16 team bracket
A 16 team single-elimination bracket has 4 rounds and 15 games: every team plays in the first round, and the rounds have 8, 4, 2, 1 games. Every game sends one team home, so it always takes 15 games to leave one champion.
- Teams
- 16
- Rounds
- 4
- Games
- 15
- Byes
- 0
16 teams · single elimination · 15 games
Type a name on each line, then switch to Pick winners and tap a name to send it through. Prints on one landscape page; choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog for a PDF.
How a 16 team bracket works
| Round | Teams playing | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 | 16 | 8 |
| Quarterfinals | 8 | 4 |
| Semifinals | 4 | 2 |
| Final | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 16 | 15 |
First-round games: 1 v 16, 8 v 9, 4 v 13, 5 v 12, 2 v 15, 7 v 10, 3 v 14, 6 v 11.
Seeding pairs the strongest with the weakest, so upsets are the only way two top seeds meet early. Don't want seeds? Type the names in any order, or use the random bracket generator to draw them.
Or settle a ranking with it
Rank Fast Food Chains head-to-head
A bracket is the fastest way to find a favourite: two at a time until one is left. Play the Fast Food Chains bracket (16 entrants), then see how your champion compares with everyone else's.
16 team bracket FAQ
How many games are in a 16 team bracket?
15. Each game knocks one team out and every team but the champion is knocked out once, so a single-elimination bracket of 16 always needs 16 − 1 = 15 games.
How many rounds are in a 16 team bracket?
4: round of 16 (8 games), quarterfinals (4 games), semifinals (2 games), final (1 game).
Does a 16 team bracket have byes?
No. 16 is a power of two, so every team plays in the first round and each round halves the field.
How do you seed a 16 team bracket?
Rank the teams 1 to 16, then pair the best with the worst: 1 v 16, 8 v 9, 4 v 13, 5 v 12 and so on. The lines on this bracket are already in that order, so the top two seeds can only meet in the final.
Can I print this bracket?
Yes. Press Print for a one-page landscape bracket, blank or with the names you typed. Choose Save as PDF in the print dialog for a PDF, or download the PNG.
Other bracket sizes
Every size from 4 to 64: 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 18 · 20 · 22 · 24 · 25 · 30 · 32 · 64. Or pick any size, try a double-elimination bracket, or make your own.