How accumulator returns are worked out
Convert each selection's odds to decimal, multiply them together, and multiply the result by your stake. Fractional odds of 6/4 are 2.5 in decimal, 11/10 is 2.1, 4/5 is 1.8 and 2/1 is 3.0. Multiplied together, those give combined odds of 28.35.
| Selection | Odds | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6/4 | Won |
| 2 | 11/10 | Won |
| 3 | 4/5 | Won |
| 4 | 2/1 | Won |
| Part of the bet | Stake | Returns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fourfold | £10.00 | £283.50 |
| Total | £10.00 | £283.50 |
Profit: £273.50
When a selection is void
If one match is postponed or a horse doesn't run, that leg is treated as odds of 1 and drops out of the sum. Your acca carries on as a treble:
| Selection | Odds | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6/4 | Won |
| 2 | 11/10 | Won |
| 3 | 4/5 | Won |
| 4 | 2/1 | Void |
| Part of the bet | Stake | Returns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fourfold | £10.00 | £94.50 |
| Total | £10.00 | £94.50 |
Profit: £84.50
Why big acca returns are hard to land
The odds multiply because the chances multiply too. The four selections above have implied chances of 40%, 48%, 56% and 33%. For all four to win, the chance is roughly 1 in 28, and the true chance is usually a little lower because bookmaker odds include a margin. Each selection you add makes the payout bigger and the bet less likely to come in.
Each way accumulators
An each way acca is two accumulators. The win part needs every selection to win. The place part needs every selection to place, with each one paid at its place odds. Turn on each way in the calculator to see both.
Acca boosts and insurance
Bookmakers often add a percentage boost to winning accas, or refund the stake as a free bet if one selection lets you down. The terms differ between bookmakers, so the calculator shows the standard return without them.
Common questions
How many selections make an accumulator?
Usually four or more. Two selections combined are called a double and three a treble, but they work the same way. The calculator handles accumulators of up to 15 selections.
What happens if one selection is postponed or a non-runner?
That selection becomes void and counts as odds of 1. The bet carries on with the rest, so a fourfold becomes a treble at lower combined odds.
Can I put two selections from the same match in an accumulator?
Not in a standard acca, because the results are linked. For several selections from one match, bookmakers offer bet builders, which are priced differently.
What is the difference between an accumulator and a Lucky 15?
An accumulator is one bet that needs every selection to win. A Lucky 15 splits four selections into 15 smaller bets, so it can pay out even if only one wins, but it costs 15 times the stake.