Betting the Horn in Craps

Craps has a bet that easily lets you bet all four Straight Up bets simultaneously called the Horn. You must bet an equal amount on each of the four Straight Up bets, so you make your Horn bets in $4 increments.

The Horn makes betting Proposition Bets easier. Not only does it wrap up four bets in one, but it's also the basis to the Horn High's, which conveniently let you bet in five-dollar increments.

Horn
Roll Pays Wins Loses
High Side 27:4 2 or 12 Any other number
Low Side 3x the Bet 3 or 11 Any other number
  • The Horn is a one roll bet.
  • Horns must be bet in multiples of $4.
Horn
Up close overhead view of the horn bet on the craps layout.

What Is a $4 Horn in Craps?

A $4 Horn is the minimum bet for a Horn. It's $1 on each of the four Straight Up bets: the Aces, Ace Deuce, Yo, and Twelve. The $4 Horn offers better payouts than the C & E which also bets all of the Straight Up numbers but only has a $2 minimum.

$4 Horn
An image split with $4 on the Horn on one side, and $1 each on the aces, ace deuce, yo, twelve on the other.

Where Is Your Horn on the Craps Table?

Like most other bets on the Craps table, the Horn bet is divided into two sides: the left and right sides of the table. There isn't enough space for 16 players in the box, and you normally won't see more than a few people betting the Horn at once anyway, so four spots on each side are good enough.

Placment of the horn
Up close image of the horn bet and the craps rail. There are eight colored spots corresponding the horn and the rail.

What Does the Horn Pay in a Craps Game?

A Horn pays differently based on what rolls, a high number, which would be the Aces and the Twelve, or a low number, which would be the Ace Deuce and the Yo.

No matter which of the four bets hit, you always take what the winning bet paid and subtract the rest of the losers in order to keep the whole bet up to win again.

$4 Horn Pays $12 or $27

If either low side hits, the Ace Deuce or Yo, it would win $15 but then you would subtract the other three losers and it would pay $12. Likewise if the high side hits, the Aces or Twelve, it would win $30 but then you would subtract the other three losers and it would pay $27.

$4 Horn on the Low Side Pays $12
$1 on each the horn numbers. Two green dice read 1-2. A bubble reads $12 payment.
$4 Horn on the High Side Pays $27
$1 on each the horn numbers. Two green dice read 6-6. A bubble reads $27 payment.

Horn Payment Calculator

Check the payment for a bet made on the Horn.

Aces

Ace Deuce

Eleven

Twelve

Check the payment for all the bets on the craps table here.

How Can You Bet the Horn for the Dealers on the Craps Table?

When a bet on the Horn comes in for the dealers it is placed in the middle of the Horn area. While a proper $4 would be best, any amount put on the Horn for the dealers is appreciated. A good easy way to bet for the dealers on the Horn is to throw in a nickel and say "Two-way Horn!". That will give you a $4 Horn and $1 for the dealers.

Dealer horn
$4 sitting in the middle of the horn.