Each Way
A UK-style bet made of two equal parts: one to win and one to place.
An each-way bet is really two bets of equal size: one on your selection to win, and one on it to "place," meaning finish in one of the top few spots. It is common in UK and Irish horse racing and in golf betting.
A "£10 each-way" bet costs £20: £10 on the win and £10 on the place.
How Each-Way Bets Pay
The place part pays a fraction of the win odds, usually 1/4 or 1/5, depending on the race. Standard UK terms look like this:
| Race | Places Paid | Place Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 7 runners | 2 | 1/4 |
| 8 or more runners | 3 | 1/5 |
| Handicap, 12 to 15 runners | 3 | 1/4 |
| Handicap, 16 or more runners | 4 | 1/4 |
Bookmakers sometimes offer "extra places" as a promotion, especially in big races.
Each-Way Example
You bet £10 each way (£20 total) at 8/1, with place terms of 1/5 odds for the top three.
If your horse wins: win part returns £90 (£80 + £10 stake), place part returns £26 (£16 + £10 stake). Total £116.
If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd: the win part loses, the place part returns £26. You are £6 up overall.
If it finishes 4th or worse: both parts lose. You lose £20.
When Each-Way Bets Make Sense
Each-way betting works best on longer-priced selections in bigger fields, where the place part can still turn a profit. On short-priced favorites, a placed finish often returns less than your total stake.
Each Way in Golf
Golf each-way bets usually pay places down to 5th to 10th, at 1/4 or 1/5 odds, which is why they are popular for long-shot golfers. Ties for the last paying place are settled by dead heat rules.
Key Takeaways
- An each-way bet is two equal bets: one to win and one to place.
- The place part pays a fraction of the win odds, usually 1/4 or 1/5.
- A £10 each-way bet costs £20 in total.
- Each-way bets suit longer-priced selections in larger fields.
Examples
- £5 each way at 10/1 (1/4 odds, 2 places) costs £10. A second-place finish returns £17.50 from the place part.
- A golf each-way bet paying 1/5 odds for the top 8 finishers.
Related Terms
Test Your Knowledge
1 / 4Do you know what Dead Heat means?
When two or more competitors finish tied, resulting in winnings split proportionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an each-way bet cost?
Double the stake you name. A £10 each-way bet is £10 to win plus £10 to place, so £20 in total.
Can I bet each way at US racetracks?
Not by that name. US tracks offer separate win, place, and show bets, which you can combine yourself. Each-way bets are mainly a UK, Irish, and golf betting format.