What Is Save Percentage in Football?

Save percentage is a football statistic that measures the percentage of shots on target a goalkeeper prevents from becoming goals.

In simple terms, it tells you how often a goalkeeper successfully saves a shot that would otherwise have been on target.

For example, if a goalkeeper faces 10 shots on target and makes 7 saves, their save percentage is 70%.

The basic formula is:

Save Percentage = Saves ÷ Shots on Target Faced × 100

Save percentage is commonly used alongside other goalkeeper statistics to provide a clearer picture of shot-stopping performance.

---

How Is Save Percentage Calculated?

The calculation is straightforward.

Save Percentage Formula

Save Percentage = (Number of Saves ÷ Shots on Target Faced) × 100

For example, suppose a goalkeeper faces:

• 10 shots on target
• 7 saves
• 3 goals conceded

The calculation would be:

7 ÷ 10 × 100 = 70%

Therefore, the goalkeeper has a 70% save percentage.

The statistic focuses on shots on target rather than every shot attempted by the opposition.

A shot that goes wide or over the crossbar generally does not count as a shot that the goalkeeper had an opportunity to save.

---

What Does Save Percentage Mean?

Save percentage provides a simple way of describing how frequently a goalkeeper stops shots on target.

A higher percentage means the goalkeeper saved a larger proportion of the shots on target they faced.

A lower percentage means a smaller proportion of shots on target were saved.

However, save percentage should not be interpreted on its own.

The difficulty of the shots faced can vary significantly between goalkeepers.

For example, one goalkeeper might face several relatively straightforward attempts from outside the penalty area, while another might face close-range shots after defensive errors.

Both goalkeepers could have the same number of saves, but the circumstances behind those saves may be very different.

This is why save percentage is most useful when considered alongside other goalkeeper and team statistics.

---

Save Percentage Example

Imagine two goalkeepers have played the same number of matches.

Goalkeeper	Shots on Target Faced	Saves	Goals Conceded	Save Percentage
Goalkeeper A	20	15	5	75%
Goalkeeper B	20	12	8	60%

Goalkeeper A saved 15 of 20 shots on target:

15 ÷ 20 × 100 = 75%

Goalkeeper B saved 12 of 20:

12 ÷ 20 × 100 = 60%

Based purely on this statistic, the two goalkeepers had different save rates.

But the statistic does not tell us where the shots came from, how dangerous they were, or how much defensive pressure preceded each attempt.

That context matters.

---

Why Is Save Percentage Important?

Save percentage can help football fans understand goalkeeper shot-stopping performance more easily.

Instead of simply looking at the number of saves, save percentage considers the number of shots on target faced.

This is important because two goalkeepers can make very different numbers of saves simply because they faced different numbers of shots.

For example:

• Goalkeeper A: 8 saves from 10 shots on target
• Goalkeeper B: 12 saves from 20 shots on target

Goalkeeper B made more saves, but Goalkeeper A stopped a larger proportion of the shots faced.

This illustrates why save percentage can provide additional context to a goalkeeper's raw save total.

---

Save Percentage vs Number of Saves

These statistics are related but they are not the same.

Number of saves tells you how many shots on target a goalkeeper stopped.

Save percentage tells you what proportion of the shots on target faced were saved.

Consider this example:

Statistic	Goalkeeper A	Goalkeeper B
Shots on target faced	10	25
Saves	8	15
Save percentage	80%	60%

Goalkeeper B made seven more saves, but Goalkeeper A had the higher save percentage.

This is why looking only at total saves can sometimes give an incomplete picture.

---

Does a High Save Percentage Always Mean a Goalkeeper Is Better?

Not necessarily.

Save percentage is useful, but it has limitations.

A goalkeeper's save percentage is affected by the quality and location of the shots they face.

A goalkeeper facing many shots from outside the box may have more opportunities to make saves than a goalkeeper repeatedly facing close-range attempts.

