Office football squares pool
Squares is the pool for the whole office, not just the football fans. Here is how to run one that is easy to join, easy to explain and fair to everyone.
Why squares works so well at work
You do not need to know a thing about football to enjoy it, which makes it a rare game that includes everyone. People can follow along in the break room or the team chat, and winners are decided by the score alone, not by anyone's skill, so the intern is as likely to win as the person who has watched every game since 1995.
Set it up in four steps
- Make the board. Pick the game from the list and give it a title like "Marketing Team Squares". Add a price per square if you play for money.
- Share the link. Paste it into Slack, Teams, email or the whiteboard. Everyone taps the squares they want and types a name.
- Close the board. Give people a deadline, such as end of day Friday. Then draw the numbers with one tap, before kickoff.
- Follow the game. Share the same link so everyone can see the board and the winning squares. Hosts who want the score filled in automatically can add live scoring.
Settle these before kickoff
- Money or no money. Decide if it is for prizes, bragging rights or cash, and make sure it is allowed where you work.
- Squares per person. On a 100-square board, many hosts cap it at 5 or 10 squares so it stays fair.
- Payouts. Agree on the split, such as 25 percent for each quarter. The payout calculator works out the amounts.
- Overtime. The final prize goes to the score at the end of the game, including overtime.
- Who runs it. Only the host can edit squares and enter scores, so choose someone dependable and keep the host link safe.
Keep it appropriate
A pool is a friendly tradition, and it should stay friendly. Check your company's policy first. Many workplaces are happy with a no-money pool for a lunch or a gift card, and some do not allow any pools at all. SquaresBets is for fun and never holds or moves any money. This is general information, not legal advice, so everyone should follow the laws that apply to them, including age and location rules.
Keep it going all season
When the game is over, the host panel's Run it again button sets up next week's board in a minute with the same title, size and price, and points the old board to the new one. A weekly board is an easy way to keep the whole office talking about Sunday on Monday. Prefer paper for the break room? Print a free squares sheet.
Common questions
How do I run football squares at the office?
Make a board for the game, share the link in your team chat or email, give people a deadline to claim squares, and draw the numbers once the board is full. Nobody needs an account, so coworkers can pick squares from their phone or desk in seconds.
Can remote coworkers join an office squares pool?
Yes. Everyone uses the same link from wherever they are, and sees the same live board. It is a good way to include people who are not in the office.
Do we have to play for money?
No. Plenty of offices play for lunch, a gift card, a trophy, a better parking spot or just bragging rights. Leave the price per square blank and the board works the same.
How do we collect money for the pool?
If your group plays for money, the host collects it and pays the winners directly. The host panel tracks who has paid, but SquaresBets never handles anyone's money. Check your workplace's policy and the laws that apply to you first.
What is a good size for an office pool?
A standard 100-square board suits 20 or more people, where each person takes a few squares. For a smaller team, a 25-square board (5 by 5) fills quickly and every square matters.
More free squares tools
- Number generatorDraw random 0 to 9 numbers for the rows and columns.
- Winner calculatorType the score and see which square wins.
- Payout calculatorWork out the pot and what each quarter pays.
- Printable squaresPrint a free 100-square or 25-square sheet.
- NFL games this weekStart a board for any game on this week's schedule.
Ready to run your own pool?
It takes about a minute, and your friends don't need an account.

