Line shopping is comparing the price for the same bet at several sportsbooks and placing it wherever it pays the most. Books often price the same selection differently, so one pick can be -110 at one book and -105 at another. A better price lowers the win rate you need to break even, and over many bets that changes your result without changing a single pick.
How it works
A price tells you two things: what a win pays, and how often you need to win to break even. The second number is the price's implied probability:
- Minus prices:
break-even = |odds| ÷ (|odds| + 100) - Plus prices:
break-even = 100 ÷ (odds + 100)
| Price | Profit on a winning $100 bet | Break-even win rate |
|---|---|---|
| -115 | $86.96 | 53.49% |
| -110 | $90.91 | 52.38% |
| -105 | $95.24 | 51.22% |
| +100 | $100.00 | 50.00% |
-110 vs -105
Take a hypothetical bet that's -110 at Book A and -105 at Book B. At -110, a winning $100 bet profits $90.91, and you need to win 110 ÷ 210 = 52.38% of the time to break even. At -105, the same win profits $95.24, and you need 105 ÷ 205 = 51.22%. That's $4.33 more on every win and a break-even rate 1.16 points lower.
Now place 100 of those bets at $100 each and win 52 of them. That's a hypothetical win rate, picked because it sits between the two break-even rates:
| At -110 | At -105 | |
|---|---|---|
| 52 wins | +$4,727 | +$4,952 |
| 48 losses | −$4,800 | −$4,800 |
| Net | −$73 | +$152 |
Same picks, same results. The only difference is where the bets were placed, and it's worth about $225 on $10,000 wagered. The same thing happens on underdogs: +150 needs a 40.00% win rate to break even, while +140 needs 41.67%.
Check any price with the implied probability calculator.
How to find the best odds
By hand:
- Decide the exact bet: game, market, side, line and period.
- Open each sportsbook you have an account with and find that same selection.
- Note each price. Compare only identical bets: Over 4.5 at one book and Over 5.5 at another are different bets.
- Take the best price, check it on the bet slip, and place the bet.
That works for one bet. Across a full slate it takes too long, and prices move while you look.
The Odds Screen on Unjuiced puts the books side by side instead: pregame and live prices for game lines and player props across 20+ sportsbooks, plus prediction markets where available. The Best column shows the best price on each row among the books on your board. Average and, where available, Fair are reference points, not prices you can bet. Choose the books you actually use, since a hidden book can't help you compare, then press a price to open that book. The Odds Screen is free for all users. The Movement view in a row's side panel is on Pro. See how to use the Odds Screen for a walkthrough, or the Odds Screen feature page.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing different bets. A bigger payout on a different line isn't a better price. Check that the side, line and period match before you compare.
- Ignoring the line itself. -3 at -110 and -3.5 at -105 aren't the same bet. Around key numbers, half a point can matter more than the price. The half-point calculator estimates what it's worth.
- Trusting an old quote. Prices move between the moment you compare and the moment you click. Use the price on the bet slip.
- Shopping books you can't use. Legal availability varies by state, province and country. A price at a book you can't bet at doesn't help.
- Skipping the rules. Books settle some markets differently, such as whether overtime counts or what happens when a player doesn't play.
- Treating the best price as a good bet. The best price available can still be a poor one. Compare it with a fair price, or your own estimate, before you bet. Understanding Positive EV explains how.
Questions
What is line shopping in sports betting?
Line shopping is checking the price for the same bet at several sportsbooks and placing it where it pays the most. It doesn't change what you bet, only what each winning bet pays.
How much does line shopping save?
Moving from -110 to -105 adds $4.33 to every winning $100 bet and lowers the break-even win rate from 52.38% to 51.22%. Over 100 bets of $100 at a 52% win rate, that's the difference between losing about $73 and making about $152.
Is the Unjuiced Odds Screen free?
Yes. The Odds Screen is free for all users, with no subscription or trial required. It compares pregame and live prices across 20+ sportsbooks.
How many sportsbooks do I need to line shop?
At least two. The more legal books you can bet at where you live, the more prices you have to choose from on every bet.
Is line shopping the same as arbitrage?
No. Line shopping takes the best price on the one side you want to bet. Arbitrage bets both sides at different books when their best prices are far enough apart that the pair pays out either way.