Half Point Calculator
Is that half point worth the juice? It depends entirely on which one.
Do not buy it.
Moving across 3 in the NFL is worth about 17¢, and you are being charged 25¢ for it. That is more than the number is worth, so you are paying over the odds for it.
Half points are not all worth the same. In the NFL, crossing a number results actually land on costs far more than crossing one they rarely do, which is why a flat "25 cents per half point" rule loses money in both directions.
Enter the spread you are on, the price now, and the price after buying the half point. The calculator values that specific half point against how often football and basketball results actually land there, then tells you whether the charge is fair.
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How the Half Point Calculator works
How half points work in sports betting
Buying a half point moves the spread in your favour and costs you a worse price. The move matters most when it crosses a number results actually land on, because that is where outcomes flip from push to win, or loss to push. Everywhere else you are paying for something that rarely changes the result.
Not all half points cost the same
Books often charge a flat rate, commonly around 25 cents, for any half point. That is a losing rule in both directions: it overcharges you on ordinary numbers and undercharges you on 3, where a huge share of football games land. Knowing which is which is a genuine edge.
The hook
Losing by the hook means losing to the half point: your team wins by 3 with the line at -3.5. That single scenario is why buying onto 3 is the most valuable half point in football, and why books restrict or surcharge it.
Basketball is different
Basketball margins spread out into something close to a smooth curve, so no number carries the weight 3 does in football. Half points there are worth roughly the same wherever you are on the board, which makes flat pricing much more reasonable.
What every half point is worth, by sport
The cents of price a half point is worth at each number. Books commonly charge a flat rate for any half point, which is why this table matters: on 3 in the NFL you are getting a bargain at the standard charge, and almost everywhere else you are overpaying.
| Crossing | NFL | CFB | NBA | CBB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 1.5 | 5¢ | 5¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 2 to 2.5 | 5¢ | 5¢ | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| 3 to 3.5key number | 17¢ | 10¢ | 9¢ | 9¢ |
| 4 to 4.5 | 6¢ | 5¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 5 to 5.5 | 5¢ | 5¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 6 to 6.5 | 7¢ | 6¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 7 to 7.5key number | 12¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ | 9¢ |
| 8 to 8.5 | 6¢ | 5¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 9 to 9.5 | 5¢ | 6¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 10 to 10.5 | 8¢ | 7¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 13 to 13.5 | 6¢ | 6¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
| 14 to 14.5 | 10¢ | 7¢ | 8¢ | 8¢ |
Notice that the basketball columns are nearly flat. Basketball margins spread into something close to a smooth curve, so no number carries the weight 3 does in football, and a flat charge per half point is far more defensible there than it is in the NFL.
To compare two whole lines rather than one half point, use the compare lines calculator. To buy points across several legs at once, that is a teaser.
Frequently asked questions
How do half points work in sports betting?+
A half point shifts the spread in your favour and removes the chance of a push. You pay for it with a worse price. Its value depends on which number you cross: moving across 3 in the NFL is worth far more than moving across 11, because far more games land on 3.
Is buying a half point worth it?+
On 3 in football, usually yes. On most other numbers, usually not at the prices books charge. Enter your spread and the two prices above to see the specific answer.
What is losing by the hook?+
Losing by the hook means the half point beat you: your team wins by exactly 3 while you laid 3.5. Avoiding that is exactly what buying onto 3 pays for.
How much should a half point cost?+
It depends on the number and the sport. Around 3 in the NFL a half point is worth substantially more than the flat rate books usually charge; on ordinary numbers it is worth much less.