This guide explains what a craps payouts calculator does and why it helps players compare wagers objectively. It walks through common payoff formats, how house edge arises, and the exact inputs a reliable calculator needs. Examples use standard U.S. paytables so you can follow the arithmetic and verify results at the table.

A calculator separates base bets from free odds, so you see true odds separately from house-edge components.

Place 6/8 at 7:6 and Pass/Come with odds are typically among the best EV options on standard U.S. tables.

Field schedules vary by venue; a triple pay on 12 significantly reduces the field's house edge.

Quick overview: what a craps payouts calculator does and why it helps

A craps payouts calculator is a tool that converts a specific bet type, the stake amount, and the table's paytable into clear payout amounts and an expected return figure. In practice it separates a bet into its paid components, for example the Pass Line base bet and any free odds, applies the table's payout ratios, and combines those with known dice probabilities to report a payout for a win and the bet's expected value, or EV. The calculator concept and standard payout references are documented in expert resources such as the Wizard of Odds, which supply the pay schedules and probability baselines used in computations Wizard of Odds craps guide.

When used correctly a calculator gives three practical outputs: the payout amount a player receives on a winning outcome, the break-even stake for a specific return target, and the expected value over the long run for that wager given the table rules. For example, entering a place bet on 4 with a 9:5 payout lets the tool compute the win amount for a single successful roll and the EV contribution per unit staked, so the player sees both immediate payout and longer-term expectation.

When to use a calculator, craps payouts calculator

Use a craps payouts calculator when you need to compare bets that use different payout formats, when you want to include odds in a combined EV calculation, or when the table shows nonstandard pay schedules such as a triple-12 field. A calculator is particularly helpful for mixed staking plans where multiple bet types are placed simultaneously and you need an aggregate expected return for the stake mix.

Typical calculator inputs are simple and consistent: bet type, stake size, the table's paytable entries for that bet, and the odds multiple when applicable. Accurate inputs are essential because the calculator's output is only as reliable as the paytable and probability data you supply.

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Try a simple calculator or download a one-page paytable checklist before you bet to make sure your inputs match the posted table payouts.

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Craps basics: common bets, dice outcomes and how payouts are structured

Craps paytables group wagers into families with distinct payout logic: Pass and Come, Don't Pass and Don't Come, odds bets that pay true odds, place bets, the field, and proposition bets. Each family's payouts are determined by the probability of the dice results that produce a win and the casino's posted pay ratios, so the numerical payout you see for a win ties directly to the underlying dice chances.

Close up of two dice showing six and eight on dark felt near the 6 8 place area minimalist casino layout for craps payouts calculator

For orientation, Pass/Come and Don’t Pass/Don’t Come are line bets resolved against the shooter, odds are an add-on resolved at true ratios, place bets pay fixed ratios for specific point numbers, the field is a one-roll bet that covers several numbers with special pays for 2 or 12 at many tables, and proposition bets are single-roll or roll-type bets with widely varying payouts. State rulebooks and table rules govern which wagers are allowed and how payouts must be displayed, so check those posted rules before entering numbers into a calculator Colorado Rule 23 on craps.

Pass and Come versus Don't Pass and Don't Come: payouts and house edge

Pass Line and Come bets pay even money, or 1:1, meaning a winning $10 Pass bet returns the $10 win plus the original $10 stake. Those core line bets carry relatively low house edges: Pass Line and Come have an approximate house edge of 1.41 percent in typical U.S. tables, while Don't Pass and Don't Come pay 1:1 with a slightly lower house edge near 1.36 percent. These edge figures come from the mix of immediate wins and losses on the come-out roll and the distribution of point outcomes as compiled by established references Wizard of Odds craps guide.

The small difference in edge between Pass and Don't Pass follows from the way ties and certain come-out roll outcomes are treated, but both are considered among the best single bets on the table from an EV perspective. When you enter a Pass or Don't Pass amount into a calculator, treat the 1:1 base component separately from any free odds you plan to add, because the odds portion resolves at true odds and contributes no house edge.

What should a craps payouts calculator include to produce reliable expected-value estimates?

It should accept bet type, stake, the exact posted paytable for that table, and any odds amount; compute per-unit payout from the pay ratio; use standard dice probabilities for win chances; treat multi-part bets separately; and report both single-win payouts and expected value.

When comparing Pass versus Don't Pass for a staking decision, the calculator will show the near-identical payout structure but slightly different EV based on the published edge. For many players the choice comes down to table dynamics and personal preference rather than EV, since both are low-edge options.

Free odds and true odds: how odds bets resolve and affect payout calculations

Free odds are an additional wager you can place behind a Pass/Come or Lay behind a Don't Pass/Don't Come once a point is established. Unlike base line bets, odds are paid at true mathematical odds: 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. Because these are paid at the exact probability ratio, the odds portion carries no house edge, and a good calculator treats the base bet and odds separately when computing EV contributions Wizard of Odds craps guide. For another clear odds explanation see VegasInsider.

