This tournament bracket generator turns a list of names into a single-elimination chart you can fill in on screen or print for the wall. It works as a bracket maker for any group: a bracket generator for a pickleball ladder, a printable bracket for the office pool, or a quick draw for a chess club. Everything runs in your browser, so there is no account and no waiting.
How to make a bracket
- Type your entrants in the box, one per line. Team names, player names, or plain seed numbers all work. You can also press "Fill with numbers" to get Team 1 through Team N for a count you choose.
- Choose the order. "Seeded" uses your list as the seed order, so the first line is seed 1. "Random" shuffles the list for you.
- Add a title if you like, and show or hide the seed numbers.
- Click or tap a name to move it to the next round. Click the winner again to undo it.
- When the final is decided, the champion appears. Print the bracket or download it as a PDF.
How byes work
A single-elimination bracket needs a size that is a power of two: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 slots. If your number of entrants falls short, the empty slots become byes. The generator gives byes to the top seeds, and bye matches advance on their own, so you never have to move anyone by hand. The total number of byes is the bracket size minus your entrants, and no two byes are ever paired against each other.
| Entrants | Bracket size | Byes | Rounds | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 12 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 20 | 32 | 12 | 5 | 19 |
| 24 | 32 | 8 | 5 | 23 |
| 40 | 64 | 24 | 6 | 39 |
Games are always one fewer than the number of entrants, because every game knocks out exactly one. For a deeper look, see the guide to the single elimination bracket.
Seeded or random?
Pick seeded when you know who is strongest, such as last season's standings or a quick ranking round. Standard seeding keeps the top two seeds apart until the final and pairs strong entrants with weaker ones early on. Pick random when everyone is roughly equal, or when you want a fair draw for a casual event. The shuffle uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, and you can press Shuffle again for a new draw.
Saving and sharing
Your bracket saves automatically in this browser, so a refresh will not lose your results. "Copy link" gives you a share link that reopens the same bracket, results included, on any device. That makes it easy to post in a group chat and let others follow along. "Start over" clears the bracket when you are done.
Printing tips
- Print in landscape. The bracket is laid out for one landscape page, on US Letter or A4.
- Set the scale to 100% or "fit to page", and turn off headers and footers in the print dialog for a cleaner sheet.
- Up to 32 entrants print comfortably on one page. A 64-entrant bracket also fits, with smaller type.
- Names with letters outside Western European alphabets should use Print / Save PDF rather than Download PDF.
Do a test print of a small bracket first if you are unsure about margins. If a long name gets cut off, shorten it to a first name or initials and the chart will redraw cleanly. Want to write names in by hand instead? Use the blank bracket page.
Running the event
Once the bracket is drawn, share the link with the group or tape the printout where everyone can see it. As each game ends, tap the winner. The "Matches to play" list under the chart shows only the open games with large buttons, which is handy when you are standing at a table with your phone. If someone reports the wrong score, click the winner again to undo it, then pick the right one. Later results that depended on the change are cleared so the bracket never contradicts itself.
Ideas for your next bracket
- Spring basketball bracket pools and fantasy playoffs.
- Pickleball, cornhole, or ping pong on league night.
- Esports and video game tournaments with friends.
- A classroom debate tournament or spelling bee.
- A "best snack" bracket challenge, or the best movie, song, or pizza topping.
If everyone should play everyone instead, try the round robin generator. For ready-made sizes, jump to the 16 team bracket or the 8 team bracket. You can also read more about this site.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a tournament bracket?
Type your entrants into the box, one per line, choose seeded or random order, and the bracket is drawn right away. Click a name to advance it as games finish. When you are ready, print it or download a PDF.
How many entrants can the bracket maker handle?
It handles 2 to 64 entrants in a single-elimination bracket. If the number is not a power of two, byes are added automatically and given to the top seeds.
Is the bracket generator really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no account, and no limit on how many brackets you make. The page works in your browser and your names are not sent to a server.
Will my bracket still be there if I close the tab?
Your bracket is saved automatically in this browser, so it should be there when you come back on the same device. To use it on another device, press Copy link and open that link there.
Can I print the bracket on one page?
Yes. The bracket prints on one landscape page, on US Letter or A4. Up to 32 entrants print comfortably, and 64 entrants fit with smaller type.
What does the Random order option do?
It shuffles your list with your browser's cryptographic random number generator before drawing the bracket. Press Shuffle again if you want a different draw.