Each Way Betting — The Complete Guide

How Each Way Betting Works

An each way bet is effectively two bets in one. If you place a £10 each way bet, you are staking £20 total: £10 on the selection to win, and £10 on the selection to place. The place terms (how many positions pay out and at what fraction of the odds) vary by market and sportsbook.

For football outright markets (e.g., Premier League winner), typical EW terms are 1/4 odds for the first 3 places. This means if you back a team at 20/1 each way and they finish 2nd or 3rd, the place part of your bet pays at 5/1 (20 divided by 4). Your £10 win part loses, but your £10 place part returns £60 (£50 profit + £10 stake).

Understanding Place Terms

• 1/4 odds, 3 places — The most common EW terms for football outrights. Your place bet pays at one-quarter of the win odds if your selection finishes in the top 3.
• 1/5 odds, 3 places — Less generous terms sometimes offered by bookmakers. Your place bet pays at one-fifth of the win odds.
• 1/4 odds, 4 places — Enhanced place terms offered as promotions. More places paid = higher probability of a return.
• Extra places — Some sportsbooks offer "extra place" promotions where they pay out on 4th, 5th, or even 6th place. These promotions offer genuine value and should be prioritised.

Best Football Markets for Each Way

• League winner outrights — Back an outsider to win the league each way. If they finish in the top 3, the place part covers your total stake. Teams at 25/1 or higher offer the best EW value.
• Tournament winner (World Cup, Euros, Champions League) — Large fields with multiple strong contenders make EW bets attractive. A semi-finalist at 14/1 EW returns a healthy profit from the place part alone.
• Top goalscorer — The Golden Boot market often has 3-5 genuine contenders. Backing a player at 10/1 or higher EW gives you two chances to profit.
• Relegation markets — "To be relegated" markets can be bet each way, with the bottom 3 (or 4 for extra place promotions) all paying out.

Each Way Strategies

• Focus on value odds (10/1+) — Each way betting only makes sense at longer odds. At short prices, the place return is too small to justify doubling your stake. Target selections at 10/1 or above.
• Shop for extra places — Sportsbooks frequently offer extra place promotions. An EW bet paying 4 places instead of 3 massively increases your probability of a return. Always check for these offers.
• Pre-season EW outrights — The best time to place EW outright bets is before the season starts when odds are most generous. As the season progresses and the picture clarifies, odds shorten and value diminishes.
• Hedge with cash out — If your EW outright selection is performing well mid-season (e.g., your 25/1 league winner is in 2nd place by January), consider cashing out the win part while letting the place part run. This locks in profit regardless of the final outcome.

Each Way vs Straight Win

The decision between each way and straight win depends on the odds and your confidence level. At odds of 5/1 or shorter, a straight win bet is usually better because the place return is too small. At 10/1 and above, each way offers genuine insurance. At 25/1 and above, each way is almost always the superior choice because the place part alone can return a meaningful profit.

Best Sportsbooks for Each Way

Bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel all offer each way betting on football outrights. Bet365 is particularly strong for extra place promotions. For the widest range of EW football markets, check our sportsbook reviews and odds comparison tools.