12 team bracket
Twelve teams don’t fill a bracket evenly, so the top four seeds get byes and the other eight play a first round. Print it blank with the byes marked, or type the names and tap each winner. Free, with no sign-up.
11 matches over 4 rounds. 4 top seeds get a bye in the first round.
Leave it empty for Team 1, Team 2 and so on. Up to 64. Names stay on this device.
Running the tournament for real?
Give it its own page: the date, the venue, the format and the fee, and a sign-up for teams with a place limit and a waitlist. Make the draw from the entries, type scores as you go, and every team sees its next game on their phone. Free to make and publish.
Make a tournament pageHow a 12 team bracket works
- Four byes
- Twelve teams fill a 16-team bracket with four empty spots. The top four seeds get byes and go straight to the quarter-finals.
- The first round
- 5 v 12, 8 v 9, 6 v 11 and 7 v 10. Seed 1 then plays the winner of 8 v 9, seed 4 the winner of 5 v 12, seed 2 the winner of 7 v 10 and seed 3 the winner of 6 v 11.
- A familiar shape
- The College Football Playoff has used this shape since the 2024 season: 12 teams, with the top four seeded straight into the quarter-finals. It also suits 12-team fantasy leagues and club events.
First round, top to bottom
4 byes go to seeds 1, 2, 3, 4; 4 games are played.
| Pairing | Seeds |
|---|---|
| 1 | Seed 1: bye |
| 2 | 8 v 9 |
| 3 | Seed 4: bye |
| 4 | 5 v 12 |
| 5 | Seed 2: bye |
| 6 | 7 v 10 |
| 7 | Seed 3: bye |
| 8 | 6 v 11 |
Rounds and games
| Round | Games |
|---|---|
| First round | 4 |
| Quarter-finals | 4 |
| Semi-finals | 2 |
| Final | 1 |
| Single elimination | 11 |
| Double elimination | 22 or 23 with a reset |
Bracket sizes: 4 team bracket, 8 team bracket, 16 team bracket. Any other size: the printable bracket. Players rather than teams: the bracket maker. A losers bracket: the double elimination bracket.
Questions
How many games are in a 12 team bracket?
Eleven in single elimination: four first-round games, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final. Double elimination takes 22 games, or 23 with a grand final reset.
Who gets byes in a 12 team bracket?
The top four seeds. They skip the first round and play the first-round winners in the quarter-finals. Byes always go to the best seeds, so a good season is rewarded.
What are the first-round games in a 12 team bracket?
5 v 12, 8 v 9, 6 v 11 and 7 v 10. Seeds 1 to 4 wait for the winners.
How many rounds does a 12 team bracket have?
Four: the first round (where only seeds 5 to 12 play), the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final.
Can I print a blank 12 team bracket?
Yes. Press Print a blank bracket: the byes are marked, the seeds are in place and the name lines are empty, on one landscape page.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It’s free and needs no account. The bracket is made in your browser and the names you type are not sent anywhere; this browser keeps your bracket so a reload doesn’t lose it.