Double elimination bracket
A printable double-elimination bracket for 3 to 32 teams: a seeded winners bracket, a losers bracket where every first loss drops in, and a grand final with the if-necessary game. Games are numbered so everyone knows where losers go.
6 teams · double elimination · 10 or 11 games
Type the names on the seeded lines, or print it blank. Prints on one landscape page; choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog for a PDF.
Games by bracket size
| Teams | Winners bracket | Losers bracket | Total games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 team double elimination | 2 | 1 | 4 or 5 |
| 4 team double elimination | 3 | 2 | 6 or 7 |
| 5 team double elimination | 4 | 3 | 8 or 9 |
| 6 team double elimination | 5 | 4 | 10 or 11 |
| 7 team double elimination | 6 | 5 | 12 or 13 |
| 8 team double elimination | 7 | 6 | 14 or 15 |
| 9 team double elimination | 8 | 7 | 16 or 17 |
| 10 team double elimination | 9 | 8 | 18 or 19 |
| 12 team double elimination | 11 | 10 | 22 or 23 |
| 14 team double elimination | 13 | 12 | 26 or 27 |
| 16 team double elimination | 15 | 14 | 30 or 31 |
| 20 team double elimination | 19 | 18 | 38 or 39 |
| 24 team double elimination | 23 | 22 | 46 or 47 |
| 32 team double elimination | 31 | 30 | 62 or 63 |
Online play on BracketRanker is single elimination. For a bracket friends can play head-to-head, use the bracket maker; for single-elimination printables, see printable brackets.
Double elimination FAQ
How does a double elimination bracket work?
Every team has to lose twice to be knocked out. A first loss drops a team from the winners bracket into the losers bracket; a loss there ends its run. The winners-bracket champion and the losers-bracket champion meet in the grand final.
What does 'if necessary' mean in the grand final?
The winners-bracket champion has not lost yet. If it wins the grand final, it is over. If the losers-bracket champion wins, both teams have one loss, so they play once more: the if-necessary game.
How many games are in a double elimination bracket?
2N − 2 games for N teams, plus one more if the if-necessary game is needed. A 6-team bracket takes 10 or 11 games; an 8-team bracket 14 or 15.
How many games are in a 6 team double elimination bracket?
10, or 11 if the grand final needs the if-necessary game: 5 in the winners bracket, 4 in the losers bracket and 1 or 2 in the final. Seeds 1 and 2 get first-round byes.
How do byes work in double elimination?
When the number of teams is not a power of two, the top seeds get first-round byes in the winners bracket. That leaves gaps in the first losers round too, so some teams get a free pass there; they are marked Bye on the sheet.
Can I play a double elimination bracket online here?
Not yet: online play is single elimination. Print this one, or use the bracket maker for a single-elimination bracket friends can play head-to-head.