Bolton Wanderers were last in the Premier League in 2011/12. They finished 18th out of 20 clubs with 36 points and were relegated, and they are not in the 2026/27 Premier League.
The last Premier League season
The most recent Bolton season in the competition ended with relegation.
| Season | League position | Points | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011/12 | 18th | 36 | Relegated |
That season closed Bolton's longest stay in the Premier League. Since the drop at the end of 2011/12, the club has remained outside the division, and the official club list for 2026/27 does not include Bolton among the 20 teams.
Bolton's Premier League spells
Bolton's time in the league came in separate spells rather than one continuous run.
| Spell | Seasons | How it ended |
|---|---|---|
| 1995/96 | 1 | Relegated (20th, 29 points) |
| 1997/98 | 1 | Relegated (18th, 40 points) |
| 2001/02–2011/12 | 11 | Relegated (18th, 36 points) |
The first Premier League season for Bolton was 1995/96. They were promoted on 3 occasions, and every stay in the division ended in relegation.
One spell became the clear core of Bolton's Premier League story because it lasted far longer than the others. Taken together, those spells add up to 13 top-flight Premier League seasons.
Overall Premier League record
The full record shows where Bolton sit in Premier League history as a whole.
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals for | Goals against | Points | All-time rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 494 | 149 | 128 | 217 | 575 | 745 | 575 | 19th |
Bolton have never won the Premier League. Their best finish was 6th in 2004/05, while their lowest finish was 20th in 1995/96. Over their whole Premier League record, the goal difference was -170.
There is also a clear gap after the final relegation. Bolton spent the 14 seasons from 2012/13 to 2025/26 outside the Premier League, and they were still absent in 2026/27.
FAQ
Have Bolton ever been in the Premier League?
Yes. Bolton first played in the Premier League in 1995/96 and returned for later spells as well.
Those appearances came across 3 separate spells, with the longest one running from 2001/02 to 2011/12.
How many Premier League seasons did Bolton play?
Bolton played 13 Premier League seasons in total. That total covers 2 single-season spells and 1 spell that lasted 11 seasons.
Across all of those seasons, they played 494 Premier League matches.
When were Bolton relegated from the Premier League?
Bolton were relegated 3 times: at the end of 1995/96, 1997/98 and 2011/12.
Each of those dates marks the end of one of their Premier League spells.
Have Bolton ever won the Premier League?
No. Bolton have never been Premier League champions.
The highest league finish in their Premier League history was 6th, achieved in 2004/05.