Calculate WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) from hits, walks and innings, including partial innings, or find the hits-plus-walks limit for a goal.
WHIP Formula
WHIP = (H + BB) / IP
- WHIP is walks plus hits per inning pitched
- H is the number of hits the pitcher has allowed
- BB is the number of walks (bases on balls) the pitcher has allowed
- IP is innings pitched, with partial innings counted as thirds (.1 equals one out or 1/3 of an inning, .2 equals two outs or 2/3)
The default mode applies WHIP = (H + BB) / IP. It reports two- and three-decimal WHIP values, an illustrative rating and the H + BB rate per nine innings. The three-decimal display is rounded, not exact. Hit-by-pitches, errors and fielder’s choices are excluded from WHIP.
Max H+BB = floor(t × IP)
The second mode finds the largest whole combined hits-and-walks count at or below target t. It rounds down from the entered decimal target and exact recorded-out count, without adding a rounding allowance. For example, a target of 1.20 over six innings allows at most seven combined hits and walks. Rounded WHIP displays are not used to decide whether the target is met.
WHIP Rating Scale and Baserunner Budgets
The first table is an illustrative interpretation guide retained for comparison. It is not an official MLB grading system. Evaluate WHIP in the context of league, season, role and sample size.
| WHIP | Rating |
|---|---|
| Below 1.00 | Elite (ace territory) |
| 1.00 to below 1.10 | Excellent |
| 1.10 to below 1.25 | Great |
| 1.25 to below 1.40 | Average |
| 1.40 to below 1.60 | Below average |
| 1.60 and above | Poor |
The second table turns common WHIP targets into baserunner budgets: the most combined hits and walks a pitcher can allow over a given number of innings while staying at or below each target. Values are rounded down to whole baserunners.
| Innings Pitched | Target 1.00 | Target 1.15 | Target 1.30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 100 | 100 | 115 | 130 |
| 200 | 200 | 230 | 260 |
Example Problems
Example 1: WHIP over a full season. A starting pitcher allows 190 hits and 43 walks over 202.1 innings pitched. The .1 means one extra out, so IP = 202 + 1/3 ≈ 202.333. Total baserunners = 190 + 43 = 233. WHIP = 233 / 202.333 = 1.152, which displays as 1.15 and falls in the Great band of this illustrative guide. That works out to about 10.36 baserunners per nine innings.
Example 2: Baserunner budget for an outing. A starter wants to hold a 1.10 WHIP over a planned 7-inning outing. Max baserunners = 1.10 x 7 = 7.7, which rounds down to 7. Allowing exactly 7 hits plus walks produces a WHIP of 1.000, while allowing an 8th raises it to 1.143, above the target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hit-by-pitches or errors count toward WHIP?
No. WHIP counts only hits and walks. A hit batter reaches base just like a walk, but HBP is tracked separately and is excluded from the formula, which is a known blind spot of the stat. Runners who reach on errors or fielder’s choices are also excluded. Intentional walks, however, are counted as walks and do increase WHIP.
What is a good WHIP at different levels of play?
A useful comparison uses the same league, season, pitching role and sample size. The guide above supplies illustrative labels, not universal cutoffs for MLB, college, school or fantasy leagues. WHIP also omits some ways that runners reach base, so it does not fully describe pitching quality.
How do I enter partial innings like 202.1?
Baseball box scores record partial innings in outs, not tenths. The .1 in 202.1 means one out, or one third of an inning, and .2 means two outs. In the calculator, enter the whole innings in the first box and pick the extra outs from the dropdown; it converts them to thirds automatically. Entering 202.1 as a decimal would understate the innings and inflate the WHIP slightly.
