How to Play Powerball
Everything a new player needs to know about Powerball: how the numbers work, what a ticket costs, when drawings happen, and what your odds really are.
How to Play Powerball in 5 Simple Steps
Choose 5 main numbers
Pick 5 different numbers from 1 to 69, or ask for a "Quick Pick" / "Easy Pick" to have them chosen at random.
Choose your Powerball
Pick one more number from 1 to 26 for your Powerball — this is drawn from a separate pool of balls.
Consider the Power Play
For an extra cost, add the Power Play option, which can multiply the value of non-jackpot prizes on your ticket.
Pay and keep your ticket
A standard play costs $2. Keep your physical or digital ticket safe — you'll need it to claim any prize.
Check the results
Drawings happen every Monday and Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 10:59 PM ET. Compare your numbers on our results page or your state lottery's official site.
Game Rules & Format
- Number pool: 5 main numbers are drawn from a pool of 1–69, without replacement.
- Powerball: One additional number is drawn from a separate pool of 1–26, and can repeat one of your main numbers since it comes from its own set of balls.
- Draw schedule: Drawings are held every Monday and Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 10:59 PM ET.
- Ticket cost: $2 per line, plus an optional Power Play add-on in most participating states.
- Where it's played: Tickets are sold through the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) in participating U.S. states, D.C., and U.S. territories where the game is offered.
- Age requirement: You must be 18 or older to play in most states — some states set the minimum age at 19 or 21. Check your state lottery for the exact requirement.
Prize Tiers
Powerball pays multiple prize tiers based on how many numbers you match, from the jackpot (all 5 main numbers plus the Powerball) down to a small fixed prize for matching just the Powerball alone. Non-jackpot prizes are typically fixed dollar amounts, and can be multiplied by the Power Play if you added that option.
| Match | Prize Type |
|---|---|
| All 5 + Powerball | Jackpot (grows until won) |
| All 5, no Powerball | Second-tier fixed prize |
| Fewer matches + Powerball | Smaller fixed prizes |
| Powerball only | Smallest fixed prize (ticket cost, roughly) |
Exact dollar amounts for each tier are set by the game rules and published on www.powerball.com.
What Are the Real Odds?
The odds of matching all numbers for the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292,201,338 on a single ticket. The overall odds of winning any prize (including the smallest fixed tier) are roughly 1 in 24.9. These odds are fixed by the game's math and are the same for every player, every ticket, every time.
No strategy, prediction, or number pattern can shorten these odds. The only things a player can control are how much they spend and how a potential prize might be shared with other winners — see our predictions page for a look at recent number frequency, purely for entertainment.
How to Play Powerball — FAQs
A standard Powerball ticket costs $2 per play. Adding the Power Play option costs extra and can multiply non-jackpot prizes.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday and Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 10:59 PM ET. Ticket sales typically cut off shortly before the drawing — check your state lottery for the exact cutoff time.
Some U.S. states allow online or app-based ticket purchases through official state lottery platforms. Availability depends entirely on your state's laws — check your state lottery's official website to see what is permitted where you live.
No. You generally need to be physically present in a participating state (or D.C. or U.S. Virgin Islands, depending on the game) and meet the state's minimum age requirement, which is usually 18 but can be higher in some states.