The guide
How to run an office pool
An office pool is the easiest way to make a season more fun. Pick a format, set a small buy-in, and let the games do the rest. Here is how to choose one and run it without the headaches.
Pick your pool
Four formats cover almost every office. The right one depends on the event and how much your group actually follows sports.
Football squares
A 10 by 10 grid for one big game. People buy squares, numbers are drawn at random, and the last digit of the score picks a winner each quarter. Zero football knowledge needed, which is exactly why everyone joins.
Squares grid→Pick'em pool
Every week, everyone picks the winner of each game. One point per correct pick, the standings shift, and the best record over the season takes it. The slow burn that runs September to January.
Pick'em sheet→Bracket pool
Built around a tournament. Everyone fills in a bracket before it starts, scores points as the real results land, and the most points wins. March Madness is the classic, but any playoff bracket works.
Bracket pools→College bowl pool
A December and January favorite. Pick the winner of every bowl game, all forty-odd of them, on one sheet. Add confidence points to make the big games matter more.
Bowl pool sheet→Two more show up now and then. A golf pool has each person back a golfer or a small roster for a tournament, scored on where they finish. A lottery pool is simpler still: a group buys tickets together and splits anything that hits. Both run on trust and a clear list of who paid in.
Run it in five steps
- 1
Choose the format and the event
Squares for a single big game. Pick'em for a whole season. A bracket for a tournament. Match the pool to what your group will follow.
- 2
Set the buy-in
Low and flat. A dollar a square, or five to ten to enter a season pool. Write down who has paid so there is no awkward chasing later.
- 3
Set the rules before kickoff
Payouts, tiebreakers, what happens to an unsold square or a missed week. Decide it all up front and there is nothing to argue about.
- 4
Build and share the sheet
Generate the grid or sheet here, print a copy for everyone or share the link, and collect the picks before the games start.
- 5
Post results and pay out
Update the standings on schedule, every week if it is a season pool. Pay the winners promptly. That is what makes people come back next year.
Keep it friendly, and aboveboard
The best office pools are loose and low-stakes. Keep the buy-in small, make sure the new hire and the person who has never watched a game both feel welcome, and never let it get competitive enough to sour a Monday. Squares and bracket pools help here, because luck does most of the work.
One practical note: workplaces and local rules differ on money pools. Some employers have policies, some places regulate it. Check your workplace rules before you pass a sheet around. My Bracket App gives you the grids, brackets, and sheets for free. It is a tool, not legal or gambling advice. See our disclaimer for the rest.
Common questions
What is an office pool?
A group game, usually run around sports, where coworkers each put in a small buy-in and compete on predictions or luck. Football squares, weekly pick'em, and March Madness brackets are the most common. The pot goes to the winners.
How much should the buy-in be?
Keep it low enough that anyone can join without thinking twice. A dollar a square or five dollars to enter a pick'em keeps it light and friendly. The fun comes from everyone playing, not from the size of the pot.
Who should host the office pool?
One organized person who will actually collect the buy-ins, post the results, and pay out on time. The tool does the brackets and the math. The host keeps people honest and keeps it moving.
Is running an office pool allowed?
It depends on your workplace and where you live. Many casual, low-stakes pools are run without issue, but some employers have policies and some places regulate it. Check your workplace rules first. My Bracket App is a free bracket and sheet tool, not legal or gambling advice.
Start your pool
Every tool here is free and prints clean. Pick a format and have a sheet ready in a couple of minutes.