Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, known for jackpots that regularly reach hundreds of millions of dollars and have gone past $2 billion. Each play costs $2: you pick 5 numbers from 1 to 69 and 1 Powerball from 1 to 26, and wait for the drawing on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday. Here's how it works, step by step.
Step 1: pick 5 white balls from 1 to 69
Every play starts with five different numbers between 1 and 69. They're drawn from a machine of 69 white balls, and the order doesn't matter: what counts is how many of your numbers match the ones drawn.
Prefer not to choose? Ask for a Quick Pick and the lottery terminal picks all your numbers at random. It's the most popular way to play, and it has exactly the same odds as numbers you pick yourself: every combination is equally likely to come up.
If you like to look at past drawings first, our statistics show which numbers have been drawn most often lately, and the Predictor builds lines from that data. Just keep in mind that every drawing starts from scratch, so past results help you understand the game, not predict it.
Step 2: pick 1 red Powerball from 1 to 26
Next, choose one Powerball number between 1 and 26. It comes from a second machine with 26 red balls, so it can be the same number as one of your white balls.
The Powerball is what makes the game: matching it wins you a prize on its own, even if none of your white balls come up. To win the jackpot, you need all five white balls and the Powerball. All nine ways to win are in Powerball prizes.
Step 3: decide on Power Play (and Double Play)
For $1 more per play, Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot prize you win by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10. A Match 5 prize of $1 million becomes $2 million with any multiplier, and the 10X is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. Power Play never applies to the jackpot, and it isn't sold in California.
In some states you can also add Double Play for $1: your same numbers go into a second drawing held after the main one, with a top prize of $10 million. Both add-ons are explained in Power Play and Double Play.
Step 4: choose your drawings
Powerball is drawn three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. A ticket is valid for the next drawing unless you ask for more: most lotteries let you play the same numbers for several consecutive drawings in advance (Multi-Draw), and some sell subscriptions online. The maximum number of drawings depends on your state.
Buy before your state's sales cutoff, which is usually an hour or two before the drawing. Each lottery sets its own time, and the full schedule is in Powerball drawing time and place.
What a play costs
The price is the same in every state: $2 for a standard play, plus $1 for each add-on you choose.
| What you play | Price per play |
|---|---|
| Powerball | $2 |
| Powerball + Power Play | $3 |
| Powerball + Double Play (where available) | $3 |
| Powerball + Power Play + Double Play | $4 |
Your total is the price per play, times the number of plays on your ticket, times the number of drawings. Five plays with Power Play for three drawings, for example, come to $45.
Step 5: get your ticket
You can buy Powerball at authorized lottery retailers, such as convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores, in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A growing number of states also sell it online, but only to players located in that state. Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah don't sell Powerball. The details are in where to play Powerball.
Fill in a play slip or ask for a Quick Pick, pay, and check the printed ticket before you leave the counter: numbers, drawing date and add-ons. What each part of the slip does is in how to fill out a Powerball ticket.
Step 6: check your ticket after the drawing
We post the winning numbers and the Power Play multiplier shortly after each drawing, followed by the prize breakdown. You'll find the latest drawing on the home page and past drawings in Powerball results.
To see whether you've won, enter your numbers in our ticket checker: pick a drawing or a date range and it shows your matches line by line. You can also check at any retailer's ticket scanner or on your state lottery's website or app. If you played online, you'll usually be notified automatically.
What you need to play
- Be of legal age: 18 in most states, 19 in Nebraska and 21 in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi, and to play online in Massachusetts.
- One play = 6 numbers: 5 white balls from 1 to 69 and 1 Powerball from 1 to 26, picked by you or by Quick Pick.
- $2 per play and drawing, plus $1 for Power Play or Double Play if you add them. In Idaho, Montana and Puerto Rico a play costs $3, with Power Play included.
- Buy before the cutoff for the drawing you want to enter.
- Keep your ticket safe and sign the back: it's your only proof of purchase.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Powerball ticket cost?
$2 per play. Power Play costs $1 more per play, and so does Double Play in the states that offer it. In Idaho, Montana and Puerto Rico a play costs $3, because Power Play is always included. A ticket with several plays, or for several drawings, multiplies that price.
Is Quick Pick better than choosing my own numbers?
Neither is better. Quick Pick numbers and numbers you choose have exactly the same odds, because every combination is equally likely in every drawing. Quick Pick is simply faster.
Can the Powerball be the same number as one of my white balls?
Yes. The white balls (1 to 69) and the red Powerball (1 to 26) come from separate machines, so the same number can appear in both parts of your play.
How many numbers do I need to match to win?
Matching just the Powerball wins $4, and so does 1 white ball plus the Powerball. Without the Powerball, you need at least 3 white balls. See every prize tier in Powerball prizes.
Can I play Powerball every day?
No. There are three drawings a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can buy a ticket any day, and with Multi-Draw the same numbers can play in several drawings in a row.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.