Unit Sizing
What a betting unit is, how to size one, and why measuring results in units instead of dollars keeps your staking disciplined.
A unit is your standard bet size, expressed as a percentage of your bankroll. Thinking in units - not dollars - keeps your staking consistent and makes it easy to compare results over time.
How to set your unit
Most bettors set one unit at 1-2% of their bankroll. If your bankroll is $2,000 and your unit is 1%, one unit is $20. As your bankroll grows or shrinks, your unit adjusts with it, so your risk stays proportional.
Flat vs confidence-based staking
- Flat staking - bet exactly one unit on every play. Simple, disciplined, and hard to mess up.
- Confidence staking - bet more units on bets you rate higher. Powerful if your confidence is well-calibrated, dangerous if it isn't.
- Kelly staking - size each bet to your measured edge. The most mathematically efficient, covered in The Kelly Criterion.
Why measure in units
Recording results in units lets you compare performance regardless of how your bankroll changes. "Up 15 units this month" is meaningful whether your unit was $10 or $100, and it keeps you focused on decisions rather than dollar swings.
Put theory into practice with SharpWire quantitative tools
Verify situational angles, strip bookmaker vig to find true fair-value probabilities, and uncover mathematical edges on the live board.
