What 2/5 means
With fractional odds, the first number is what you win and the second is what you stake. At 2/5, you stake £5 to win £2, so your profit is smaller than your stake. That's what makes it odds-on: the bookmaker rates this outcome as more likely to happen than not.
It's read as "two to five", but bookmakers often turn odds-on prices round, so you'll also hear 2/5 called "five to two on" or "5/2 on". Both mean the same thing.
2/5 in decimal and American odds
| Format | 2/5 as | How it's worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 1.40 | 2 ÷ 5 + 1 |
| American | -250 | 100 ÷ (1.40 − 1) |
| Implied probability | 71.4% | 1 ÷ 1.40 |
What 2/5 pays
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £0.40 | £1.40 |
| £2.00 | £0.80 | £2.80 |
| £5.00 | £2.00 | £7.00 |
| £10.00 | £4.00 | £14.00 |
| £20.00 | £8.00 | £28.00 |
| £50.00 | £20.00 | £70.00 |
| £100.00 | £40.00 | £140.00 |
How likely is 2/5 to win?
2/5 implies a 71.4% chance, or about 5 in 7. The bookmaker expects this outcome more often than not. The true chance is usually a little lower than this, because bookmakers build a margin into every price.
2/5 each way
An each way bet splits your stake between a win bet and a place bet, with the place part paid at a fraction of 2/5. For a £5 each way bet (£10 in total):
| Place terms | Place odds | Returns if it wins | Returns if it places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 odds | 1/10 | £12.50 | £5.50 |
| 1/5 odds | 2/25 | £12.40 | £5.40 |
At 1/5 terms, a placed finish returns £5.40 from the £10 total stake, so it still loses £4.60 overall. Each way needs bigger prices than 2/5 for the place part to cover the bet. Work out any each way bet.
If a horse at 2/5 is withdrawn
When a horse priced at 2/5 is withdrawn after you've bet on another runner in the same race, Rule 4 takes 70p from every £1 of your winnings. It applies to bets struck at a fixed price before the withdrawal. Work out a Rule 4 deduction.
Prices either side of 2/5
See every common price explained, or convert any price with the odds converter.