This guide explains what a total parlay means on FanDuel in plain language and practical steps. It shows how totals appear as parlay legs, how payouts are formed, and what settlement and rule checks to make before placing a ticket. You will find a short definition, how to read totals in the app, step-by-step building instructions, common mistakes to avoid, worked examples, and conservative next steps for practice and tracking.

A total parlay bundles over or under selections so all chosen totals must win for the parlay to cash.

Settlement rules, pushes, and correlation are the most common sources of surprises in total parlays.

Use a short pre-submit checklist and limit stakes to manage parlay risk.

Quick definition and what readers should expect

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A total parlay bundles one or more total markets, that is over or under selections, into a single multi-leg wager. Each total leg is treated like any other parlay leg: every chosen leg must win for the parlay to cash.

In plain terms, a total parlay lets you combine totals from different games or the same event into one ticket. This differs from a single total, which is a standalone over or under on one game, and differs from a single bet that resolves independently of other legs.

What does a total parlay mean on FanDuel and how does it work?

A total parlay is a multi-leg wager made up of over or under selections. Each total counts as a leg and must resolve in your favor for the ticket to win. Payouts reflect the combined odds, and settlement rules, pushes, and correlation determine final outcomes.

Readers should expect clear examples, procedural steps for building a parlay in the app, common settlement quirks, and a checklist to avoid avoidable errors.

How FanDuel typically displays lines and totals

On the site or app, totals usually appear near the matchup header and inside the markets list as a labeled market such as Total or Game Total. The total is shown as a number, and the over and under options sit next to it as selectable legs.

Notation is straightforward. A market might be listed as Total 47.5 with two selectable options labeled Over 47.5 and Under 47.5. Selecting either side adds that total leg to the bet slip in the same way a moneyline or spread selection would.

Different sports present totals slightly differently. For example, team totals, period totals, and game totals are separate markets. Always check the market name to confirm you are adding the intended total to the bet slip rather than a team points market or a period-level total.

How total legs combine inside a parlay

Each total leg you add becomes one leg of the parlay. If you add three totals, the parlay is a three-leg total parlay. The parlay pays only if every total leg wins according to the platform rules for each market.

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Parlay payouts reflect the combined probabilities of all legs, which is why payouts grow quickly with each added leg. If any single total leg loses, the whole parlay typically loses. If a leg pushes or is voided, many platforms reduce the parlay to the remaining legs or refund that leg, depending on the settlement rules.

In practice, totals are treated as independent legs unless the platform explicitly links markets. That independence matters when you consider correlation, because correlated totals can make the parlay math misleading.

Step-by-step: building a total parlay on FanDuel

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1. Find the matchup and market you want. Open the game page and look for the Total or Game Total market. Confirm whether you need a full-game total, a period total, or a team total.

2. Select the side you expect, either Over or Under. Your selection appears in the bet slip as a leg with the market name and the current odds or price.

3. Repeat for additional totals you want to combine. Add each Over or Under selection to the same bet slip. The slip will show each leg separately and update the combined payout as you add legs.

4. Preview the combined payout and review rules. Before you press place, check the bet slip for the total number of legs, stake amount, and the displayed payout. Confirm the start times for each leg so no leg begins before you expect.

5. Confirm placement and monitor settlement. After the events complete, the platform will settle each leg according to posted rules. If any leg pushes or is voided, the parlay may reduce to the remaining legs or be adjusted per the platform policy.

Odds, payouts, and why parlays multiply risk

Parlay payouts are a product of the combined odds for each leg, which is why adding more legs usually raises potential return while also increasing the chance of loss. Totals function no differently from other legs in this respect.

Small changes in a single total line can alter the combined payout, because odds for that leg change the multiplication factor applied to the whole ticket. That makes monitoring line movement important if your parlay depends on tight totals.

preview combined parlay payout for totals and other legs

Use only as a preview

Because parlays require every leg to win, their risk profile is higher than single bets. A single missed total cancels the potential payout, so parlays are best used when you have conviction on each included leg and have accounted for correlation and variance.

When a leg pushes or is voided, many platforms remove that leg from the parlay and recalculate the payout using the remaining legs. That adjustment reduces the payout compared with the original full-leg ticket but preserves value for legs that resolved normally.

Rules, limits and settlement timing to watch

Settlement rules determine whether a total leg wins, pushes, or is voided. Common rule items to check include what counts as the official game total, whether overtime counts, and whether a postponed or canceled game results in a void.

Different markets have different settlement triggers. For example, a period total usually uses the points scored in that period only. A team total may exclude overtime in some platforms. Always read the market name closely so you know which rules apply.

Bet limits and maximum payouts can also apply to parlays. These limits vary by market and by user account type, so checking the platform rules and your account terms helps avoid surprises at settlement time.

