Double Elimination Bracket Generator
Free double elimination bracket generator for 3 to 32 teams. Printable blank brackets with numbered games, or fill in scores online. No account needed.
Create a double elimination tournament →Pick your size
Each size has its own page with a printable blank bracket, the full order of play and the numbers for that size.
| Teams | Games | Upper + lower rounds | Byes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 teams | 4 or 5 | 2 + 1 | 1 |
| 4 teams | 6 or 7 | 2 + 2 | 0 |
| 5 teams | 8 or 9 | 3 + 3 | 3 |
| 6 teams | 10 or 11 | 3 + 3 | 2 |
| 7 teams | 12 or 13 | 3 + 4 | 1 |
| 8 teams | 14 or 15 | 3 + 4 | 0 |
| 9 teams | 16 or 17 | 4 + 5 | 7 |
| 10 teams | 18 or 19 | 4 + 5 | 6 |
| 11 teams | 20 or 21 | 4 + 5 | 5 |
| 12 teams | 22 or 23 | 4 + 5 | 4 |
| 13 teams | 24 or 25 | 4 + 6 | 3 |
| 14 teams | 26 or 27 | 4 + 6 | 2 |
| 15 teams | 28 or 29 | 4 + 6 | 1 |
| 16 teams | 30 or 31 | 4 + 6 | 0 |
| 17 teams | 32 or 33 | 5 + 7 | 15 |
| 18 teams | 34 or 35 | 5 + 7 | 14 |
| 19 teams | 36 or 37 | 5 + 7 | 13 |
| 20 teams | 38 or 39 | 5 + 7 | 12 |
| 21 teams | 40 or 41 | 5 + 7 | 11 |
| 22 teams | 42 or 43 | 5 + 7 | 10 |
| 23 teams | 44 or 45 | 5 + 7 | 9 |
| 24 teams | 46 or 47 | 5 + 7 | 8 |
| 25 teams | 48 or 49 | 5 + 8 | 7 |
| 26 teams | 50 or 51 | 5 + 8 | 6 |
| 27 teams | 52 or 53 | 5 + 8 | 5 |
| 28 teams | 54 or 55 | 5 + 8 | 4 |
| 29 teams | 56 or 57 | 5 + 8 | 3 |
| 30 teams | 58 or 59 | 5 + 8 | 2 |
| 31 teams | 60 or 61 | 5 + 8 | 1 |
| 32 teams | 62 or 63 | 5 + 8 | 0 |
How double elimination works
A double elimination tournament has two brackets. Everyone starts in the upper bracket (winners bracket), which runs like a normal single elimination bracket. A team that loses there is not out: it drops into the lower bracket (losers bracket). A loss in the lower bracket knocks a team out.
Teams that lose early in the upper bracket join the lower bracket early; teams that lose later join later, so the lower bracket alternates between rounds of its own survivors and rounds where new teams drop in. The drop order is reversed so teams are less likely to meet again straight away.
The upper bracket winner (no losses) and the lower bracket winner (one loss) meet in the grand final. If the lower bracket team wins, both have one loss, and a reset game decides the title. In total a double elimination bracket has 2 × teams − 2 games, or one more with the reset.
Example: 8 teams
Questions
How many games are in a double elimination bracket?
Twice the number of teams minus two, plus one more if the grand final needs a reset. Every team except the champion loses exactly twice.
What is a grand final reset?
The upper bracket winner has not lost yet. If the lower bracket team wins the grand final, both teams have one loss, so a second deciding game is played.
What is the difference between single and double elimination?
In single elimination one loss knocks a team out. In double elimination a team is only out after two losses: its first loss sends it to the lower bracket. Double elimination takes about twice as many games.
How do byes work in double elimination?
The top seeds get byes in the first upper bracket round, exactly as in single elimination. A bye is not a loss, so nobody drops to the lower bracket from a bye slot.