Poker Hourly Rate Calculator
Free poker hourly rate calculator.
Exclude breaks for a true hourly rate.
Used to calculate BB/hour.
Enter session details to see your hourly results.
Disclaimer: This calculator is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. Gambling involves risk and you should never bet more than you can afford to lose. We are not responsible for any financial losses incurred while using this tool or following its recommendations. Past performance and statistical probabilities do not guarantee future results. Please gamble responsibly.
How to Use the Hourly Calculator
How to Use the Hourly Calculator
Enter bankroll start/end, session times, and blinds to calculate your hourly rate.
- Enter your starting and ending bankroll
- Add session start and end time
- Include break time if applicable
- Add the big blind for BB/hour
- Review hourly rate and projections
Why Track Hourly Rate?
Measure consistency
Compare sessions across stakes and formats.
Spot leaks
Identify when breaks or game selection hurt results.
Set goals
Use projections to set weekly and monthly targets.
Plan stakes
See if moving up is justified by your BB/hour.
How Many Hours Before Your Hourly Rate Is Real?
Poker has enormous short-term variance, so a single session — or even a great month — tells you almost nothing about your true win rate. Your calculated hourly rate only becomes meaningful once your sample is large enough to swamp the swings.
500–1,000 hours (live cash)
A common rule of thumb for live cash games. Below this, a couple of big pots can flip your rate from winning to losing. Treat anything under 500 hours as a rough estimate, not a verdict.
50,000–100,000 hands (online)
Online play accumulates hands faster, but you still need tens of thousands of hands before your BB/100 stabilizes. Multi-tabling gets you there quicker without shortening the required sample.
Log everything, then wait
The only way to reach a reliable average is to record every session — wins and losses — and resist judging your rate too early. Track first; conclude later.
This is educational information about sample size and variance, not a promise of results. Poker outcomes are uncertain, and tracking is about awareness, not guaranteeing a profit.
Tips for Accurate Tracking
Log every session
Consistency makes your hourly rate meaningful.
Include breaks
Track total time at the table for true results.
Keep stakes notes
Record games and blind levels for context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my poker hourly rate?
Divide your total profit or loss by the number of hours played (excluding breaks). For example, if you won $240 in a 6-hour session with 30 minutes of breaks, your hourly rate is $240 / 5.5 hours = $43.64/hour. Our calculator handles this math automatically, including BB/hour conversion.
What is a good hourly rate in poker?
A solid hourly rate depends on the stakes you play. For live cash games, winning players typically earn 1-10 big blinds per hour (BB/hr). At $1/$2 that translates to roughly $2-$20/hour, while at $2/$5 it could be $10-$50/hour. Online win rates are generally lower in BB/hr but you can multi-table to compensate.
How many hours do I need to track for an accurate hourly rate?
Poker has high variance, so you need a large sample size for a meaningful hourly rate. Most professionals recommend tracking at least 500-1,000 hours of live play or 50,000-100,000 hands online before drawing conclusions. Shorter samples can be heavily influenced by a few big pots.
Does rake affect my hourly rate?
Yes, rake has a significant impact on your effective hourly rate. In live games, the rake is typically $3-$7 per hand, which can add up to $30-$70 per hour. Many players overlook rake when evaluating their results. Always factor in rake and any promotions or rewards that offset it.
Should I include break time when calculating hourly rate?
It depends on what you want to measure. Excluding breaks gives you your true earning rate while actively playing, which is useful for comparing across sessions. Including breaks gives you your overall hourly earnings for the time spent at the casino, which is more relevant for comparing poker to other income sources.
What is a good poker hourly rate by stakes?
It depends entirely on stakes, format, and location, and there is no guaranteed number — poker results vary widely. As a rough educational guide for live cash, many tracking players look at roughly 3–10 big blinds per hour: at $1/$2 that is about $6–$20/hour, at $2/$5 about $10–$50/hour, and at $5/$10 potentially higher with far more variance. Online BB/hr figures are usually lower per table because of the faster pace and tougher fields, though multi-tabling can raise total hourly earnings. Use these ranges to understand your own numbers over a large sample, not as a target you should expect to hit.
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