Tournament payout calculator
Running a home game or club tournament? Enter the field, buy-in, and rake to get the prize pool and a clean payout structure you can post on the wall.
Prize pool$540
- 1st45%$241
- 2nd28%$149
- 3rd17%$93
- 4th11%$57
A suggested top-heavy structure — adjust paid places to taste. Real payout curves vary by venue.
Frequently asked questions
- How are poker tournament payouts calculated?
- First the prize pool: entrants × buy-in, minus any rake. Then it's split among the paid places — roughly the top 10–15% of the field — on a top-heavy curve where first place earns the most.
- How many places should get paid?
- A common guideline is to pay about the top 15% of the field, with at least the final few. This calculator auto-picks a sensible number, or you can set it yourself.
Setting up the game too? Use the blinds calculator and chip distribution calculator.