Similarly, penalties and other particularly difficult shots can affect a goalkeeper's numbers.

This means save percentage should be interpreted within the context of the goalkeeper's workload and the chances conceded by their team.

---

What Is a Good Save Percentage?

There is no single save-percentage figure that automatically determines whether a goalkeeper is good or poor.

The appropriate benchmark can vary depending on:

• League
• Season
• Number of matches
• Shots faced
• Shot quality
• Defensive system
• Team strength
• Opposition quality
• Competition

For this reason, it is better to compare goalkeepers within a similar competition and time period rather than treating one percentage as a universal benchmark.

A goalkeeper who has faced only a small number of shots may also have a percentage that changes dramatically after just one or two additional attempts.

---

Save Percentage and Shots on Target

Understanding shots on target is essential when interpreting save percentage.

Shots on target are attempts that either:

• go into the goal,
• would have gone into the goal but are stopped by the goalkeeper, or
• are saved or otherwise prevented from entering the goal.

Because save percentage uses shots on target faced as its denominator, the statistic depends heavily on accurate shot-event data.

This is also why a goalkeeper who faces more shots on target has a larger sample size from which to calculate their percentage.

To understand the statistic fully, it is important to first understand what a shot on target is in football.

---

Save Percentage and Goals Conceded

Goals conceded and save percentage are closely related, but they measure different things.

Goals conceded tells you how many goals a goalkeeper allowed.

Save percentage measures the proportion of shots on target that were saved.

For example, a goalkeeper could concede three goals while facing 15 shots on target.

If they made 12 saves:

12 ÷ 15 × 100 = 80%

Their save percentage would therefore be 80%.

Goals conceded alone cannot tell us how many shots the goalkeeper faced.

---

Save Percentage and xG

Save percentage can also be considered alongside expected goals (xG) and other shot-quality metrics.

xG estimates the probability that a chance will result in a goal based on factors such as the location and characteristics of the attempt.

A goalkeeper could face the same number of shots on target as another goalkeeper but encounter chances of very different quality.

For example:

Goalkeeper A

• 15 shots on target faced
• 12 saves
• 80% save percentage

Goalkeeper B

• 15 shots on target faced
• 12 saves
• 80% save percentage

Their save percentages are identical.

But if Goalkeeper B faced significantly more dangerous chances, the identical save percentage does not necessarily mean the goalkeepers faced the same level of difficulty.

One way to add more context is to consider the quality of the chances using xG in football.

---

Can Save Percentage Be Used to Compare Goalkeepers?

Yes, but comparisons should be made carefully.

Save percentage can be useful when comparing goalkeepers who have:

• played in the same competition,
• faced a reasonable number of shots,
• played during the same period,
• faced similar levels of opposition.

However, save percentage does not account for every factor involved in goalkeeping.

A goalkeeper's defensive environment can influence the types of shots they face.

For example, a team that allows opponents to create many close-range opportunities may expose its goalkeeper to more difficult shots than a team that consistently prevents opponents from getting into dangerous positions.

Therefore, save percentage is better viewed as one piece of goalkeeper analysis rather than a complete measure of performance.

---

Limitations of Save Percentage

Although save percentage is easy to understand, it has several limitations.

1. It Does Not Measure Shot Difficulty

A save from a long-range effort and a save from a close-range attempt are both counted as saves.

The statistic does not automatically tell you how difficult either save was.

2. It Depends on Defensive Context

Goalkeepers play behind different defensive systems.

Some teams allow opponents more shots, while others limit opponents to fewer attempts.

This can affect the goalkeeper's workload and the types of shots faced.

3. Small Samples Can Be Misleading

A goalkeeper who has faced only five shots on target could have a very high or very low save percentage.

A few additional shots can significantly change the number.

Therefore, larger samples generally provide more useful context.

4. It Does Not Capture Every Goalkeeping Skill

Goalkeeping involves much more than stopping shots.

