Calculate poker staking markup: find what a piece costs from the buy-in, share and markup, or the implied markup or share from the price paid.

1 = face value; 1.15 = 15% above face value. Zero models a free piece.

Expected or actual result
Net expected profit ÷ package cost × 100. Blank omits expected returns.

Blank omits actual returns; 0 means no cash result. Include only prizes covered by the deal.

Related Calculators

Poker Markup Formula

In poker staking, markup is the premium added when a player sells action above face value. A markup of 1.00 means no premium, 1.10 means the buyer pays 10% above face value, and 1.25 means the buyer pays 25% above face value. This calculator is useful for single-event sales, partial pieces, and larger tournament packages.

C = B × S × M

C is the total amount paid by the backer, B is the buy-in or package amount, S is the share sold as a decimal, and M is the markup multiplier.

F = B × S

F is the face value of the share before markup is applied.

P = B × S × (M - 1)

P is the dollar premium paid above face value.

R = W × S

If W is the gross cash result covered by the deal, the modeled backer payout is their share of that result. Markup changes the price, not the payout share. This proportional model does not apply makeup, extra fees, refunds, swaps, stack adjustments or special bounty rules; use the agreed package and result amounts. See the PokerStake markup definition and GGPoker proportional payout example.

Pi = R - C

Π is the backer’s profit or loss after subtracting the purchase cost.

How to Calculate Poker Markup

  1. Convert the share percentage to decimal form. For example, 5% becomes 0.05 and 10% becomes 0.10.
  2. Find the face value of the piece by multiplying the buy-in by the share.
  3. Apply the markup multiplier to get the actual amount the backer pays.
  4. If needed, subtract face value from total cost to isolate the premium.

Example 1: Single Tournament Share

A player is selling 10% of a $1,000 tournament at 1.15 markup.

F = 1000 × 0.10 = 100
C = 1000 × 0.10 × 1.15 = 115
P = 1000 × 0.10 × (1.15 - 1) = 15

The buyer pays $115. Of that amount, $100 is face value and $15 is markup premium.

Example 2: Tournament Package

A player sells 25% of a $3,500 package at 1.08 markup.

C = 3500 × 0.25 × 1.08 = 945

The backer pays $945. The face value of the share is $875, so the premium is $70.

Quick Markup Reference

Markup Premium Above Face Value Cost of 10% of a $1,000 Buy-In
1.00 0% $100
1.05 5% $105
1.10 10% $110
1.20 20% $120
1.50 50% $150

Expected-Value Break-Even Markup from ROI

For this proportional model, define player ROI as expected net profit divided by the package cost. Expected gross cash is B × (1 + ROI). Equating a positive share of that expected gross cash with the purchase price gives the buyer expected-value break-even multiplier. If ROI is a decimal:

Mbreak - even = 1 + ROI

If ROI is written as a percentage, use:

Mbreak - even = 1 + ROI / 100

For example, a supplied 20% player ROI assumption gives a buyer break-even multiplier of 1.20 before extra fees. This is not a claim that the ROI is known or the price is fair. At −100% player ROI, expected gross cash and this multiplier are zero. If the piece costs zero, percentage buyer ROI is undefined. The full amount paid can be lost.

Useful Reverse Calculations

If you know the price, package amount and multiplier, select Share percentage from price. The formula below gives the decimal share; multiply it by 100 to express the share as a percentage:

S = C / (B × M)

If you know the buy-in, share, and total price paid and want the implied markup, use:

M = C / (B × S)

Limits of a Markup Comparison

  • Player edge: the calculator accepts an estimated ROI; it does not infer skill or validate that estimate.
  • Sample size: short-term success can overstate true ability.
  • Field quality: an ROI assumption for one field may not describe another.
  • Tournament structure: high-variance formats make pricing less certain.
  • Fees and rake: higher costs reduce true expected value.
  • Deal format: a single-event sale is different from a package or long-term backing arrangement.

Common Mistakes

  • Entering 15 instead of 1.15 for a 15% markup.
  • Confusing percentage and decimal share: enter 10 in the calculator’s share-percent field for 10%; use 0.10 as S in the displayed formula.
  • Applying markup to the wrong base amount in a multi-event package.
  • Confusing markup with return; markup changes the purchase price, not the ownership percentage.
  • Ignoring deal-specific rules on refunds, swaps, or payout handling.

Poker Markup FAQ

What does 1.15 markup mean?

It means the backer pays 15% above face value. A $200 face-value piece would cost $230.

Does markup change how much of the action the buyer owns?

No. Markup changes the price paid, not the percentage owned. If you buy 10%, you still own 10% of the agreed result.

Can this be used for packages instead of one tournament?

Yes, when the same share and multiplier apply to the agreed total package and covered gross cash result. Different per-event shares, multipliers or special payout terms require separate calculations. Optional estimated ROI uses net expected profit divided by that same package cost. Blank actual cash omits actual returns; zero means no cash result.

Is 1.00 markup the same as face value?

Yes. At 1.00 markup, the buyer pays exactly the proportional buy-in with no premium added.

Why is markup written as 1.10 instead of 10%?

Because markup is usually treated as a multiplier. The extra premium is built into the multiplier, so 1.10 means face value multiplied by 1.10.