I've seen other sites that use a different closing line value equation. Are they wrong?

There is no universally accepted CLV formula. Different methods emphasize different interpretations of gained value, but not all produce the same percentage-style measure.

Should I enter the closing line vig-free or as it appears at the sportsbook?

Using a vig-free closing line is generally better because it reflects the underlying fair value. Using the sportsbook’s posted price can overstate the result unless the vig is removed.

Closing Line Value Calculator

Q: What is closing line value?

Closing line value measures the value of your bet by comparing the price you took to the market’s closing line.

Q: How is closing line value calculated?

One common method is to compare the implied probability of your bet to the implied probability of the closing line and express the gain in value as a percentage.

Q: Can I just subtract the implied probability of my bet from the implied probability of the closing line?

You can, but that gives only the absolute difference in implied probability, not a percentage measure of gained value relative to your original bet.

Q: Why do I need to enter the closing moneyline instead of the closing runline for baseball?

Baseball is fundamentally a moneyline market, so the moneyline provides the information needed to estimate value more accurately than the runline alone.

Closing Line Value is one of the clearest indicators of long-term betting success. If you consistently beat the closing line, you’re getting better prices than the market — and that’s where profit comes from.

The Closing Line Value Calculator shows you exactly how your bets compare to the closing number, so you can measure your edge with precision.

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Measure the Exact Value of Betting Lines

Lines move constantly, and it’s not always obvious how much better one bet is than another — for example, -6 (-115) vs. -6.5 (-110).

The CLV Calculator removes that ambiguity by converting line differences into precise equivalent numbers, giving you a clear picture of how your bet compares to the closing line.

Calculate Your Exact Expected Value

Closing line value is one of the strongest predictors of long-term profitability. But the CLV Calculator is even more powerful as a measure of your exact expected value. By comparing your bet to a true fair price like the Unabated Line, you can see the true EV of every wager. If your bet beats the closing line by 5%, that edge compounds over time. ‍ Make a $100 bet that beats the closing vig-free price by 5% in an efficient market? You can expect that bet to be worth $105 every time you make it, on average.

How Does the Closing Line Value Calculator Work?

Common questions about CLV, the calculator, and how to use it in your betting.

What is closing line value?

Closing line value measures how your bet compares to the final market price (the closing line).

If you bet at a better number than the closing line, you have positive CLV, meaning you beat the market. If your number is worse, you have negative CLV.

Consistently positive CLV is one of the strongest indicators of long-term betting success.

Find out more about closing line value as a betting strategy.

How is closing line value calculated?

CLV is calculated by comparing the implied probability of your bet to the implied probability of the closing line.

To calculate your closing line value, convert the prices of the bet you made and the closing line to implied probabilities.

Subtract the probability of the line you bet from the closing line. Then divide that sum by your bet's probability.

Can I just subtract the implied probability of my bet from the implied probability of the closing line?

No. Simply subtracting implied probabilities gives you the difference, but not the relative value of your bet compared to the market.

CLV is expressed as a percentage so you can measure how much better your price is, not just how different it is.

Are CLV formulas on other sites wrong?

There’s no single universal CLV formula, but not all methods measure value the same way.

Some approaches only show absolute differences, while others (like this calculator) express CLV as a percentage — giving you a clearer picture of your true edge.

Should I use a vig-free closing line, or the sportsbook's closing line?

Using a vig-free closing line gives you a more accurate measure of your true edge. This is your expected value in the bet.

If you enter the closing price as it appears at the sportsbook, adjust for the vig. At -110, that means subtracting 4.55 percentage points from the result.

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Why do I need to enter the closing moneyline instead of the closing runline for baseball?

MLB is a moneyline sport. Using the moneyline provides a more accurate measure of value than the runline, which doesn’t fully capture the underlying probabilities needed for CLV calculations.