Make a tournament bracket. Keep it live.
Enter your teams in seed order to see the full draw. Continue to a live bracket to record winners and share results.
Need a printable bracket?
Record a winner. Everyone sees the next matchup.
A live bracket gives you a scoring view and a public link for players and spectators. Here is the actual product with a fictional four-team event. Team colors shown are a Pro configuration.
A draw people can understand
Build the bracket in three steps.
- 01
Name and seed the field
Enter each player or team on its own line, strongest seed first. For a casual event, put names in your chosen random order. Decide how you will seed before sharing the draw.
- 02
Check the opening round
The preview pairs the seeds and shows byes. Continue with these teams to save your roster, select a sport if needed, and generate the live bracket.
- 03
Record winners and share
Enter match results manually or link games to live scoreboards. Winners advance in the draw, and the public bracket link updates for spectators.
Powers of two are convenient, not required
Pick a bracket size—or bring an uneven field.
A single-elimination bracket needs N−1 played matches to produce one winner. When the field is not a power of two, byes fill the unused slots in the opening bracket.
| Participants | Bracket slots | Opening byes | Played matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-team bracket | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 6-team bracket | 8 | 2 | 5 |
| 8-team bracket | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 12-team bracket | 16 | 4 | 11 |
| 16-team bracket | 16 | 0 | 15 |
| 32-team bracket | 32 | 0 | 31 |
Use the size-specific pages for diagrams and match-count examples. For paper, use a printable tournament bracket template. A printed bracket is a snapshot; use the live board link when people need current results.
The on-page starter accepts 2–64 participants and previews your opening round. Save up to 8 participants free, up to 32 with Pro, or up to 64 here with Studio. For larger Studio fields (up to 999), create a board from your dashboard and use Import teams.
Single loss, second chance, or pool play first?
Single elimination
A straightforward knockout draw with the fewest matches. The free live bracket supports up to 8 participants.
Build the opening round →Double elimination
Participants leave after two losses. Studio includes the winners and losers bracket workflow.
Understand double elimination →Pools into a bracket
Play group matches first, then use standings to seed the teams advancing to playoffs.
Explore pool play →Compare the match counts and court time in the format guide and calculator. For the full event workflow, including sign-ups and entry fees, see tournament management software.
Take the draw through tournament day.
Use a printed bracket at the scorer’s table and fill in winners as games finish. Share the live bracket when spectators need current results without an updated photo after every round.
Collect teams through online registration, approve the roster, and generate the draw. Optional entry fees use Stripe payouts. Match scoreboards feed results back into the bracket when a game is marked final.
Running an 8-ball or 9-ball event? Use the pool tournament bracket guide to plan race lengths and table availability.
For court assignments, start times and staff access, move the bracket into your organization’s tournament management workflow. Prefer guaranteed games for everyone? Use the round robin schedule generator or compare tournament formats.
Choose a plan for your tournament
Start with a small bracket, brand a weekend event, or run a larger competition with Studio.
Try a small bracket
Free
Single elimination for up to 8 participants. Live results, spectator links, and online registration.
ScoreKeeperCo branding included.
Start a free bracketOne weekend · Pro Event Pass
$9 one-time
7 days of Pro. Single elimination for up to 32 participants, team and sponsor logos, and no ScoreKeeperCo branding.
Starts at purchase. No auto-renewal. Double elimination requires Studio.
Studio
$49/month
Double elimination and brackets up to 999 participants. Includes Pro branding tools and standings and schedule CSV exports.
Monthly or annual subscription. Renews until canceled.
Collect entry fees on any plan
Teams register and pay by card without creating an account. Set up Stripe payouts, choose your entry fee, then share your registration link.
Registration estimate · USD
Entry fees to organizer
$400.00
Service fee per paying team
$2.35
Each team pays in total
$27.35
Participants cover a separate service fee, including payment processing. Assumes every listed team pays. Plan purchases, refunds, and disputes are excluded; final charges appear at checkout.
Questions before you start?
Is this tournament bracket maker free?
Yes. You can create a single-elimination bracket with up to 8 participants free. Pro supports up to 32, and Studio supports up to 999 plus double elimination. Start your first board as a guest; spectators do not need an account.
Can I make a bracket for 6 or 12 teams?
Yes. Six teams use an eight-slot bracket with two byes; 12 teams use a 16-slot bracket with four byes. A bye advances a participant without a match. The number of played single-elimination matches remains N−1.
How should I seed the participants?
If you have rankings or qualifying results, enter the strongest seed first and continue in order. If not, use a random order you are comfortable publishing. Agree on the seeding method before the event starts.
Can I print a bracket?
Use the linked printable bracket template for a paper draw. A printout does not update as matches finish. The live bracket is the better link to share when spectators need current results.
Do winners advance automatically?
Yes. Record the match winner or mark a linked scoreboard final to feed the result into the bracket. The winner advances to the next slot and the public view updates.
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Give the opening round your team names.
Start with the free preview. Your roster carries over when you create the live board.
Need a hand? Contact ScoreKeeperCo.