How to decide whether to include a total in a parlay

Including a total in a parlay should be a deliberate decision, not a default. Ask whether the expected value of adding that total increases the ticket value after accounting for added risk and potential correlation with other legs.

Consider these criteria when deciding: the degree of confidence in the total, the correlation between legs, how a single push or void would affect the ticket, and the size of the stake relative to your bankroll.

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Before placing a total parlay, double-check settlement rules for each market and limit your stake to an amount you can accept losing.

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If you find multiple totals that are strongly correlated, avoid combining them in the same parlay because correlation can make the parlay riskier than it appears. For example, two totals from the same game are often correlated and can invalidate simple parlay math.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users overload parlays with too many correlated legs, often because correlated markets look independently attractive. That increases the chance of a single event outcome wiping out the ticket.

Other common errors include misreading the market name, confusing team totals with game totals, failing to check start times, and increasing stake size after recent losses. These mistakes are avoidable with a short pre-submit checklist.

Use this checklist before pressing place. Confirm market names and whether overtime counts for each total. Check start times so no leg begins before you expect. Review the parlay for correlated legs. Set a predetermined stake and do not increase it based on emotion.

Track your tickets and review settled outcomes to learn common failure modes. Over time, disciplined tracking reveals whether your total picks add positive value when used inside parlays or perform better as single bets.

Practical examples: sample total parlay scenarios

Example 1, a two-leg total parlay. Suppose you pick Over 47.5 in Game A and Under 220.5 in Game B. You add both totals to the bet slip, set a stake, and place the parlay. If both totals win according to the posted rules, the parlay pays the combined odds. If one leg pushes, many platforms remove the pushed leg and pay as a single-leg win for the remaining selection.

Step-by-step for the two-leg example. Add Over 47.5 from Game A to the slip. Add Under 220.5 from Game B. Verify start times and settlement rules. Stake your chosen amount and place the bet. After resolution, if Game A finishes 25-24 and Game B finishes 110-112, both totals resolve and the parlay pays. If Game A ends 24-24 and the total pushes, the parlay typically reduces to a one-leg ticket for the Under 220.5 leg.

Example 2, a three-leg total parlay with an edge case. Pick Over 48.5 in Game C, Over 51.5 in Game D, and Under 44.5 in Game E. Add each to the slip and note that Game C and Game D are on the same slate and share environmental factors. If Game C pushes and the platform voids that leg, the parlay reduces to two legs and payout recalculates using the remaining odds. If any one remaining leg then loses, the whole reduced ticket loses.

Annotated bet slip example. The slip shows Leg 1: Game C Over 48.5, Leg 2: Game D Over 51.5, Leg 3: Game E Under 44.5, Stake: X. Combined odds are displayed and change if lines move before acceptance. Settlement notes often appear in the account history after events complete.

Edge case: postponed games. If one game is postponed and later completed outside the original schedule, the platform may void that leg or apply special settlement rules. That outcome affects the parlay final payout. Always check how the platform handles postponed or suspended games to know whether your parlay will reduce, be refunded, or await completion.

Edge case: correlated totals from the same game. If you include both a game total and a team total from that game, the outcomes are linked and the effective risk is higher than the multiplication of independent odds assumes. In many cases, treating correlated selections as independent overstates potential value.

Conclusion and next steps

To summarize, a total parlay bundles over or under selections into a single multi-leg ticket. Totals function as individual parlay legs and must each resolve in your favor for the parlay to cash. Settlement rules, correlation, and line movement are central factors to monitor when you use totals in parlays.

Practical next steps include practicing with small stakes or simulated offers, creating a checklist to verify market names and settlement rules before placing any parlay, and tracking results to measure whether total parlays fit your long-term process.

Minimalist 2D vector checklist on a desk showing market name overtime rule start time and stake size icons in Funded Plays color palette line total parlay meaning fanduel

Remember that parlays, including total parlays, increase payout volatility. Treat them as higher risk tools and use disciplined stake sizing to manage exposure.

What is a total parlay in simple terms?

A total parlay combines two or more over or under selections into a single multi-leg ticket where every leg must win for the ticket to cash.

What happens if one total leg pushes?

If a leg pushes, many platforms remove that leg and recalculate the parlay payout using the remaining legs, though exact handling depends on platform rules.

Should I include correlated totals in the same parlay?

Generally avoid pairing highly correlated totals in one parlay because correlation increases risk and can invalidate simple parlay math.

If you want to practice the mechanics without large exposure, consider testing combinations with small stakes or simulated play until you are comfortable with settlement and correlation effects. Keep your decisions disciplined and track outcomes to learn what works for your process. Treat total parlays as a higher risk tool and use clear rules for when to include totals. That approach keeps decisions repeatable and focused on long-term consistency.