What is CLV (closing line value)?
CLV compares the price you got on a bet with the final price just before the event starts. Bettors track it because it shows, quickly, whether they are getting better prices than the market ends up offering. This page explains it in plain words and gives you a free calculator.
CLV calculator
Both prices must be for the same selection and the same line, for example Team A -3.5 at both times. If the line itself changed, this formula does not apply.
Enter your odds and the closing odds to see your CLV.
The idea in one minute
Sportsbook prices keep moving as money comes in and news breaks, and the last price before the event, the closing line, is usually the most informed number of all. If you bet at a price that is better than that closing price, you "beat the close". Beating it again and again is often treated as a sign that you are finding prices before the market catches up.
How to calculate CLV
Example: you bet at -110 (decimal 1.909) and the line closes at -120 (decimal 1.833). CLV = (1.909 ÷ 1.833 − 1) × 100 = +4.13%. You got a better payout than the market ended up offering.
A negative example: you bet at -110 and the price closes at -105 (decimal 1.952). CLV = (1.909 ÷ 1.952 − 1) × 100 = −2.22%. The market ended up offering a better payout than the one you took, so you got a worse price than the close.
What CLV does and does not tell you
- It is a price comparison. It is not expected value and it is not a prediction. It says nothing about whether the bet won.
- It needs a decent sample. A handful of bets can be positive or negative by luck. CLV is more useful over dozens or hundreds of bets.
- It is not a guarantee of profit. Beating the close is often seen as a good sign, but profit also depends on the sportsbook's margin, your stake sizes and luck.
- If the line moved, it is a different bet. A -3.5 spread and a -4.5 spread are not the same bet, so the simple formula should not be used. Look at the line change on its own.
- The closing price must be real. Use the price from the same sportsbook (or one clearly sharper market) just before the event starts.
Track your CLV for free
- Save your bets in My Bets, by hand or with "Save to tracker" in any Devig calculator.
- Just before the event, add the closing odds to the bet with the + Closing odds button.
- Open the CLV tab to see each bet's price CLV and your average across bets.
Your bets stay in your own browser. Nothing is sent to us, and you type the closing odds yourself, because Devig Sports does not use a live odds feed.
Common questions
What is CLV in sports betting?
CLV, or closing line value, compares the price you got with the final price just before the event starts. If you got a better price than the close, you have positive CLV.
How do you calculate CLV?
For the same selection and line, CLV percent = (your decimal odds ÷ closing decimal odds − 1) × 100. Entering at -110 when it closes at -120 gives +4.13%.
Does positive CLV mean I will make a profit?
No. Consistently beating the closing line is often seen as a sign of good pricing, but it is not a guarantee of profit, and CLV is a price comparison, not expected value.
What if the line moved, not just the odds?
Then the prices are for different bets, such as a -3.5 and a -4.5 spread, and the simple formula does not apply. Compare the line change separately.
More free tools
- My Bets → CLVTrack the closing line value of every bet you make.
- Line CompareSee which sportsbook pays the most for the same bet.
- Odds ConverterSwitch between American, decimal and fractional odds.
- Which tool do I need?A guide to every Devig Sports tool.
For information only, not betting advice. Only wager where legal and if you meet the age requirement. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).