Poker Blinds Calculator: Tournament Blind Structure
Enter the number of players, the starting stack and how long you want to play, and the calculator builds every blind level, with breaks, antes and an optional rebuy period, ready to print or load into the blind timer. Most home tournaments start at 100 to 200 big blinds with 15 to 20 minute levels.
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Tournament setup
Minutes; use 0 for freezeout
Minutes; use 0 for none
Assumptions: 10-minute breaks, roughly 200 opening big blinds, 25–50% increases each level (never doubling in one step), and a big-blind ante in the middle stages. Actual duration varies with play and re-entries. The schedule does not guarantee a finish: if the final big blind is below chips in play divided by 30, allow more levels or shorter level times.
Field
8
Schedule length
2h 50m
Levels
10
Starting depth
200 BB
Your blind schedule
Times are measured from the tournament start. BBA means big-blind ante.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Level | Starts | Blinds | BBA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0:00 | 25 / 50 | — | |
| 2 | 0:15 | 40 / 75 | — | |
| 3 | 0:30 | 50 / 100 | — | |
| 4 | 0:45 | 75 / 150 | 150 | Rebuys close |
| Break | 1:00 | — | — | 10 minutes |
| 5 | 1:10 | 100 / 200 | 200 | |
| 6 | 1:25 | 150 / 300 | 300 | |
| 7 | 1:40 | 200 / 400 | 400 | |
| 8 | 1:55 | 300 / 600 | 600 | |
| Break | 2:10 | — | — | 10 minutes |
| 9 | 2:20 | 400 / 800 | 800 | |
| 10 | 2:35 | 600 / 1,200 | 1,200 |
1
- Starts
- 0:00
- Blinds
- 25 / 50
- BBA
- —
- Note
2
- Starts
- 0:15
- Blinds
- 40 / 75
- BBA
- —
- Note
3
- Starts
- 0:30
- Blinds
- 50 / 100
- BBA
- —
- Note
4
- Starts
- 0:45
- Blinds
- 75 / 150
- BBA
- 150
- Note
- Rebuys close
Break
- Starts
- 1:00
- Blinds
- —
- BBA
- —
- Note
- 10 minutes
5
- Starts
- 1:10
- Blinds
- 100 / 200
- BBA
- 200
- Note
6
- Starts
- 1:25
- Blinds
- 150 / 300
- BBA
- 300
- Note
7
- Starts
- 1:40
- Blinds
- 200 / 400
- BBA
- 400
- Note
8
- Starts
- 1:55
- Blinds
- 300 / 600
- BBA
- 600
- Note
Break
- Starts
- 2:10
- Blinds
- —
- BBA
- —
- Note
- 10 minutes
9
- Starts
- 2:20
- Blinds
- 400 / 800
- BBA
- 800
- Note
10
- Starts
- 2:35
- Blinds
- 600 / 1,200
- BBA
- 1,200
- Note
Estimated finish window: 3h 0m–4h 30m. Based on total chips reaching about 30 big blinds in play, with a ±20% timing allowance. Rebuys, deals, and pace can change this; additional levels may be needed beyond this schedule.
Estimate: 10 × 15-minute levels plus 2 scheduled breaks. A rebuy-heavy field adds chips and may need extra time.
Printable blind structure template
Choose Print / Save PDF to open your browser’s print dialog. Select Save as PDF for a shareable tournament sheet, or print a copy for the table. The printed view includes your blind levels and starting times without the navigation or promotional sections.
The target hours set the schedule length, not a promised finish. The separate estimate considers players, starting stacks, and level length. For example, eight players with 10,000 chips create 80,000 chips in play. A big blind around 2,667 leaves roughly 30 total big blinds, a useful rough late-game benchmark.
Read the tournament setup guide and plan who gets what with the results calculator before the first hand.
