16 Team Single Elimination Bracket
Need a 16 team single elimination bracket? Download our free printable templates. The perfect tournament size with no byes. Learn about seeding and organization.
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Pick a team count, paste names, and build your bracket. Auto BYEs included.
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What is a 16 Team Single Elimination Bracket?
A 16-team bracket is often considered the "perfect" tournament size because 16 is a power of 2. This means every team plays in the first round, and there are no Byes.
- Total Games: 15 (Number of teams - 1)
- Total Rounds: 4
- Byes: 0
16 Team Bracket Preview
Every team starts on equal footing in the first round. The bracket is fully balanced from start to finish.
How to Seed a 16 Team Tournament?
Standard seeding pits the highest seeds against the lowest seeds to reward top-ranked teams.
| Seed Matchup | Game | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| #1 vs #16 | Game 1 | Winner plays Winner of Game 2 |
| #8 vs #9 | Game 2 | Winner plays Winner of Game 1 |
| #5 vs #12 | Game 3 | Winner plays Winner of Game 4 |
| #4 vs #13 | Game 4 | Winner plays Winner of Game 3 |
| #6 vs #11 | Game 5 | Winner plays Winner of Game 6 |
| #3 vs #14 | Game 6 | Winner plays Winner of Game 5 |
| #7 vs #10 | Game 7 | Winner plays Winner of Game 8 |
| #2 vs #15 | Game 8 | Winner plays Winner of Game 7 |
Step-by-Step Tournament Flow
Round 1: Round of 16
All 16 teams compete. There are 8 games in total.
- Game 1: #1 vs #16
- Game 2: #8 vs #9
- Game 3: #5 vs #12
- Game 4: #4 vs #13
- Game 5: #6 vs #11
- Game 6: #3 vs #14
- Game 7: #7 vs #10
- Game 8: #2 vs #15
Round 2: Quarterfinals
The 8 winners from Round 1 face off.
- Game 9: Winner G1 vs Winner G2
- Game 10: Winner G3 vs Winner G4
- Game 11: Winner G5 vs Winner G6
- Game 12: Winner G7 vs Winner G8
Round 3: Semifinals
The final four teams.
- Game 13: Winner G9 vs Winner G10
- Game 14: Winner G11 vs Winner G12
Round 4: Championship
The last two teams play for the title.
- Game 15: Winner G13 vs Winner G14
FAQ
1. Do I need Byes for 16 teams?
No! 16 is a "perfect number" for brackets (a power of 2). Every slot is filled, and no team needs to sit out the first round.
2. How long does a 16-team tournament take?
With 15 total games, if you have 1 court/field, it will take 15 game slots. If you have 2 courts, you can run the first round (8 games) much faster.
3. What if a team doesn't show up?
If a team forfeits, their opponent effectively gets a Bye (or a "Walkover") to the next round.