Other aspects include:

• Cross claiming
• Distribution
• Sweeping outside the penalty area
• One-on-one situations
• Positioning
• Passing
• Starting attacks
• Defensive communication

Save percentage focuses specifically on shot stopping.

Modern goalkeepers contribute in ways that go beyond shot stopping, including acting as a sweeper keeper when playing behind a high defensive line.

---

Save Percentage vs Goals Prevented

Save percentage and goals prevented are related but different statistics.

Save percentage measures the proportion of shots on target that a goalkeeper saves.

Goals prevented attempts to evaluate how many goals a goalkeeper prevented compared with an expected baseline.

This means goals-prevented metrics can provide additional information about the quality of the opportunities faced.

For a deeper look at goalkeeper performance beyond simple save totals, see our guide to goals prevented in football

---

Save Percentage Formula Explained

The formula can be remembered easily:

Save Percentage = Saves ÷ Shots on Target Faced × 100

Suppose a goalkeeper faces 40 shots on target and makes 30 saves.

30 ÷ 40 = 0.75

Then:

0.75 × 100 = 75%

The goalkeeper's save percentage is therefore 75%.

If the goalkeeper saves 36 out of 40:

36 ÷ 40 × 100 = 90%

The save percentage is 90%.

---

What Does 100% Save Percentage Mean?

A 100% save percentage means the goalkeeper saved every shot on target included in the calculation.

For example:

• Shots on target faced: 5
• Saves: 5
• Goals conceded: 0

5 ÷ 5 × 100 = 100%

However, a 100% save percentage from five shots is a very small sample.

It should not automatically be interpreted in the same way as 100% across a much larger number of shots.

---

What Does 0% Save Percentage Mean?

A 0% save percentage means none of the shots on target included in the calculation were saved.

For example:

• Shots on target faced: 4
• Saves: 0
• Goals conceded: 4

0 ÷ 4 × 100 = 0%

Again, the number of shots faced matters when interpreting the result.

---

How Save Percentage Appears in Football Statistics

On football statistics websites, save percentage may appear alongside other goalkeeper statistics such as:

• Saves
• Goals conceded
• Clean sheets
• Shots on target faced
• Penalties saved
• Goals prevented
• Minutes played

Looking at several statistics together can provide more context than relying on one number.

For Matchstatslab readers, this is particularly useful when analyzing goalkeeper performances after a match.

---

Frequently Asked Questions About Save Percentage

What is save percentage in football?

Save percentage is the percentage of shots on target that a goalkeeper successfully saves.

How do you calculate goalkeeper save percentage?

Divide the number of saves by the number of shots on target faced and multiply by 100.

Save Percentage = Saves ÷ Shots on Target Faced × 100.

Is a higher save percentage better?

A higher save percentage means a goalkeeper saved a larger proportion of the shots on target they faced. However, shot difficulty and defensive context should also be considered.

Does save percentage include shots that miss the goal?

Generally, no. Save percentage is based on shots on target faced and saves.

Is save percentage the same as saves?

No. Saves are a raw count, while save percentage expresses saves as a proportion of shots on target faced.

Why can two goalkeepers have the same save percentage?

Two goalkeepers can save the same proportion of shots despite facing different numbers of attempts or different types of chances.

Can save percentage measure overall goalkeeper quality?

No. It measures one aspect of goalkeeper performance—shot stopping—and should be considered alongside other statistics and contextual information.

---

Final Takeaway

Save percentage is a goalkeeper statistic that shows the percentage of shots on target successfully stopped.

The calculation is simple:

Save Percentage = Saves ÷ Shots on Target Faced × 100

It can help football fans compare shot-stopping numbers and understand goalkeeper performance more clearly.

However, save percentage does not tell the complete story. The quality of shots faced, defensive structure, sample size and other goalkeeper actions can all influence how the statistic should be interpreted.

For a more complete analysis, combine save percentage with statistics such as xG, goals prevented, shots on target faced and clean sheets.