How to Set Your Unit Size
Your unit (or point) is the building block of every stake. Here's how to set it correctly so you can follow advice safely at your own level.
A unit — often called a point — is your standard stake, and setting it correctly is the foundation of safe staking. Get it right and you can follow any tipster's advice at your own level; get it wrong and one bad run can wipe you out. This guide shows you how, building on points and units: how staking advice works.
Base it on your bankroll
Your unit should be a small, fixed fraction of your bankroll — commonly 1-2%. If your bank is £1,000, a 1% unit is £10, and a tipster's '2-point' bet is £20.
The percentage, not the cash figure, is what keeps you safe.
Size it to survive variance
Your unit must be small enough to withstand the expected maximum losing run with plenty of bankroll left. Higher-odds betting needs a smaller unit because runs are longer and deeper.
If one bad month could cripple your bank, your unit is too big.
Keep it consistent
Once set, apply your unit consistently and resist the urge to inflate it after wins or to chase losses — that discipline is what protects the edge, per how much should you bet per bet?.
Consistency turns a tipster's points record into results you can actually achieve.
Review as your bank changes
Recalculate your unit periodically as your bankroll grows or shrinks, so you're always risking a sensible fraction. Review on a schedule, not bet-to-bet, and use our staking calculator to keep it precise.
Judge any tipster's points profit against your own achievable results and their Trust Score.
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TipsterCheck's editorial team independently researches sports betting tipsters and betting markets. We don't sell tips and we never take payment to influence a rating — our guidance is built on transparent track records, verified user reviews and our published scoring methodology.
Last reviewed 18 August 2026 · Written and fact-checked against our review policy and scoring methodology.
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