Poker Bankroll Calculator
How many buy-ins your bankroll really needs.
How it works
Poker has swings, so the bankroll you need is measured in buy-ins, not money. Cash games run lower variance and need fewer buy-ins; tournaments swing hard and need far more. A typical guide is around 30 buy-ins for cash, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs.
This calculator multiplies your buy-in by the recommended count for the format, and — if you enter your bankroll — shows how many buy-ins you actually hold. Keeping enough buy-ins is what lets you ride out variance without going broke at your stake.
Poker Bankroll Calculator
Poker swings mean the bankroll you need is measured in buy-ins, not money. This free poker bankroll calculator shows the recommended roll for cash, sit & go and tournament play, and whether your current bankroll holds enough buy-ins for the stake.
Buy-ins, not dollars
Variance is the reason a bankroll is sized in buy-ins. Cash games have the lowest variance and need the fewest buy-ins; sit & gos sit in the middle; multi-table tournaments swing hardest and need the most, because you cash in a minority of events and the top prizes are rare.
Common guidelines are around 30 buy-ins for cash, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs. Aggressive players go lower, cautious players higher.
Using the calculator
Enter your buy-in and format to get the recommended bankroll, and optionally your current bankroll to see how many buy-ins you actually have. If you are short of the recommendation, the disciplined move is to drop to a lower stake until the roll catches up.
Holding enough buy-ins is what lets you keep playing your best through the inevitable downswings without going broke.
How many buy-ins do I need for poker?expand_more
Roughly 30 for cash games, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs as a starting guide. Higher-variance formats need more; cautious players add a margin on top.
Why is a poker bankroll measured in buy-ins?expand_more
Because variance, not the absolute amount, determines how likely you are to go broke. Buy-ins normalise the bankroll to the stake you play.
What if my bankroll is below the recommendation?expand_more
Drop to a lower stake until your poker bankroll rebuilds. Playing under-rolled is the most common way winning players still go broke.