16 team single elimination bracket
A seeded bracket for 16 teams or players: 4 rounds, no byes, one loss and you're out. Type team names into the sheet, then print it or download the PDF.
15Matches
4Rounds
0Byes
4Games to win it
First-round seeding
standard seeded draw| Match | Higher seed | Lower seed | Winner plays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 | #16 | Winner of match 2 (match 9) |
| 2 | #8 | #9 | Winner of match 1 (match 9) |
| 3 | #5 | #12 | Winner of match 4 (match 10) |
| 4 | #4 | #13 | Winner of match 3 (match 10) |
| 5 | #3 | #14 | Winner of match 6 (match 11) |
| 6 | #6 | #11 | Winner of match 5 (match 11) |
| 7 | #7 | #10 | Winner of match 8 (match 12) |
| 8 | #2 | #15 | Winner of match 7 (match 12) |
Other sizes and formats
Single elimination: other sizes
16 teams: other formats
Questions
How many games are in a 16 team single elimination bracket?
15. Every game knocks out one team, and 15 teams have to be knocked out to leave one champion. The games are spread over 4 rounds: 8, 4, 2, 1.
Does a 16 team bracket need byes?
No. 16 is a power of two, so all 16 teams play in round 1 and the field halves every round: 16, 8, 4, 2, then one champion.
How many games does the champion play?
4. Every team starts in round 1, so the winner plays once in each of the 4 rounds.
How long does a 16 team tournament take?
About 4h 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.