What 4/6 means
With fractional odds, the first number is what you win and the second is what you stake. At 4/6, you stake £6 to win £4, 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 "four to six", but bookmakers often turn odds-on prices round, so you'll also hear 4/6 called "six to four on" or "6/4 on". Both mean the same thing.
4/6 in decimal and American odds
| Format | 4/6 as | How it's worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 1.67 | 4 ÷ 6 + 1 |
| American | -150 | 100 ÷ (1.67 − 1) |
| Implied probability | 60.0% | 1 ÷ 1.67 |
What 4/6 pays
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £0.67 | £1.67 |
| £2.00 | £1.33 | £3.33 |
| £5.00 | £3.33 | £8.33 |
| £10.00 | £6.67 | £16.67 |
| £20.00 | £13.33 | £33.33 |
| £50.00 | £33.33 | £83.33 |
| £100.00 | £66.67 | £166.67 |
How likely is 4/6 to win?
4/6 implies a 60.0% chance, or about 3 in 5. 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.
4/6 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 4/6. For a £5 each way bet (£10 in total):
| Place terms | Place odds | Returns if it wins | Returns if it places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 odds | 1/6 | £14.17 | £5.83 |
| 1/5 odds | 2/15 | £14.00 | £5.67 |
At 1/5 terms, a placed finish returns £5.67 from the £10 total stake, so it still loses £4.33 overall. Each way needs bigger prices than 4/6 for the place part to cover the bet. Work out any each way bet.
If a horse at 4/6 is withdrawn
When a horse priced at 4/6 is withdrawn after you've bet on another runner in the same race, Rule 4 takes 55p from every £1 of your winnings.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 4/6
See every common price explained, or convert any price with the odds converter.