⚾ FIP Calculator

How to Use the FIP Calculator

FIP — Fielding Independent Pitching — measures a pitcher using only the outcomes they control directly: home runs, walks, hit-by-pitch, and strikeouts. It strips out defense and batted-ball luck, which is why it's often a truer read of pitching skill than ERA.

To use the calculator:

1. Enter the four outcome stats — home runs (HR), walks (BB), hit-by-pitch (HBP), and strikeouts (K).
2. Enter Innings Pitched (IP) — use the baseball format where .1 = 1 out and .2 = 2 outs (so 190.2 means 190 innings plus 2 outs).
3. Set the FIP constant — the default of 3.10 works for a typical season. For an exact year, replace it with that season's published constant.
4. Click Calculate FIP — your result appears on the ERA scale with a quality rating.

What Is FIP?

FIP stands for Fielding Independent Pitching. The idea behind it is simple: a pitcher can't control what happens once a ball is put in play — that depends on the defense behind them and plain luck. So FIP looks only at the three "true outcomes" a pitcher owns by themselves — home runs, walks (and hit-by-pitch), and strikeouts — and converts them to a number on the same scale as ERA.

The formula is: FIP = ((13 × HR) + (3 × (BB + HBP)) − (2 × K)) ÷ IP + constant. Home runs and free passes hurt a pitcher's FIP; strikeouts help it. The constant simply shifts the result so it lines up with the ERA scale.

What Is the FIP Constant?

The constant exists so league-average FIP equals league-average ERA each season, which keeps FIP readable on the familiar ERA scale. It's recalculated every year and usually lands between about 3.05 and 3.20. A default of 3.10 is a fine general estimate, but if you want a pitcher's exact FIP for a specific season, use that year's published constant — most stats sites list it.

What Is a Good FIP?

Because FIP is scaled to ERA, you read it the same way:

• Under 2.90 — Elite. Ace, Cy Young-caliber.
• 2.90 – 3.20 — Great. Front-of-rotation starter.
• 3.20 – 3.80 — Good. Above average.
• 3.80 – 4.30 — Average. The league-average range.
• 4.30 – 4.80 — Below average.
• Over 4.80 — Poor.

FIP vs ERA: Reading Them Together

The real value of FIP shows up when you compare it to ERA. If a pitcher's FIP is much lower than their ERA, they likely pitched better than their ERA suggests — bad defense or unlucky timing inflated their runs. If FIP is much higher than ERA, they may have been getting bailed out and could be due to regress. For the full breakdown, read our guide on FIP vs ERA, then calculate the other side with the ERA calculator or check base runners with the WHIP calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does FIP only use four stats?

Home runs, walks, hit-by-pitch, and strikeouts are the outcomes a pitcher controls without help from their fielders. Everything else depends on defense, so FIP leaves it out to isolate pitching skill.

Is a lower FIP better?

Yes. Like ERA, a lower FIP is better. A FIP under 3.00 is excellent and a FIP around 4.00 is roughly league average.

Can I use FIP for softball?

FIP was designed for baseball and its constant is built around MLB run environments, so it doesn't translate cleanly to softball. For softball, ERA and WHIP are the more reliable measures.