Fielding independent pitching

FIP Calculator

Estimate Fielding Independent Pitching from home runs, walks, hit batters, strikeouts and innings pitched. Set the FIP constant for your league and season.

FIP

How this result was calculated

13×HR + 3×(BB+HBP) − 2×K = -5
÷ 100 innings + 3.1 = 3.05

The default constant (3.1) is a convenience default, not a universal standard. Official cFIP values vary by league and season so FIP lands on the same scale as ERA.

Meaning

What is FIP?

FIP — Fielding Independent Pitching — estimates what a pitcher's ERA might look like based only on outcomes that don't involve the fielders: home runs, walks, hit batters and strikeouts. Defense, sequencing and luck on balls in play are left out on purpose.

A FIP much lower than ERA can hint that the pitcher has been unlucky or poorly supported; a FIP much higher can suggest the opposite. Neither number replaces the other — the gap between them is often the interesting part.

Formula

The formula

FIP = ((13×HR) + (3×(BB+HBP)) − (2×K)) ÷ IP + cFIP

The weights (13, 3 and −2) come from run-expectancy research. Dividing by innings (via outs) puts the rate on a per-inning scale, then the FIP constant (cFIP) shifts the result onto roughly the same scale as ERA for that league and season.

Partial innings use baseball notation (.1 and .2). This calculator converts them to outs before dividing.

How to calculate

Step by step

Multiply home runs by 13.
Add three times the sum of walks and hit batters.
Subtract two times strikeouts.
Divide that total by innings pitched (or multiply by 3 and divide by outs), then add the FIP constant.

Worked example

With 10 HR, 30 BB, 5 HBP, 120 K and 100 IP, the numerator is (13×10) + (3×35) − (2×120) = 130 + 105 − 240 = −5. Divided by 100 IP that is −0.05; plus a 3.10 constant gives FIP ≈ 3.05.

ERA describes what happened, including defense and the order of events. WHIP counts walks and hits per inning. FIP ignores hits on balls in play and focuses on the outcomes a pitcher most controls. Use FIP alongside ERA and WHIP rather than instead of them.

Read FIP next to ERA Calculator to see how much defense and sequencing may be moving the line.

Pair FIP with WHIP Calculator when you also care about walks and hits per inning.

FAQ

Common questions

How do you calculate FIP?

FIP = ((13×HR) + (3×(BB+HBP)) − (2×K)) ÷ IP + cFIP. Convert partial innings to outs for an exact divide: multiply the numerator by 3 and divide by outs, then add the constant.

What is the FIP constant?

The FIP constant (cFIP) is chosen so league-average FIP roughly matches league-average ERA for a given season. It is not the same every year or every league — change it when you have the right value for your context.

Why does FIP ignore hits?

Most hits in play involve the defense. FIP keeps the outcomes that are largely pitcher-driven — strikeouts, walks, hit batters and home runs — so the estimate is less tangled with fielding.

Is a lower FIP always better?

Yes in the same sense as ERA: fewer expected runs per nine innings is better. Compare FIP across pitchers who share a similar constant and sample size, and remember small innings totals swing a lot.

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