Fielding Percentage Calculator
Calculate a baseball fielding percentage.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Fielding percentage measures a baseball or softball player's defensive reliability, and this calculator computes it. You enter the player's putouts, assists, and errors, and it returns the fielding percentage and total chances. The calculation divides successful plays — putouts (recording an out directly) plus assists (helping record an out) — by total chances, which is those successful plays plus errors. The result shows the share of fielding chances the player handled cleanly without an error. Fielding percentage is usually expressed as a three-decimal number in baseball, like .980, which is the same as 98.0 percent. It is typically very high for skilled fielders: around .980 or better is good, and top infielders and outfielders often exceed .985, while a percentage below about .960 suggests defensive struggles. The stat has a well-known limitation: it only counts plays the fielder actually reached, so a player with limited range makes fewer errors simply because they get to fewer balls, potentially posting a high fielding percentage despite weaker defense. For that reason, modern analysts supplement it with range and advanced defensive metrics. Still, fielding percentage remains a simple, traditional measure of sure-handedness. This calculator works for a game, season, or career. Enter the putouts, assists, and errors to calculate fielding percentage.
Fielding % = (putouts + assists) ÷ (putouts + assists + errors) × 100
Fielding percentage is successful defensive plays (putouts plus assists) divided by total chances (putouts plus assists plus errors), then multiplied by 100. It measures how reliably a fielder handles the balls they reach, with a higher percentage meaning fewer errors relative to the chances they get.
Source:Baseball statistics
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter putouts (po), assists (a) and errors (e).
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Fielding percentage updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate fielding percentage?
Add putouts and assists for successful plays, then divide by total chances, which is putouts plus assists plus errors, and multiply by 100. A player with 90 putouts, 8 assists, and 2 errors has a fielding percentage of 98.0 percent. It measures how reliably a fielder handles the chances they get.
What is a good fielding percentage?
Fielding percentages are high because most routine plays are made. Around .980 (98 percent) or better is good, and elite fielders often exceed .985, while below about .960 suggests defensive difficulty. Standards vary slightly by position, with first basemen and outfielders typically posting higher percentages than shortstops and third basemen, who face harder chances.
What are putouts and assists?
A putout is credited to a fielder who directly records an out, such as catching a fly ball or tagging a runner. An assist goes to a fielder who helps record an out, like throwing to first base for a groundout. Both count as successful plays in fielding percentage, while errors are misplays that let a batter or runner advance.
What is the main limitation of fielding percentage?
It only counts plays the fielder actually reached, ignoring range. A player with poor range gets to fewer balls, so they have fewer chances to make errors and can post a deceptively high fielding percentage despite weaker defense. A rangier fielder who reaches more balls may make more errors yet be more valuable, which is why advanced metrics supplement it.
Why is fielding percentage shown as a decimal?
Like batting average and winning percentage, baseball traditionally displays fielding percentage as a three-decimal figure, such as .980, dropping the leading zero. This is identical to 98.0 percent, just formatted by convention. Whether written as .980 or 98.0 percent, it represents the same ratio of successful plays to total chances that this calculator computes.