Decide the size
Single elimination doubles every round (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64). If your team count isn't a power of two, the difference is filled with byes for the top seeds.
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How to run a single-elimination tournament
Plan rounds, seed teams, handle byes, print the bracket — a short guide plus the tool to do all of it.
Other formats coming soon.
Want a prettier print-ready pack?
The free version does the job. The optional template pack just makes brackets look beautiful for events, classrooms and clubs.
Free forever for basic use · No signup required
When to use this
First-time organisers running a one-day tournament. The guide covers the four decisions you have to make (size, seeding, byes, format); the bracket tool does the rest.
Step by step
- 1
Paste teams
- 2
Generate bracket
- 3
Print and play
Seed by past results or random
Either is fine. Seeding rewards consistency; random adds drama. The tool places top seeds across halves automatically when you enter them in seed order.
Estimate the day
Total matches = teams − 1. At 25 minutes per match on one court, 16 teams = ~6 hours. Two courts halves it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What if a team drops out?
Mark their slot as a bye — opponent advances. The bracket maker has a quick "mark winner" click for this.
Keep exploring
Related tools & guides
Printable single elimination bracket
The most-used bracket format on the planet. Lose once, you're out. Build it free in your browser, print it, run your event.
OpenPrintable tournament bracket maker
Run an event without spreadsheets or paid software. Build a printable bracket in your browser, share by PDF.
Open8-team bracket template
Quarter-finals, semis, final. Seven matches, one champion. The most-printed bracket in the world.
Open16-team bracket template
Sixteen teams, fifteen matches, four rounds. The classic championship sheet.
Open
Ready to run your event?
Free forever for basic use. No signup required. The free version really does do the job.
Want prettier prints? See the optional template pack