Powerball Odds Explained for Every Prize Tier

The Powerball jackpot odds are 1 in 292,201,338 for each $2 play. The odds of winning a prize of any size are 1 in 24.87. There are nine prize tiers in all, and the odds get much better as the prize gets smaller.

This guide goes through every tier. It uses the figures from the official Powerball prize chart. It also explains what "1 in N" really means, so the numbers are easier to picture.

Powerball odds at a glance

A Powerball play is made of two parts. You pick 5 numbers from 1 to 69. Then you pick 1 Powerball from 1 to 26. A play costs $2.

The odds depend on how many of your numbers match the drawn numbers, and whether the Powerball matches. Here are all nine tiers, from the biggest prize to the smallest.

| Tier | Odds | Prize | | --- | --- | --- | | Match 5 + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | Jackpot (varies) | | Match 5 | 1 in 11,688,054 | $1,000,000 | | Match 4 + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 | $50,000 | | Match 4 | 1 in 36,525 | $100 | | Match 3 + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 | $100 | | Match 3 | 1 in 580 | $7 | | Match 2 + Powerball | 1 in 701 | $7 | | Match 1 + Powerball | 1 in 91.98 | $4 | | Powerball only | 1 in 38.32 | $4 |

The prizes in the table are the base prizes for a standard play. Add-ons such as Power Play and Double Play cost $1 extra per play and can change what a play pays. For the add-on prize rules, see the official Double Play page and the Double Play prize chart.

What "1 in N" means

Odds written as "1 in 580" describe one play. They say that if you could look at 580 equally likely outcomes, one of them would be a match for that tier. They do not say that a win will come after 580 plays.

Every play is its own event. The balls have no memory. A play that did not win yesterday has the same odds as a play on any other day. A number that came up last week is not more or less likely to come up again.

That is why you will never see a number called "due" in this guide. No number is due. Past draws describe the past only. They do not predict the next draw.

Jackpot odds: Match 5 + Powerball

To win the jackpot, you must match all 5 white balls and the Powerball. The odds are 1 in 292,201,338.

That is a very large number. In plain words, it means the jackpot is extremely unlikely on any single play. Choosing your own numbers, using a quick pick, or using a favorite date does not change that. No number choice raises the odds.

The jackpot prize is not fixed. It varies from draw to draw. The odds of winning it stay the same no matter how big the jackpot is. A bigger jackpot does not make the jackpot odds better. It only changes the size of the prize if someone wins.

If you do win a jackpot, there is a choice between an annuity and a cash option. Our guide to annuity vs cash option explains how they differ.

Match 5 and Match 4 + Powerball

The next two tiers are the biggest fixed prizes.

Match 5, $1,000,000. You match all 5 white balls but not the Powerball. The odds are 1 in 11,688,054. This is a big step up from the jackpot odds, but it is still a very rare result.

Match 4 + Powerball, $50,000. You match 4 white balls and the Powerball. The odds are 1 in 913,129.

Notice how fast the odds change. Missing just the Powerball turns a jackpot into a $1,000,000 prize and the odds improve a lot. Missing one white ball and keeping the Powerball gives you a $50,000 prize, with better odds again.

The middle tiers: Match 4, Match 3 + Powerball, Match 3 and Match 2 + Powerball

These four tiers pay small fixed prizes.

• Match 4: 1 in 36,525 for $100.
• Match 3 + Powerball: 1 in 14,494 for $100.
• Match 3: 1 in 580 for $7.
• Match 2 + Powerball: 1 in 701 for $7.

Two things are worth a closer look here.

First, the Match 4 tier is harder to hit than Match 3 + Powerball. The odds are 1 in 36,525 compared with 1 in 14,494. Both pay $100. A bigger number after "1 in" always means a rarer result.

Second, Match 3 and Match 2 + Powerball both pay $7, but Match 3 is slightly more likely. Its odds are 1 in 580, while Match 2 + Powerball is 1 in 701.

These prizes may be larger than the $2 price of a play, but that does not make a ticket a good way to make money. Most plays win nothing at all. Treat a play as a small cost for entertainment, not as an investment.

The smallest tiers: Match 1 + Powerball and Powerball only

The two lowest tiers are the ones you will see most often, and each pays $4.

• Match 1 + Powerball: 1 in 91.98.
• Powerball only: 1 in 38.32.

The Powerball only tier means you matched just the red Powerball, and none of the white balls. At 1 in 38.32, it is the most likely prize tier in the game. Match 1 + Powerball is 1 in 91.98.

A $4 prize is double the $2 price of a play. If you added Power Play or Double Play, your play cost more than $2, so check the add-on rules before you assume what a prize is worth.

Odds of winning any prize

The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.87. This number combines all nine tiers into one figure.

In plain words, it means a prize of some kind is a fairly rare result on any one play, and a small prize is by far the most common kind. Most of that figure comes from the lowest tiers, such as Powerball only and Match 1 + Powerball. The jackpot adds almost nothing to it.

Two cautions apply:

1. "1 in 24.87" is not a promise. You can play many times and win nothing. You can also win on your first play. Each play stands alone.
2. Buying more plays does not make this a smart plan. Spend only what you can afford to lose, and set a limit before you play.

If you want to learn about the rules behind the game, see How to Play Powerball or the Powerball guide. Draws are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern time.

How to see which tier your ticket hit

Once you know the tiers, the next step is to compare your ticket with the drawn numbers. You can do this by hand. Count how many of your 5 white numbers match, then check the Powerball on its own. Then look up that combination in the table above.

A few tips make this easier:

• Check each play on the ticket separately. A ticket can hold several plays.
• Count the Powerball apart from the white balls. It has its own range, 1 to 26.
• Remember that matching just the Powerball is a prize tier on its own.

The LottoCheck app can also scan a ticket, show the result, and say which tier it hit. Results in the app are unofficial. Official results always prevail, so confirm any win with the official lottery before you act on it. You can also read our step by step guide to checking a lottery ticket.

For the official figures and the latest prize details, see the Powerball prize chart.

Play for fun and only spend what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help. LottoCheck is for adults 18 and older.