What Are Units in Betting? Our Expert Guide
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Last Updated: 1 August, 2025
Units are a way to measure how much you risk on each bet, no matter your bankroll size.
Instead of saying “I bet $50,” you might say “I bet 1 unit.”
This system makes it easier to track performance and compare results between bettors with different bankrolls.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, understanding what are units in betting helps you stay disciplined, manage risk, and build a long-term strategy.
How do units work in betting?
Units work by letting you bet consistent amounts based on a percentage of your bankroll, rather than flat dollar values.
This helps you stay disciplined and manage risk, especially during cold streaks or when emotions run high.
For example, if your unit size is 2% of a $1,000 bankroll, each bet would be $20.
That means a 1-unit bet equals $20, a 2-unit bet equals $40, and a 0.5-unit bet equals $10.
You adjust your bet size using units, without changing your strategy or chasing losses.
Understanding how do units work in betting is key to building a steady, long-term approach instead of chasing short-term wins.
How to calculate betting units
To calculate your unit size, you first need to decide how much money you’re willing to risk, your bankroll.
Then, choose a percentage you’re comfortable betting per wager.
Most bettors use 1% to 5%, depending on risk tolerance.
Here’s how to do it:
If you use a betting units calculator, it does this math for you.
But learning how to calculate betting units manually helps you stay flexible and aware of your actual risk.
As your bankroll grows or shrinks, recalculate your unit size to stay on track.
Types of unit systems
There are three main ways to manage your sports betting units.
Each has its own strengths and use cases, depending on your style and goals.
A fixed unit system is the simplest: set your unit size once and use it for all bets.
A percentage-based system adjusts with your bankroll, for example, 2% of $1,000 is $20, but 2% of $1,200 is $24.
A variable unit strategy means betting 0.5 units on low-confidence picks and 2–3 units on higher-confidence ones.
This flexibility is why many sharp bettors use a sports betting units system tailored to their risk profile and performance goals.
Units vs flat betting
Flat betting means wagering the exact same dollar amount every time, no matter your bankroll size or confidence level.
Unit betting is more flexible; it adjusts bet size based on bankroll, percentage risk, and sometimes confidence in the pick.
While flat betting is simple, it doesn’t scale with your bankroll.
A unit-based system keeps risk consistent and allows you to grow or shrink your bet size based on performance.
This makes it better for long-term bankroll management.
How many units should you bet?
Most bettors start by placing 1 unit per bet.
It keeps risk consistent and helps you track performance over time.
But depending on your confidence level, you might scale up or down.
For example:
Low confidence: 0.5 units
Average confidence: 1 unit
High confidence: 2–3 units
If your unit size is $20 and you strongly believe in a pick, betting 2 units means you risk $40.
On the flip side, if you're unsure, like betting a long shot or parlay, 0.5 units might be safer.
This is where units betting becomes strategic.
You're not just managing money, you're managing decision quality over time.
Is unit betting worth it?
Yes, unit betting is absolutely worth it if you care about long-term success and risk control.
It gives structure to your strategy, helps you track wins and losses more accurately, and prevents you from overbetting during cold streaks.
The downside?
You might win less on any single bet compared to going “all in.”
But that’s the point, unit betting isn’t about short-term hits.
It’s about staying in the game longer, betting smarter, and seeing steady gains over time.
Our take: We’ve tested unit systems across hundreds of bets, and the results are clear.
Bettors who use consistent unit sizing, especially 1–2% of their bankroll, lose less during bad runs and recover faster.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced bettor, unit betting brings discipline that pays off.
Betting units strategy
The key to smart unit betting is staying consistent, especially when emotions get involved.
A solid sports betting units strategy helps you manage risk, stay disciplined, and grow your bankroll slowly but steadily.
Here’s how to approach it:
Set your bankroll and stick to it. Decide how much you’re willing to risk over a week, month, or season.
Pick a unit size (1–5%) based on your risk tolerance. For most bettors, 1–2% is a good starting point.
Bet the same number of units consistently. Only increase unit size if your bankroll grows or you’ve tracked solid results over time.
