Calculate a bowler’s economy rate from runs conceded and overs bowled, including partial overs, plus the max runs you can concede to stay under a target economy.
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Cricket Economy Rate Formula
ER = R / (O + B/6)
Variables:
- ER is the economy rate, in runs conceded per over
- R is the total runs conceded, including wides and no-balls but not byes or leg byes
- O is the number of completed overs bowled
- B is the number of extra legal balls beyond the completed overs (0 to 5)
The key detail is the denominator. Cricket scorecards write overs in a notation where the digit after the decimal point counts balls, not tenths. A figure of 3.4 overs means 3 overs and 4 balls, which is 3 + 4/6 = 3.667 overs of actual bowling. Dividing runs by 3.4 instead of 3.667 overstates the economy rate, which is the most common mistake when working it out by hand.
The calculator’s default mode applies the formula directly: enter runs conceded and the overs and balls bowled, or the total ball count, and it returns the economy rate. The second and third modes rearrange the same formula, so you can solve for runs conceded (R = ER × overs) or for overs bowled (overs = R / ER). The fourth mode is a planning tool that uses the formula below:
Rmax = ERt * (Os + Or) - Rs
- Rmax is the maximum additional runs the bowler can concede
- ERt is the target economy rate for the finished spell
- Os is the overs bowled so far, Or is the overs remaining
- Rs is the runs conceded so far
This answers a practical mid-match question: how many runs can a bowler give away in the remaining overs and still finish at or below a chosen economy rate.
Good Economy Rates by Format
What counts as a good economy rate depends entirely on the format. The bands below reflect common benchmarks used by commentators and analysts rather than official definitions.
| Format | Excellent | Good | Average | Expensive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | Under 6.0 | 6.0 to 7.0 | 7.0 to 8.5 | Over 8.5 |
| ODI | Under 4.0 | 4.0 to 5.0 | 5.0 to 6.0 | Over 6.0 |
| Test | Under 2.5 | 2.5 to 3.0 | 3.0 to 3.5 | Over 3.5 |
The second table settles what actually counts toward the runs in the formula. Extras are the part most calculators skip, and getting them wrong changes the result.
| Delivery outcome | Charged to the bowler? | Counts as a ball bowled? |
|---|---|---|
| Runs off the bat | Yes | Yes |
| Wide (plus any runs taken) | Yes | No, it is re-bowled |
| No-ball penalty and runs off the bat | Yes | No, it is re-bowled |
| Bye | No | Yes |
| Leg bye | No | Yes |
| Penalty runs (for example, ball striking a helmet) | No | Depends on the delivery |
The logic is that wides and no-balls are the bowler’s own error, so they count against the economy rate. Byes and leg byes come from the wicketkeeper or a deflection the bowler cannot control, so they are recorded against the fielding side instead.
Example Problems
Example 1: Find the economy rate for a T20 spell.
A bowler concedes 29 runs in 3.4 overs. Convert the overs first: 3 overs and 4 balls is 3 + 4/6 = 3.667 overs. Then apply the formula:
ER = 29 / 3.667 = 7.91 runs per over.
Dividing by 3.4 instead would give 8.53, which overstates the rate by more than half a run. By T20 benchmarks, 7.91 sits in the average band.
Example 2: Find the runs a bowler can still concede.
An ODI bowler has figures of 38 runs from 7 overs, has 3 overs left, and wants to finish with an economy of 4.50 or better. The full spell will be 10 overs, so the run limit is:
Rmax = 4.50 × 10 − 38 = 45 − 38 = 7 runs.
The bowler can give away at most 7 more runs, which means bowling the last 3 overs at an economy of 7 / 3 = 2.33 or less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do wides and no-balls count toward economy rate?
Yes. Wides and no-balls, including any runs completed on them, are charged to the bowler and raise the economy rate, but neither counts as a legal ball, so they do not add to the overs in the denominator. Byes and leg byes work the other way: the ball counts toward the over, but the runs are not charged to the bowler.
What is a good economy rate in cricket?
It depends on the format. In T20 cricket an economy under 7 is good and under 6 is excellent. In one-day internationals under 5 is good and under 4 is excellent. In Test cricket, where containment matters less than taking wickets, anything under 3 is strong. The same 5.5 economy that would be outstanding in a T20 is mediocre in an ODI.
Why does 4.3 overs not mean 4.3 in the calculation?
Scorecard notation uses the digit after the decimal point to count balls out of six, so 4.3 overs is 4 overs and 3 balls, or 4.5 overs as a true decimal. The calculator handles this for you: enter overs and balls separately, or the total ball count, and it converts to real overs before dividing.
