Poker payout calculator
Work out exactly how much each place pays. Enter your tournament details and get an instant, shareable prize-pool breakdown - no account needed.
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Tournament details
Rake / fee
Paid places
Recommended: 4 paid places
Payout structure
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Prize pool summary
Players
27
Total buy-ins
$540
Rebuys
$0
Add-ons
$0
Fees
$0
Prize pool
$540
Payout table
| Place | Percentage | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Place 1 | 45% | $243 |
| Place 2 | 27% | $146 |
| Place 3 | 18% | $97 |
| Place 4 | 10% | $54 |
Share this payout structure
How poker tournament payouts work
A tournament prize pool is the total of every buy-in, rebuy, and add-on collected, minus any rake or house fee. Once you know the prize pool, you decide how many places get paid and what share each finishing position receives.
The number of paid places usually scales with the field. Small home games often pay the top two or three, while larger tournaments pay roughly the top 10–15% of entrants. Paying more places spreads the money but shrinks the top prize; paying fewer places rewards the winner more aggressively.
This calculator turns those decisions into exact numbers. Enter your players and buy-in, add any rebuys, add-ons, or rake, pick a payout structure, and every position updates instantly so you can publish the payouts before cards are in the air.
Recommended payout structures
Standard
A balanced curve that rewards the winner while still paying a meaningful amount down to the last paid spot. A safe default for most home games and clubs.
Top heavy
Pushes more of the prize pool to first and second place. Good for competitive events where finishing first should be the clear goal.
Flat
Spreads the prize pool more evenly across paid places. Popular with recreational leagues and pub poker where keeping more players in the money matters.
Custom
Set your own percentage for every paid place. The calculator validates that your percentages add up to 100% so the prize pool always balances.
Common tournament payout examples
- 9-player home game, top 2 paid: roughly 65% / 35%.
- 27-player tournament, top 4 paid: roughly 45% / 27% / 18% / 10%.
- 60-player event, top 6 paid: a gentle curve from about 35% down to 4%.
- 100+ entrants: pay the top 10–15% with a smooth decline toward the bubble.
Frequently asked questions
A common guideline is to pay roughly the top 10–15% of the field. For small games, paying the top two or three keeps the prizes worthwhile. Use Auto for a recommendation or Custom to set your own.
Prize pool = (buy-in × players) + (rebuy × rebuys) + (add-on × add-ons) − fees. Set the rake to a percentage of the pool or a fixed amount per player.
Yes. Choose the Custom structure and enter a percentage for each paid place. The calculator checks that the percentages total 100% so the full prize pool is distributed.
Each prize below first place is rounded to a whole unit and first place absorbs the remainder, so the payouts always add up to the exact prize pool.
Yes, it is completely free and requires no account. When you are ready to run the tournament, The Club House gives you a live clock, player management, and automatic payouts.
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