Adjust for confidence when it makes sense. Bet 0.5 units on low-confidence picks, or 2–3 units when you’ve found strong value.
Never chase losses. One of the most important rules in unit betting is staying patient, even when you’re on a losing streak.
Good unit strategy turns betting into a numbers game, not an emotional one.
You won’t win every bet, but you’ll lose less when things go wrong and maximize value when things go right.
Example of units in action
Let’s say your bankroll is $1,000, and you decide on a unit size of 1%; that’s $10 per unit.
You’re confident in your picks today, so you bet 3 units on a moneyline and 0.5 units on a longshot prop.
3-unit bet: $10 × 3 = $30 risked
0.5-unit bet: $10 × 0.5 = $5 risked
If the 3-unit bet hits at +120, you win $36 total profit (3 units × $12/unit profit).
If the 0.5-unit bet at +400 wins, you get $20 in profit.
This shows how using sports betting units helps manage different bet types and risk levels, all while keeping your strategy consistent.
Tracking performance in units
Tracking your results in units gives a clearer picture of how you're doing, especially when comparing performance across different bankrolls.
For example, one bettor might be up $500 and another up $50, but if both use a $10 unit size, they're +50 units and +5 units, respectively.
That’s what makes units in sports betting a universal way to measure success, regardless of how much actual money is being bet.
It also helps you evaluate risk vs return.
If you're consistently winning at 1–2 units per play and staying within your limits, you're doing better than someone who wins big one day but blows their bankroll the next.
Use a spreadsheet, sports betting app, or journal to track:
Units risked
Units won or lost
Your total unit profit (or loss)
This long-term view is essential if you're serious about getting better.
Common unit betting mistakes to avoid
Changing unit size too often. Stick to your chosen percentage unless your bankroll changes significantly.
Chasing losses with multiple-unit bets. Doubling or tripling units after a loss usually leads to bigger losses.
Overestimating confidence. Just because you “feel good” about a pick doesn’t mean it deserves 3 units.
Betting without tracking. If you’re not tracking units, you’re just guessing.
Avoiding these common mistakes keeps your unit betting effective and sustainable.
Free unit betting tracker (DIY or app-based)
To get the most out of unit betting, you need to track your results.
This helps you see what’s working, what’s not, and how your strategy performs over time.
You’ve got two simple options:
Use a spreadsheet: Google Sheets or Excel works great
Try a free tracking app: BetStamp, Pikkit, or Action Network are easy to use
If you build your own tracker, just include these columns:
Date: When you placed the bet
Bet type: Spread, moneyline, total, prop, etc.
Units risked: 0.5, 1, 2, etc.
Odds: American odds like -110 or +150
Result: Win, loss, or push
Units won/lost: So you can measure your profit over time
Tracking in units, rather than dollars, gives you a cleaner view of your performance, no matter how much money you’re actually betting.
Betting units tips
Use these tips to get the most out of unit betting, whether you're just starting or tightening up your strategy:
Stick to 1–2% per unit. It keeps risk manageable and gives you more chances to bet without burning your bankroll.
Be consistent. Changing unit size randomly makes it harder to track performance and manage risk.
Avoid chasing losses. Don’t double your next bet to make up for the last. Stay steady and trust your process.
Track everything. Log your bets, wins, and losses in units, not just dollars.
Scale slowly. Only increase your unit size if your bankroll grows and never out of emotion.
Unit betting keeps your strategy grounded.
It’s not flashy, but it works over time.
Unit betting by sport
Not all sports have the same risk profile, so it’s smart to adjust your approach slightly by sport:
NFL/College Football: Use 1–2 unit bets, fewer games mean you can be more selective.
NBA/NHL/MLB: Stick to 0.5–1 unit bets more often due to the higher volume and variance.
UFC/Boxing: Risk smaller units on underdogs or props, outcomes can swing on one moment.
Tennis/Soccer: Because of unpredictable results, stick to smaller unit sizes unless strong value is found.
The idea is to apply consistent logic but adapt slightly depending on how volatile the sport is.
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References
Contributors
Bradley Gibbs
Author
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.
Josh Miller
Reviewed By
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.