Poker Hourly Rate Calculator

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Poker Hourly Rate & Win Rate Calculator

Results Summary

Net Profit:

Hourly Rate:

Profit Per Session:

Avg Session Length:

function calculatePokerRate() { var grossProfit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pokerTotalProfit').value); var hours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pokerTotalHours').value); var sessions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pokerTotalSessions').value) || 0; var expenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pokerExpenses').value) || 0; if (isNaN(grossProfit) || isNaN(hours) || hours 0 ? netProfit / sessions : 0; var avgSessionTime = sessions > 0 ? hours / sessions : 0; document.getElementById('resNetProfit').innerText = "$" + netProfit.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('resHourlyRate').innerText = "$" + hourlyRate.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " /hr"; if (sessions > 0) { document.getElementById('resSessionProfit').innerText = "$" + sessionProfit.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('resAvgSession').innerText = avgSessionTime.toFixed(2) + " hours"; } else { document.getElementById('resSessionProfit').innerText = "N/A"; document.getElementById('resAvgSession').innerText = "N/A"; } document.getElementById('pokerResult').style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Your Poker Hourly Rate: The Professional's Guide

In the world of professional poker, your success isn't measured by a single big win or a lucky night at the casino. True success is measured by your hourly rate. This metric allows you to compare your poker income against a traditional job and helps you understand if you are actually a winning player over the long term.

Why Calculate Your Poker Hourly Rate?

Many amateur players focus solely on their "gross wins." They remember the $1,000 night but forget the three $300 losses and the $100 spent on valet parking and expensive casino meals. Calculating your hourly rate provides several benefits:

  • Variance Smoothing: It helps you see past short-term swings (up or down).
  • Bankroll Management: Knowing your true win rate helps you decide which stakes you are ready to play.
  • Efficiency: You can determine if certain sessions or times of day are more profitable than others.
  • Expense Tracking: It forces you to account for "leaks" like tips, rake, and travel costs.

The Formula for Poker Success

To find your true hourly rate, you use a simple mathematical formula:

(Gross Profit – Expenses) รท Total Hours Played = Hourly Rate

A Realistic Example

Imagine you played 10 sessions over the course of a month, totaling 50 hours of play. In those 50 hours, you cashed out for $4,000 more than your total buy-ins. However, you also spent $150 on gas, $100 on dealer tips, and $150 on food at the casino.

Step 1: Calculate Net Profit
$4,000 (Gross) – $400 (Expenses) = $3,600 Net Profit.

Step 2: Divide by Hours
$3,600 / 50 Hours = $72.00 per hour.

What is a Good Hourly Rate?

A "good" rate depends heavily on the stakes you play and whether you play live or online. Generally, for live No Limit Texas Hold'em:

  • $1/$2 or $1/$3: $20 – $40 per hour is considered a solid win rate.
  • $2/$5: $50 – $100 per hour is achievable for top-tier players.
  • $5/$10: $100+ per hour is the mark of a highly skilled professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include tournament buy-ins?

If you play both cash games and tournaments, it is usually better to track them separately. Tournaments have much higher variance, and your "hourly" can be skewed by a single large score that might not happen again for months.

How many hours do I need for an accurate rate?

In the poker world, we call this a "sample size." For live poker, 500 hours is a decent start, but 1,000 to 1,500 hours is required to minimize the effects of luck and see your true skill level reflected in the numbers.

Does the calculator account for rake?

No, because the rake is usually taken directly from the pot or paid as a time-charge. Your "Gross Profit" should be the amount you actually walked away with after the casino took its cut.

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