26 Best Tournament Bracket Templates

1. Clarity of Seeding and Structure
Ensure the bracket clearly shows seed numbers, matchups, rounds, and the progression path. Use a consistent format for single or double elimination and label each round so participants can easily follow who advances.

2. Consistent labeling and color coding
Use uniform team names, fonts, and colors with an accessible contrast and include a legend. This reduces confusion and helps quickly identify brackets, seeds, and advancing teams.

3. Data integrity and print readiness
Provide defined input areas for teams, scores, and advancing positions, and protect formulas to prevent accidental changes. Create a print-friendly layout (landscape orientation, clear margins) so the template is easy to share and paper-ready.