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, so every club knows exactly how many matches it will play before a ball is kicked, whatever its form or league position. That even structure is a big part of why the final table feels earned: everyone faces the same opponents the same number of times. Here is the maths behind it.

How many matches does each team play?

Each team plays 38 league matches a season. There are 19 other clubs, and you play each of them twice, once at home and once away, which gives 19 × 2 = 38. The format is identical for every club, whether it is chasing the title or fighting relegation.

How many games are played in total?

Across the whole division there are 380 matches. Twenty teams each play 38, and because every match involves two of them you divide by two: (20 × 38) ÷ 2 = 380. Those games run from August to May, mostly at weekends with some midweek rounds.

Why 38?

The league uses a double round-robin: every team plays every other twice, home and away, with no play-offs, split leagues or uneven schedules. It is built to be as fair as possible, evening out home advantage so the final table reflects performance across a consistent set of fixtures. It is also the standard shape for 20-team leagues across Europe.

Has it always been 38?

No, but it has been for most of the league's life. When the Premier League launched in 1992 it had 22 teams and each club played 42 games. In 1995 it dropped to 20 teams, bringing the total to 38 per club to ease fixture congestion and fall in line with other major European leagues. That format has stood ever since.

Do cup games count?

No. The 38 covers league fixtures only. Domestic cups like the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, plus European competitions, all sit outside the league schedule, which is why a team in several competitions can play well beyond 38 across a season. The fixture list is published by the Premier League.