Single Elimination Bracket: Games, Byes and Seeding for 4 to 16 Teams
In a single elimination bracket, the loser of every game is out. For n teams it takes n − 1 games.
This guide covers how many games, rounds and byes a bracket needs, how to seed it so the top teams meet last, and when to use it instead of double elimination.
How single elimination works
Teams are paired in a bracket. The winner of each game moves on and the loser is out. Rounds continue until one team is left. With a third-place game, the two semifinal losers play once more.
How many games, rounds and byes
- Games: n − 1, because every team but the champion loses exactly once.
- Rounds: the number of times you can halve the field, rounded up. 8 teams take 3 rounds; 9 to 16 take 4.
- Byes: when the number of teams is not 4, 8 or 16, the top seeds skip the first round. Byes equal the next power of 2 minus the number of teams.
| Teams | Games | Rounds | First-round byes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| 10 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| 11 | 10 | 4 | 5 |
| 12 | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| 13 | 12 | 4 | 3 |
| 14 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | 4 | 1 |
| 16 | 15 | 4 | 0 |
How to seed a bracket
Seed from the regular-season standings and pair the strongest with the weakest, so the top two seeds can only meet in the final.
- 4 teams: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3.
- 8 teams: 1 vs 8, 4 vs 5, 3 vs 6, 2 vs 7.
- 16 teams: 1 vs 16, 8 vs 9, 5 vs 12, 4 vs 13, 6 vs 11, 3 vs 14, 7 vs 10, 2 vs 15.
4 team single elimination bracket
| Game | Bracket | Matchup | Winner goes to | Loser goes to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Main | Seed 1 vs Seed 4 | G3 | Out |
| G2 | Main | Seed 2 vs Seed 3 | G3 | Out |
| G3 | Main | Winner G1 vs Winner G2 | Champion | Out |
Download the printable 4 team single elimination bracket (PDF)
For more teams, see the 6 team bracket and 8 team bracket.
Single elimination vs double elimination
Single elimination is the fastest format: 8 teams need 7 games. The trade-off is that one bad game ends a team's season. A double elimination bracket gives every team a second chance, at the cost of roughly twice the games. Many leagues run a round robin season first, then a single elimination playoff for the top teams.
Tips
- Decide the number of playoff teams before the season so standings mean something from week one.
- Reseed after each round if you want the top remaining seed to always face the lowest; otherwise keep the bracket fixed so teams can plan.
- Add a third-place game only if you have the court time; it adds one game.
Frequently asked questions
What is a single elimination bracket?
A single elimination bracket is a tournament format where the loser of each game is out. Winners advance until one team is left.
How many games are in a single elimination bracket?
There are n − 1 games for n teams, because every team except the champion loses once. 8 teams play 7 games; 16 teams play 15.
How do byes work in a single elimination bracket?
When the number of teams is not a power of 2, the top seeds skip the first round. The number of byes is the next power of 2 minus the number of teams: 6 teams get 2 byes.
How should a bracket be seeded?
Seed from the standings and pair the highest seed with the lowest, so the top two seeds can only meet in the final. For 8 teams: 1 vs 8, 4 vs 5, 3 vs 6, 2 vs 7.