Poker Bankroll Calculator
Calculate how much bankroll you need for your stakes. Cash games and tournaments — powered by the Risk of Ruin formula. Free, no signup.
How to use this bankroll calculator
Find the right bankroll for your game in seconds — backed by math, not guesswork.
Choose your game
Select Cash Game or Tournament, then enter your stakes or buy-in. Use quick-pick buttons for common stakes.
Enter your edge
Set your win rate (bb/100 for cash or ROI% for tournaments) and standard deviation. Choose your acceptable risk level.
Get your number
See the required bankroll in buy-ins and dollars. Enter your current bankroll to check your actual risk of ruin.
What is bankroll management?
Bankroll management is the practice of keeping enough money set aside for poker to survive the natural variance of the game. Even winning players experience long losing streaks. A proper bankroll ensures you can weather those downswings without going broke.
The core idea is simple: never risk your entire bankroll at a single stake. Instead, maintain enough buy-ins so that normal variance won't wipe you out. The exact number depends on your win rate, the game's variance, and your risk tolerance.
Bankroll guidelines by game type
These are general guidelines based on the Risk of Ruin formula. Your exact requirements depend on your win rate and the game's variance.
NL Hold'em (Cash)
Cash game variance is moderate. A good win rate of 3+ bb/100 with a standard deviation around 75 bb/100 needs roughly 25–30 buy-ins at 5% risk of ruin. Recreational players or those with smaller edges need more.
PLO (Cash)
PLO has significantly higher standard deviation (100–130 bb/100). Even strong winners need 40+ buy-ins to stay safe. The swings are bigger, but so are the potential profits.
Sit & Go
SNGs have lower variance than MTTs but higher than cash games. A 6-max SNG grinder with 5% ROI needs around 80 buy-ins. Hyper-turbos require more due to increased randomness.
MTT (Multi-Table Tournaments)
MTTs are the highest-variance format. Large field tournaments (500+ players) can require 200+ buy-ins even for winning players. The massive payouts come with massive swings.
Key concepts
Risk of Ruin
Risk of Ruin (RoR) is the probability that you'll lose your entire bankroll before it grows indefinitely. The formula considers your win rate, variance, and bankroll size. A 5% RoR means there's a 5% chance you'll go broke — acceptable for most serious players.
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation measures how much your results swing around your average. In NL Hold'em, a typical SD is 70–85 bb/100 hands. Higher SD means bigger swings and requires a larger bankroll. Aggressive players and PLO games have higher SD.
Moving up in stakes
Move up when your bankroll comfortably supports the next level — typically when you have 25+ buy-ins for the higher stake. Many pros use a "20 buy-in at the new level" rule. If you lose 3–5 buy-ins quickly, move back down.
Shot-taking strategy
Shot-taking means playing a few sessions at a higher stake to test the waters. Set a strict stop-loss (e.g., 3 buy-ins) and move back down if you hit it. This lets you take calculated risks without endangering your bankroll.
Frequently asked questions
How many buy-ins do I need for poker?
It depends on the game format and your win rate. Cash game winners typically need 20–40 buy-ins, SNG players need 50–100, and MTT grinders need 100–400+. Use this calculator with your actual win rate for a precise answer.
What win rate should I enter?
Use your actual win rate from your tracking software (like Hand2Note). For cash games, it's measured in bb/100 hands. For tournaments, use your ROI percentage. If you're unsure, use conservative estimates: 2–3 bb/100 for cash, 5–10% for tournaments.
What is standard deviation in poker?
Standard deviation measures the volatility of your results. It tells you how much your actual results deviate from your expected win rate. For NL Hold'em cash games, a typical SD is 70–85 bb/100. You can find your exact SD in Hand2Note or other tracking tools.
What Risk of Ruin percentage should I use?
Most serious players target 5% or less. Conservative players (pros who depend on poker income) should aim for 1–2%. Recreational players with outside income can tolerate 10%. Lower RoR requires a bigger bankroll but gives more safety.
Can I use this calculator for online and live poker?
Yes. The math is the same for both. However, live poker typically has higher win rates and lower volume, while online poker has higher volume but tougher games. Adjust your win rate and volume accordingly.
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