12 team single elimination bracket
A seeded bracket for 12 teams or players: 4 rounds, 4 first-round byes for the top 4 seeds, one loss and you're out. Type team names into the sheet, then print it or download the PDF.
First-round seeding
standard seeded draw| Match | Higher seed | Lower seed | Winner plays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #8 | #9 | #1 seed (match 5) |
| 2 | #5 | #12 | #4 seed (match 6) |
| 3 | #6 | #11 | #3 seed (match 7) |
| 4 | #7 | #10 | #2 seed (match 8) |
| Bye | #1 | — | Winner of match 1 (match 5) |
| Bye | #2 | — | Winner of match 4 (match 8) |
| Bye | #3 | — | Winner of match 3 (match 7) |
| Bye | #4 | — | Winner of match 2 (match 6) |
Other sizes and formats
Single elimination: other sizes
12 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 12 team single elimination bracket?
11. Every game knocks out one team, and 11 teams have to be knocked out to leave one champion. The games are spread over 4 rounds: 4, 4, 2, 1.
How do byes work in a 12 team bracket?
12 is not a power of two, so the bracket is drawn on 16 lines and the top 4 seeds (1–4) skip round 1. Seeds 5–12 play the 4 first-round games, and the winners meet the rested seeds in round 2.
How many games does the champion play?
3 or 4. A seed with a bye wins it in 3 games; a team that starts in round 1 needs 4.
How long does a 12 team tournament take?
About 3h on two courts or fields with 30-minute games, because a round cannot start until the one before it is finished. Change the numbers in the calculator on this page for your own setup.