Home tournament blind structures for 2, 3 and 4 hours
2-hour target: 8 players, 10,000 chips
15-minute levels, no rebuys, 10-minute breaks about every hour. Generated schedule: 1:55. Target time is not a guaranteed finish; additional levels may be needed.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Level | Small blind | Big blind | Ante | Starts at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 50 | 0 | 0:00 |
| 2 | 40 | 75 | 0 | 0:15 |
| 3 | 50 | 100 | 0 | 0:30 |
| 4 | 75 | 150 | 150 | 0:45 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 1:00 |
| 5 | 100 | 200 | 200 | 1:10 |
| 6 | 150 | 300 | 300 | 1:25 |
| 7 | 200 | 400 | 400 | 1:40 |
1
- Small blind
- 25
- Big blind
- 50
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:00
2
- Small blind
- 40
- Big blind
- 75
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:15
3
- Small blind
- 50
- Big blind
- 100
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:30
4
- Small blind
- 75
- Big blind
- 150
- Ante
- 150
- Starts at
- 0:45
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 1:00
5
- Small blind
- 100
- Big blind
- 200
- Ante
- 200
- Starts at
- 1:10
6
- Small blind
- 150
- Big blind
- 300
- Ante
- 300
- Starts at
- 1:25
7
- Small blind
- 200
- Big blind
- 400
- Ante
- 400
- Starts at
- 1:40
3-hour target: 8 players, 10,000 chips
15-minute levels, no rebuys, 10-minute breaks about every hour. Generated schedule: 2:50. Target time is not a guaranteed finish; additional levels may be needed.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Level | Small blind | Big blind | Ante | Starts at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 50 | 0 | 0:00 |
| 2 | 40 | 75 | 0 | 0:15 |
| 3 | 50 | 100 | 0 | 0:30 |
| 4 | 75 | 150 | 150 | 0:45 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 1:00 |
| 5 | 100 | 200 | 200 | 1:10 |
| 6 | 150 | 300 | 300 | 1:25 |
| 7 | 200 | 400 | 400 | 1:40 |
| 8 | 300 | 600 | 600 | 1:55 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 2:10 |
| 9 | 400 | 800 | 800 | 2:20 |
| 10 | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 2:35 |
1
- Small blind
- 25
- Big blind
- 50
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:00
2
- Small blind
- 40
- Big blind
- 75
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:15
3
- Small blind
- 50
- Big blind
- 100
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:30
4
- Small blind
- 75
- Big blind
- 150
- Ante
- 150
- Starts at
- 0:45
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 1:00
5
- Small blind
- 100
- Big blind
- 200
- Ante
- 200
- Starts at
- 1:10
6
- Small blind
- 150
- Big blind
- 300
- Ante
- 300
- Starts at
- 1:25
7
- Small blind
- 200
- Big blind
- 400
- Ante
- 400
- Starts at
- 1:40
8
- Small blind
- 300
- Big blind
- 600
- Ante
- 600
- Starts at
- 1:55
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 2:10
9
- Small blind
- 400
- Big blind
- 800
- Ante
- 800
- Starts at
- 2:20
10
- Small blind
- 600
- Big blind
- 1,200
- Ante
- 1,200
- Starts at
- 2:35
4-hour target: 8 players, 10,000 chips
15-minute levels, no rebuys, 10-minute breaks about every hour. Generated schedule: 4:00. Target time is not a guaranteed finish; additional levels may be needed.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Level | Small blind | Big blind | Ante | Starts at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 50 | 0 | 0:00 |
| 2 | 40 | 75 | 0 | 0:15 |
| 3 | 50 | 100 | 0 | 0:30 |
| 4 | 60 | 125 | 125 | 0:45 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 1:00 |
| 5 | 75 | 157 | 157 | 1:10 |
| 6 | 100 | 200 | 200 | 1:25 |
| 7 | 125 | 250 | 250 | 1:40 |
| 8 | 150 | 313 | 313 | 1:55 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 2:10 |
| 9 | 200 | 400 | 400 | 2:20 |
| 10 | 250 | 500 | 500 | 2:35 |
| 11 | 300 | 625 | 625 | 2:50 |
| Break (10 minutes) | — | — | — | 3:05 |
| 12 | 400 | 800 | 800 | 3:15 |
| 13 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 3:30 |
| 14 | 800 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 3:45 |
1
- Small blind
- 25
- Big blind
- 50
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:00
2
- Small blind
- 40
- Big blind
- 75
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:15
3
- Small blind
- 50
- Big blind
- 100
- Ante
- 0
- Starts at
- 0:30
4
- Small blind
- 60
- Big blind
- 125
- Ante
- 125
- Starts at
- 0:45
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 1:00
5
- Small blind
- 75
- Big blind
- 157
- Ante
- 157
- Starts at
- 1:10
6
- Small blind
- 100
- Big blind
- 200
- Ante
- 200
- Starts at
- 1:25
7
- Small blind
- 125
- Big blind
- 250
- Ante
- 250
- Starts at
- 1:40
8
- Small blind
- 150
- Big blind
- 313
- Ante
- 313
- Starts at
- 1:55
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 2:10
9
- Small blind
- 200
- Big blind
- 400
- Ante
- 400
- Starts at
- 2:20
10
- Small blind
- 250
- Big blind
- 500
- Ante
- 500
- Starts at
- 2:35
11
- Small blind
- 300
- Big blind
- 625
- Ante
- 625
- Starts at
- 2:50
Break (10 minutes)
- Small blind
- —
- Big blind
- —
- Ante
- —
- Starts at
- 3:05
12
- Small blind
- 400
- Big blind
- 800
- Ante
- 800
- Starts at
- 3:15
13
- Small blind
- 500
- Big blind
- 1,000
- Ante
- 1,000
- Starts at
- 3:30
14
- Small blind
- 800
- Big blind
- 1,500
- Ante
- 1,500
- Starts at
- 3:45
These are starting points for 8 players with 10,000 chips each. Change the players or stack in the calculator and it rebuilds the levels for your table.
