Quick Answer
A unit in sports betting is a fixed percentage of your bankroll that you wager on each bet. Most bettors use 1-5% of their total bankroll as one unit. For example, if you have a $1,000 bankroll and use 2% units, one unit = $20.
Why Do Bettors Use Units?
Units solve a fundamental problem in sports betting: how do you compare results across different bankroll sizes?
Saying you won $500 last month means nothing without context. If your bankroll is $50,000, that is a tiny return. If your bankroll is $1,000, that is a 50% gain.
Units standardize everything. When a handicapper says they are up +15 units, you know exactly how significant that is regardless of how much money they bet.
How to Calculate Your Unit Size
Calculating your unit size is simple:
Unit Size = Bankroll x Unit Percentage
What Unit Size Should You Use?
Most professional bettors recommend using 1-3% of your bankroll as one unit. Here is a breakdown:
Best for beginners. Maximum protection against losing streaks. Slower growth but very safe.
The sweet spot for most bettors. Good balance between growth potential and risk management.
For experienced bettors with proven edges. Higher variance but faster bankroll growth.
High risk of ruin. Only for very confident bettors with large edges. Not recommended for most.
Understanding Unit Profit/Loss
When tracking results, bettors record wins and losses in units rather than dollars. Here is how it works:
- Win at -110 odds: You risk 1.1 units to win 1 unit, so a win = +1u
- Loss at -110 odds: You lose your stake = -1.1u
- Win at +150 odds: You risk 1 unit to win 1.5 units = +1.5u
- Loss at +150 odds: You lose your stake = -1u
Variable Unit Sizing
Some bettors use variable unit sizes based on confidence level:
- 1 unit: Standard play, normal confidence
- 2 units: Higher confidence, strong edge
- 3+ units: Very high confidence (use sparingly)
- 0.5 units: Lower confidence but still worth a play
Warning
Be careful with variable sizing. Many bettors overestimate their confidence and end up betting too much on their biggest losers. If you are new, stick to flat betting (1 unit per bet) until you have a proven track record.
Why Units Matter for Following Handicappers
When you follow a sports betting expert on SharpDuel, they track their performance in units. This tells you:
- Profitability: +20 units means they have won 20x their standard bet size
- Consistency: Unit records show performance over time
- Scalability: You can follow their picks with any bankroll size
- Transparency: Units provide an honest view of results
If a handicapper is +30 units and you bet 2% of your $1,000 bankroll ($20 per unit), following their exact picks would have made you $600.
Key Takeaways
- ✓A unit is a fixed percentage of your bankroll (typically 1-3%)
- ✓Units standardize betting results across different bankroll sizes
- ✓Start with 1-2% units if you are a beginner
- ✓Track your results in units for honest performance assessment
- ✓Use our bankroll calculator to determine your unit size