In practice this means a calculator should compute EV as EV_base + EV_odds, where EV_odds is simply the expected value using the true payout ratios and the known win probability for the point. The overall expected return improves when you add free odds because you are increasing the proportion of your stake that has zero house edge, subject to whatever max odds the table allows.

Place-to-win bets: standard payouts and their house edges

Place-to-win bets let you back a specific point number and win if that number is rolled before a seven. Typical place-to-win payouts are 9:5 on 4 and 10, 7:5 on 5 and 9, and 7:6 on 6 and 8. Those payout ratios translate to different house-edge levels: roughly 6.67 percent for 4/10 at 9:5, about 4.00 percent for 5/9 at 7:5, and approximately 1.52 percent for 6/8 at 7:6. A calculator converts the stated ratio into a per-unit win to compute EV and shows that placing 6 or 8 usually offers the best expected value among place bets Wizard of Odds craps guide.

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To convert a 9:5 payout for a place bet into a win-per-unit figure, divide the numerator by the denominator and multiply by the unit size. For example, a 10-unit place bet on 4 at 9:5 pays a win of 10 * (9/5) = 18 units on a successful outcome, plus the returned stake if the casino returns the stake on a win. A calculator uses that computed win-per-unit together with the probability that 4 appears before a seven to determine the bet's EV contribution.

Field bets: payout variations and how they change house edge

Field bets are single-roll bets covering multiple numbers with special payouts on 2 or 12 at many tables. A common schedule pays even money on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and pays 2:1 on 2 and 12. Some casinos use a boosted schedule that pays triple on one of those two numbers, often the 12, which materially reduces the field's house edge.

The choice between an ordinary 2:1 pay on both 2 and 12 and a triple-pay variant can move the field bet's house edge from about 5.56 percent down to roughly 2.78 percent. Because the effect is substantial, a reliable calculator must accept the exact posted field paytable as an input and compute EV accordingly rather than assume a default schedule Wizard of Odds craps guide.

Proposition bets: payouts, high house edges and why calculators flag them

Proposition bets, or prop bets, are single-roll and roll-type wagers with payout ratios that often pay far less than the true probability would justify, resulting in high house edges. Standard examples include Any Seven paying 4:1 with about a 16.67 percent edge, Any Craps paying 7:1 with roughly an 11.11 percent edge, hardways on 4 or 10 paying 7:1 at about 11.11 percent, and hard 6/8 paying 9:1 with an edge near 9.09 percent. A good calculator should flag these wagers as high-edge and show both the payout and the negative EV the player can expect Wizard of Odds craps guide.

Estimate EV contribution for a single bet

Use exact payout ratio converted to per-unit for Payout per unit

Because proposition bets carry consistently higher house edges, they rarely make sense when evaluated by EV alone. Calculators that provide a warning or color flag for prop bets help users immediately recognize that a high win payout may still correspond to a poor expected return.

How state rules and posted casino paytables shape what a calculator must accept

Regulators require casinos to adhere to or publish table rules and permissible wagers, so the exact paytable you encounter at a table is the authoritative source for calculator inputs. State rule frameworks such as Colorado Rule 23, Pennsylvania Chapter 623a, New Jersey 13:69F, and Massachusetts table-game rules define what wagers are allowed and often require clear posting of pay schedules and limits, which is why a calculator must accept venue-specific paytable entries as input Pennsylvania Chapter 623a on craps. The official Colorado regulation is also available online 1 CCR 207-1-23.

Because paytables can vary by jurisdiction and by casino within a jurisdiction, always verify the posted payouts at the table before entering numbers into a calculator. When in doubt, consult the regulator's rule text if the posted format appears nonstandard, or ask the dealer for clarification about how specific bets are paid and resolved New Jersey rules of the game.

Step-by-step: how a craps payouts calculator computes expected return

A basic calculator follows a few arithmetic steps. First, convert any payout ratio into a per-unit win figure. For example, a 7:6 payout means each unit staked returns 7/6 units in profit on a win. Second, multiply that per-unit win by the probability the winning outcome occurs to obtain the contribution to expected value. Third, subtract the probability of losing multiplied by the stake to include the loss side of EV, or equivalently compute EV as WinProbability * PayoutPerUnit - LossProbability * 1 per unit, then multiply by stake for the actual currency EV. These steps mirror the standard EV methodology documented by academic and professional references UNLV casino math report. For a practical player-oriented guide see MGM Resorts' Guide to Craps.

For multi-part bets like Pass plus odds, compute each part separately: EV_base for the 1:1 bet using its win and loss probabilities, and EV_odds for the odds portion using true odds and win probability, then sum the parts. A calculator that exposes these intermediate values helps users audit inputs and understand how individual bet components contribute to total expected return.

