17 and fewer decks doubling allowances also matter.
- How are these numbers calculated?
- Not from memory — from independent Monte Carlo simulations of millions of basic-strategy hands per rule set, cross-checked against each other and established published figures.
Lower the edge yourself: drill basic strategy and card counting.