How many big blinds to start with
Divide the starting stack by the first big blind. 10,000 chips at 25/50 is 200 big blinds, which gives everyone time to play before the blinds matter. Starting at 50/100 (100 big blinds) shortens the night; below about 50 big blinds, the early levels turn into all-in contests. If the group wants a long, skillful game, start deeper and keep levels at 20 minutes or more.
Small blind, big blind and the order of play
- The small blind sits directly left of the dealer button and is usually half the big blind.
- The big blind sits left of the small blind.
- Before the flop, the player left of the big blind acts first and the big blind acts last.
- After the flop, the first active player left of the button acts first.
- Heads-up (two players left), the dealer posts the small blind and acts first before the flop.
- The button and both blinds move one seat to the left after every hand.
What blind level ends the tournament?
Add up all chips in play, including rebuys and add-ons. A useful rough late-game check is when the big blind reaches about one-twentieth to one-tenth of that total: for 8 players with 10,000 chips each, 80,000 chips in play means a big blind around 4,000–8,000. This is a planning range, not a guaranteed finishing point; eliminations and playing pace matter. The default 3-hour table above starts at 25/50 and ends at level 10, 600/1,200, starting 2:35 from the tournament start. No level in that table reaches 4,000–8,000. Allow extra levels or adjust the structure if your group needs that deeper late-game range; rebuys push it further away. See how long a poker game lasts for real-world timings.
Breaks and coloring up
Take a 10-minute break about every hour. At a break, color up the smallest chips that the blinds no longer need, such as trading four T25 chips for one T100. Plan the chips for your starting stack with the poker chip calculator.
Next step: run the levels on a big screen with the poker blind timer, split the prize pool with the poker tournament payout calculator, or follow the full home poker tournament setup checklist.
Next steps
Track it while you play. Settle it when you finish.
If you run a regular home cash game, the calculation is only one part of the job. HG Poker keeps buy-ins and rebuys together while you play, guides the final chip count, and saves the result for next time. Start free and see your current allowance in the app.
Frequently asked questions
How long should blind levels be in a home poker tournament?+
For most home tournaments, 15–20 minute levels balance playability with a predictable finish. Use 10–12 minutes for a fast event or 25–30 minutes for a deeper structure.
What should the first blind level be?+
A comfortable opening level usually gives each player 100–200 big blinds. This builder targets roughly 200 opening big blinds, then rounds to familiar chip values.
How does the calculator estimate tournament length?+
It fits complete blind levels and scheduled breaks into your target duration. The finish is an estimate: player style, re-entries, deals, and the pace of eliminations can move the actual ending earlier or later.
When should antes begin?+
This schedule introduces a big-blind ante after the early levels, when the average stack has become shallower. The amount shown is paid by the big blind and equals one big blind.
Can I use this structure with rebuys?+
Yes. Set the rebuy period to show where re-entry closes. Rebuys add chips to the field, so a busy rebuy event may run longer than the estimate; allowing extra time is sensible.
How many big blinds should players start with in a home tournament?+
100 to 200 big blinds is a comfortable start for most home tournaments; this builder aims for about 200. Fewer big blinds make the game faster but leave more to luck early on.
Who goes first, the small blind or the big blind?+
The small blind sits directly left of the dealer button and the big blind sits left of the small blind. Before the flop, the player left of the big blind acts first; after the flop, the first active player left of the button acts first, which is usually the small blind.
How big is the small blind compared with the big blind?+
The small blind is usually half the big blind, such as 25/50 or 100/200. Some levels round it, like 75/150 or 300/600, to keep familiar chip values.
How do I calculate poker blinds?+
Start the big blind at about 1/100 to 1/200 of a starting stack (100 to 50 from 10,000); this builder defaults to 50, or 200 opening big blinds. Raise each level by about 25–50% and choose 15–20 minute levels for a 3-hour game. Enter players, chips and hours above to build the schedule.
What is a good blind structure for a 3-hour home tournament?+
For 8 players with 10,000 chips, start at 25/50 (200 big blinds), use 15 to 20 minute levels and take a break about every hour. The 3-hour example on this page shows every level; enter your own players and stack to rebuild it.