Worked example: calculating payouts for a mixed $10 staking plan

Imagine a $10 plan that places three simultaneous wagers: $10 Pass Line, $10 place 4 at 9:5, and $10 field on a table paying 2:1 on 2 and 12. The immediate payout amounts on a win are straightforward: a $10 Pass Line win pays $10 profit, a $10 place 4 at 9:5 pays $10 * 9/5 = $18 profit, and a $10 field win pays $10 for common numbers or $20 when 2 or 12 appear at 2:1. A craps payouts calculator converts each ratio into those per-win amounts then uses the roll probabilities to compute EV for each stake and a combined EV for the $30 total liability. See our evaluation process here.

Minimalist 2D vector of a small digital craps payouts calculator beside a printed craps paytable sheet and a pen on a dark Funded Plays style table

Using the calculator steps described earlier, you would compute EV_pass as PassWinProb * 1 - PassLossProb * 1, EV_place4 as Place4WinProb * 1.8 - Place4LossProb * 1, and EV_field as FieldWinProb * AverageFieldPayout - FieldLossProb * 1. The calculator sums these EV figures to show the expected net return per round on the $30 outlay, and displays the payout amounts a player would receive on any individual winning event for clarity.

Scenario analysis: which bets give the best expected value in typical tables

Across typical U.S. paytables, Pass/Come with free odds and placing 6 or 8 at 7:6 are commonly among the better EV choices. Placing 6 or 8 at 7:6 produces a comparatively low house edge, while placing 4 or 10 at 9:5 carries a much higher edge. A calculator lets you model a combined stake, such as Pass with max odds versus placing a 6, to see which mix offers the higher blended expected return Wizard of Odds craps guide.

Field bets occasionally make sense as small, single-roll plays when a table offers a triple pay on 12, but their EV depends entirely on the posted schedule. Proposition bets, as noted, typically produce the worst EV and should be flagged by the calculator rather than assumed beneficial, because their high nominal payouts do not reflect the actual roll probabilities.

Common mistakes players make when reading paytables or using calculators

Frequent input errors include mis-entering pay ratios, for example typing 9/5 as 1.8 without clarifying whether that is a per-unit profit or a return including stake, forgetting to include the odds portion in a Pass/Come calculation, or assuming a standard field schedule when the table uses a triple pay. These errors lead to significant EV miscalculations and poor decision-making at the table Colorado Rule 23 on craps.

Interpretation mistakes are also common, such as conflating payout amount on a single win with expected return over many trials. A calculator that reports both the single-win payout and the EV helps avoid this confusion. Always double-check posted table rules and, where possible, cross-reference the paytable with a reliable expert source if something looks unusual.

A short checklist: what to confirm at the table before you enter numbers

Before typing pay ratios into a calculator, verify the posted payouts for field, place, and proposition bets and whether any number is triple-paid. Confirm whether odds are allowed and the maximum odds multiple offered at that table. Also check the posted house limits and ask the dealer to confirm any ambiguous pay language.

If the posted format seems nonstandard, consult the regulator's published rules or the casino's manager. Regulators such as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts require clear presentation of table rules, which makes the posted table the primary source for calculator inputs and the best place to resolve any discrepancy Massachusetts table game rules.

Wrap-up: using a calculator to make clearer, informed decisions at craps tables

In summary, a craps payouts calculator is a practical tool that converts bet type, stake, and posted paytables into clear payout amounts and expected-return figures. Its usefulness depends entirely on accurate table inputs, and standard references such as the Wizard of Odds and state rulebooks provide the probability and pay schedule baselines calculators should use Wizard of Odds craps guide, and resources on Funded Plays blog.

Key takeaways are simple: treat the Pass/Come base separately from free odds, prefer 6/8 place when offered at favorable 7:6 payouts, and have calculators flag proposition bets for high negative EV. Always confirm posted table paytables and regulatory requirements at the venue before relying on a calculated EV, and use calculators as a decision aid rather than a guarantee of short-term outcomes. Visit Funded Plays.

How does a calculator treat Pass Line odds?

A calculator computes the Pass Line base bet separately and treats free odds at true odds (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8), so the odds portion contributes no house edge.

Do field paytables vary by casino?

Yes, field paytables differ by jurisdiction and venue; some tables pay 2:1 on 2 and 12, while others triple one of those numbers, which changes the expected return.

Are proposition bets ever good EV?

Proposition bets generally have high house edges and poor expected value; calculators should flag them and they are rarely favorable from an EV standpoint.

Use a craps payouts calculator as a practical aid to understand payout amounts and long-term expectation, not as a short-term guarantee. Always confirm posted paytables and table rules before entering numbers, and treat calculator outputs as decision support that depends on accurate inputs and disciplined play.