How many games are played in a Premier League season?

An explanation of how many games are played in a Premier League season, how the schedule is structured, and what that means for teams’ total matches.

The Premier League runs on a fixed schedule. Every team knows exactly how many matches they’ll play, and that number doesn’t change depending on form, league position, or who you support.

That structure is one of the reasons the league table feels settled by the end of the season. Everyone has faced the same opponents, the same number of times, across the same stretch of months.

Once you understand how the fixture list is built, the maths behind it is pretty straightforward.

How many matches does each Premier League team play?

Each team plays 38 league matches every season. Here’s how that breaks down:

• There are 19 other teams in the league

• Each team plays those opponents twice

• One match is played at home

• One match is played away

That gives 19 × 2 = 38 matches per team. This format is fixed across the season and applies equally to every club, whether they’re chasing the title or fighting relegation.

How many total games are played in the Premier League each season?

Across the entire league, the Premier League season consists of 380 matches. That number comes from the same structure:

• 20 teams

• Each team plays 38 matches

• Every match involves two teams

So instead of counting every team’s fixtures separately, you divide the total by two: (20 × 38) ÷ 2 = 380 matches

Those games are spread across the season, usually from August to May, with fixtures taking place most weekends and some midweek rounds.

Why is it 38 games?

The Premier League uses a double round-robin format.

That simply means every team plays every other team twice, once at home, once away. No playoffs, no split leagues, and no unbalanced schedules.

This structure is designed to be as fair as possible. Every team faces the same opponents under the same conditions across the season. Home advantage is balanced out, and the league table reflects performance across a consistent set of fixtures.

It’s also a format used widely across European football, particularly in leagues with 20 teams.

Has the Premier League always been 38 games?

No, but it has been for most of its history.

When the Premier League launched in 1992, it originally had 22 teams. That meant each club played 42 league matches per season.

In 1995, the league reduced its size to 20 teams, which brought the total down to 38 games per team. The change was made to ease fixture congestion and bring the league more in line with other major European competitions.

Since then, the 20-team, 38-game format has stayed in place.

Do cup competitions count towards the 38 games?

Nope. The 38 matches only refer to Premier League fixtures.

Domestic cups like the FA Cup and League Cup are separate competitions. European tournaments such as the Champions League and Europa League also sit outside the league schedule.

That’s why teams involved in multiple competitions often end up playing far more than 38 matches across a season. The league provides the base and everything else is added on top.

Why fixture balance matters over a full season

Playing the same opponents home and away isn’t just a tradition, it’s what keeps the league credible over nine months.

Home advantage is a real thing. Travel, crowd noise, pitch familiarity and routine all play a part. By facing every team once at home and once away, those factors are evened out as much as possible across the season.

It also means no one gets an easier run by accident. Everyone goes through the same test, just in a different order. That balance is why league tables tend to settle over time. A short run of good or bad form can swing results early on, but across 38 games, the structure rewards consistent play.

Follow the season as it unfolds with Match Bingo

A Premier League season is long, and keeping track of what actually matters across 38 games can get messy quickly. Points add up, positions shift, and individual performances often get lost between matchdays.

Match Bingo gives you a clearer way to follow it. The app tracks real Premier League stats live, from goals and assists to clean sheets and disciplinary records, so you can see how teams and players are stacking up as games are played.

If you want a simple way to stay on top of the league without digging through tables and spreadsheets, Match Bingo does the hard work for you.

Download the app and follow the Premier League as it happens.