Ticket cost calculator
Exacta box cost calculator
Enter the number of horses in your box and the base amount charged for each combination. The result updates automatically.
Formula: P(n, 2) = n! / (n - 2)!
3 x 2 = 6 combinations
Enter a whole number from 2 to 20 and a base amount from $0.01 to $100.
This tool calculates ticket cost only. Minimums, wagering menus, and pool availability vary by host track and race; confirm the displayed total before submitting a wager.
The cost tables
An exacta asks you to pick the first two finishers in exact order. Boxing covers both orders for every pair of horses on the ticket. These are the standard costs at the two most common base amounts.
| Horses in the box | Combinations | $1 base | $2 base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 horses | 2 | $2 | $4 |
| 3 horses | 6 | $6 | $12 |
| 4 horses | 12 | $12 | $24 |
| 5 horses | 20 | $20 | $40 |
| 6 horses | 30 | $30 | $60 |
How the math works
The formula is the number of horses multiplied by one fewer: N x (N-1). Five horses can finish first and second in 5 x 4 = 20 different ordered pairs, and the box buys all of them at your base amount each.
When a box beats two straight bets
A two-horse $1 exacta box is identical to two $1 straight exactas, one in each order. The cost and coverage are the same, so with two horses the box is just convenient shorthand.
If your opinion is not symmetrical, two straight tickets let you divide the stake unevenly. For the same $4 as a two-horse $2 box, for example, you could put $3 on 4-7 and $1 on 7-4. The box instead places the same base amount on both orders.
Boxes with three or more horses extend that equal coverage across every ordered pair. Compare that structure with the specific orders you intend to cover before choosing the ticket.
Minimums vary by track and pool
A $1 exacta is common (Del Mar's official menu lists one, and TwinSpires' wagering FAQ notes some tracks use a $1 base while others stay at $2). Minimums are set per track and pool, and the minimum changes what the smallest sensible ticket looks like, so check the menu for the race you're playing.
Common questions
What does a 3-horse exacta box cost at $2?
Twelve dollars. Three horses create six ordered pairs (3 x 2), and each pair costs the $2 base amount.
Is an exacta box better than a quinella?
They cover similar ground: a quinella pays if your two horses finish first and second in either order, at a single combination price. Where both are offered, compare the likely payouts, because the pools are separate and one is often better value than the other for the same opinion.
Does boxing more horses raise my chance of winning?
Yes, and it also raises the number of paid combinations while only one finishing order can win. Compare the added coverage with the full ticket cost before submitting the wager.
Further reading