Key points
- Average = total pins ÷ number of games, dropping the decimals: 155.58 gives 155.
- One line per night (series) also gives you your best series and the average for each series.
- The tool shows the minimum score in your next game to gain one point of average.
- Set a target average: it calculates the average score needed over your remaining games.
- Your scores are kept in your browser from one visit to the next.
How do you calculate your bowling average?
The average is the benchmark of every bowler's level. You calculate it by adding up the scores of all the games you have bowled, then dividing that total by the number of games. In leagues and competitions, the decimals are dropped: there is no rounding to the nearest whole number. An exact average of 155.9 therefore gives an official average of 155.
Example: over four nights of three games, a bowler has a total of 1,867 pins in 12 games. 1,867 ÷ 12 = 155.58: their average is 155.
How to use the calculator
- Type or paste your scores, separated by spaces, commas or line breaks.
- To track your series, put one night per line (for example “142 158 131”): the tool calculates the total and average for each series, and highlights the best one.
- If you like, enter a target average and the number of games you still have to bowl this season.
Scores above 300, which are impossible in ten-pin bowling, are ignored. You can export the list to CSV to keep it in a spreadsheet.
How much do you need to score to gain a point of average?
To go from an average of M to M + 1 after your next game, your total must reach (M + 1) × (number of games + 1). The score you need is therefore: (M + 1) × (n + 1) − current total.
With 1,867 pins in 12 games (average 155), you need 156 × 13 − 1,867 = 161 in the next game. The more games you have bowled, the further this score moves away from your average: late in the season, gaining a point can take a very big game. That is why the average reflects a bowler's consistency so well.
Reaching a target average
Aiming for a 160 average by the end of the season? The total you need is 160 × (games bowled + games remaining). Just subtract your current total and divide by the number of games remaining to find the average score you need to bowl. If that score is over 300, the target is out of reach: you will need more games.
What is the average used for?
- Calculating the handicap in a league: (base − average) × percentage.
- Building balanced teams for a tournament or a company night out.
- Measuring your progress from one season to the next, far more reliably than your best score.
| Average | Approximate level |
|---|---|
| Under 120 | Beginner or occasional bowler |
| 120 to 150 | Regular recreational bowler |
| 150 to 180 | Experienced league bowler |
| 180 to 210 | Very good bowler, competitor |
| Over 210 | Elite level |
To find out more, read our guide to bowling average and handicap.
Frequently asked questions
How is a bowling average calculated?
Divide the total pins from all your games by the number of games bowled, and drop the decimals. For example, 1,867 pins in 12 games gives 155.58, i.e. an average of 155.
Is a bowling average rounded to the nearest number?
No. In leagues and tournaments alike, the decimals are simply dropped: 157.9 becomes 157.
What is a good bowling average?
A recreational bowler often averages between 100 and 140. Above 170, you are a good league bowler; above 200, a high-level competitor.
How many games do you need for a reliable average?
Leagues often require a minimum of 9 to 21 games to establish an official average. The fewer games there are, the more the average varies from one night to the next.