Each Way Betting Explained
Each way betting is the most popular type of wager on the Grand National, accounting for around 75% of all bets placed on the Aintree contest. However, each way betting can still feel daunting to some. The trepidation is understandable given that most Grand National bets are placed by ‘once-a-year’ punters. Our 2025 Grand National each way betting guide will help you get a handle on the popular bet type ahead of the big race.
What is each way betting?
Each way – frequently shortened to EW or E/W – is a term you’ll hear mentioned regularly in the betting world. It allows you to cover the possibility of your horse winning a race and finishing in the first few places. It gives you the chance of winning in each of those two ways.
How does each way betting work?
An each way wager is actually two bets in one. The first part of your bet will go on your horse to win the Grand National, and the other part will go on the horse to be placed in the race. To place typically means it must finish in the first four or five places. The two bets are always of equal stake, for example, £5 to win and £5 to place. You’ll win your bet if either of those two scenarios happens. The table below breaks down the possible outcomes of an E/W bet.
| Scenario | Win part of bet | Place part of bet |
|---|---|---|
| Horse wins | Winner | Winner |
| Horse finishes in top 4* | Loser | Winner |
| Horse finishes outside top 4* | Loser | Loser |
*The exact number of places will vary depending on the bookmaker you bet with and the race you’re betting on. For the Grand National, this will be at least 4 places, but many bookmakers will offer more as part of an Extra Places promotion.
Bet each way on the Grand National with these bookmakers
Why choose each way betting over simple win betting?
The total bet will cost you double, but should your horse not win, but finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th, you’ll still get a return from your bookmaker. It really all depends on a few things –
- What kind of punter you are
- How much you fancy your Grand National horse to actually win the race
However, in a race like the Grand National with 40 horses, plus 30 unique fences to jump, you might have by far the best horse in the race but it’s still got to get around and get through the 4+ miles safely.
If you’re placing a £10 each way bet Grand National (total stake £20), you’ll be safe in the knowledge that if the horse is pipped on the line to be 2nd, or runs on to take 3rd or 4th then you’ll still be paid out. You won’t get that with a simple win bet.
Use our EACH WAY Bet Calculator Grand National each way betting example
Don’t forget an each-way bet is made up of two parts so when working out any each-way bet this same principle applies. You’ve got a win bet and a place bet – so after the race, you need to ask yourself two questions:
- Did my horse win?
- Did my horse finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th?
If the answer to both questions is ‘YES’ then you’ve clearly just backed the winner of the 2024 Grand National and are in line to be paid out on both parts of your each-way bet.
If the answer is yes to the second question – did my horse finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th? – you’ve won your place part of your each-way bet and will be paid out at ¼ the odds. These odds will either be what you decided to take at the time you placed the bet or if you ‘let the bet ride’ it will be settled at the industry SP odds at which the horse won.
Example:
- Bet: £10 each-way (total stake £20) on RED RUM
- RED RUM: Wins the Grand National @ 16/1
- Win part of your each-way bet (£10) Returns = £160 (+ your £10 stake back) = £170
- Place part of your each-way bet (£10) Returns = £40 (1/4 of 16/1 = 4/1) (+your £10 stake back) = £50
- TOTAL OVERALL WINNINGS = £170 + £50 = £220
If RED RUM had finished 2nd, 3rd or 4th in this race then you’d only qualify for the place part of your bet = £50
Note: Many bookmakers will add in special ‘extra places’ on the day. So, for example, if your horse finishes 5th or 6th you might still get paid out (more on Grand National bookmaker special offers below).
If you’ve placed your Grand National bet online then you’ve nothing to worry about as the bookmakers will work out the bets for you. Yes, they will also do this in the shop, but it’s always advised to know what your returns are before accepting your winning cash off them after the race.
Each way betting payouts
The table below shows the payouts you can expect if you’re placing a £10 each way bet at with the place part paying 1/4 of the odds. Of course, the place part won’t always be at 1/4 the odds, so use our each way bet calculator, to find your exact payout.
| Odds | Winner Winnings | Place Winnings | Total Winnings (not including stakes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1 | £20 | £5 | £25 |
| 4/1 | £40 | £10 | £50 |
| 6/1 | £60 | £15 | £75 |
| 8/1 | £80 | £20 | £100 |
| 10/1 | £100 | £25 | £125 |
| 14/1 | £140 | £35 | £175 |
| 20/1 | £200 | £50 | £270 |
| 33/1 | £330 | £82.50 | £412.50 |
| 50/1 | £500 | £125 | £625 |
| 100/1 | £1,000 | £250 | £1,250 |
Common each way betting mistakes
These mistakes mainly surround the staking as novice punters may not be aware that an each-way bet is, in fact, two bets – therefore, your stake (whatever you decide that is going to be) needs to also be doubled.
For example, A £10 each-way bet on a Grand National horse will cost you £20 in total (£10 for the win part of the bet, £10 for the horse to be placed).
Another common mistake, if you are placing a bet in a shop, is to make sure you write ‘each-way’ or ‘E/W’ next to the name of the horse you are betting on.
Or, if you are betting on the Grand National online then when placing your bet this way will always require you select an e/w button or box to tick. The good news online though is that your total stake will be worked out for you should you tick the ‘each-way’ button.
How do I win – each way betting rules
The number of places that bookmakers pay out on is determined by the number of runners in the race. With the Grand National being a handicap race that always has 16 or more runners, the industry set each-way terms that this race falls into are highlighted below.
Handicap races:
| Total runners | Place terms |
|---|---|
| 2-4 | Win only |
| 5-7 | 1/4 the win odds, 2 places (1st-2nd) |
| 8-11 | 1/5 the win odds, 3 places (1st-3rd) |
| 12-15 | 1/4 the win odds, 3 places (1st-3rd) |
| 16 or more | 1/4 the win odds, 4 places (1st-4th) |
This means because the race has 16 or more runners, and the type of race is a handicap, all UK bookmakers have to pay their customers on the place part of the bet at ¼ the odds and for 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th places.
In a nutshell, the horse you are betting on in the 2024 Grand National needs to finish in the top 4 in order for you to win something on your each way bet
Where to place the bet? List of bookmakers
As already mentioned, the standard industry place terms for the Grand National (providing there are 16+ runners) are set at 4 places, but a lot of the main bookmakers will entice customers in by offering extra places.
It’s a tough feeling when your horse finishes fifth or sixth and you don’t receive your each way bet Grand National payout, just because your bookmaker is paying out on fewer each way places than the rest. Bookmakers that offer extra places and the best each way bet Grand National terms include:
These bookmakers give you also interesting Grand National Free Bets offers.
Some bookmakers have even been known to offer places right down to 7th and 8th in the past so be sure to hunt around for the best offer. All we would say is that those bookmakers that might be offering extra places on top of the standard 1-2-3-4 may well compensate this by offering slightly worse odds on the race so take this into account. Yes, you might be getting 1-2-3-4-5 places, but that might be sacrificed by having to back a horse at 10/1 that is 14/1 elsewhere.
Other useful pages
Now you’ve got to grips with each way betting, why not take the time to learn how to bet on the Grand National, with our Tote betting guide and ante-post betting guide. Our guides will remove the confusion associated with racing and betting terminology. If you’re ready to place an each-way bet now, check our page about which bookmakers offer the best each-way terms.
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