Bowling Economy Rate Calculator
Economy rate is the average number of runs a bowler concedes per over. Part-overs are handled correctly, so 3.4 overs counts as 22 legal balls.
Formula
Economy Rate = Runs Conceded / Overs BowledOvers Bowled = Total Legal Balls / 6
Example
- A bowler concedes 40 runs in 4 overs.
- 40 / 4 = 10.00 runs per over.
- If the spell was 3.4 overs, that is 22 legal balls, so the overs figure is 22 / 6 = 3.67 and the economy rate is 10.91.
Frequently asked questions
Do wides and no-balls count against the bowler?
Yes. Runs from wides and no-balls are charged to the bowler and raise the economy rate, but those deliveries do not add to the legal balls bowled.
What counts as a good economy rate?
It depends on the format. In Twenty20 anything under about seven runs an over is strong, while in one-day cricket under five is considered tight.
What is an economy rate?
A bowler’s economy rate is the average number of runs they concede per over. It shows how hard a bowler is to score off, and it matters most in limited-overs cricket, where keeping the run rate down can win a match even without taking wickets. Wides and no-balls count against the bowler; byes and leg-byes do not.
How to use the economy rate calculator
- Enter the runs conceded by the bowler.
- Enter the completed overs and any balls of an unfinished over (0 to 5).
- Press Calculate to see the runs conceded per over.
Worked examples
A T20 spell
40 runs from 4 overs: 40 ÷ 4 = 10.00 runs per over.
An unfinished over
27 runs from 3.4 overs. That is 22 legal balls, or 3.67 overs, so the economy rate is 27 ÷ 3.67 = 7.36.
A long Test spell
55 runs from 21 overs: 55 ÷ 21 = 2.62 runs per over.
Common mistakes
- Dividing by 3.4 instead of 3.67 overs for a spell of three overs and four balls.
- Leaving out wides and no-balls. They count against the bowler’s runs, even though they are not legal balls.
- Including byes and leg-byes. These extras are not charged to the bowler.