Lottery odds calculator
The Powerball jackpot odds are 1 in 292,201,338 and Mega Millions 1 in 290,472,336. Of these games, Lotto 6/49 has the best jackpot odds (1 in 13,983,816). Choose a game or enter any format (numbers picked from a pool, plus bonus balls) to see the jackpot odds and the chance of every match.
Checked 2026-11-07. Source: formula below.
18+ (19+ in most of Canada, 21+ in most US states). Help: where to get help.
How lottery odds are calculated
jackpot odds = 1 in C(main pool, picks) × C(bonus pool, bonus picks)
P(match m main and b bonus) = [C(k, m) × C(n − k, k − m) ÷ C(n, k)] × [same for the bonus draw]
Worked example, Powerball: C(69, 5) = 11,238,513 ways to pick the white balls, times 26 Powerballs = 292,201,338. Matching only the Powerball and no white ball happens 1 in 38.32.
Which lottery has the best odds?
Ranked by the chance of winning the jackpot with one ticket, best first:
- Lotto 6/49: 1 in 13,983,816 (6 from 49)
- UK Lotto: 1 in 45,057,474 (6 from 59)
- EuroMillions: 1 in 139,838,160 (5 from 50 + 2 from 12)
- Mega Millions: 1 in 290,472,336 (5 from 70 + 1 from 24)
- Powerball: 1 in 292,201,338 (5 from 69 + 1 from 26)
Jackpot odds only. The chance of winning any prize depends on each game's prize tiers, which differ between games and states.
Jackpot odds by game
| Game | Format | Jackpot odds |
|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 5 from 69 + 1 from 26 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Mega Millions | 5 from 70 + 1 from 24 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| EuroMillions | 5 from 50 + 2 from 12 | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| UK Lotto | 6 from 59 | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| Lotto 6/49 | 6 from 49 | 1 in 13,983,816 |
Formats checked on 2026-11-07; the computed jackpot odds match each game's published figure. Prize amounts are not shown because they differ by game, draw and state.
Powerball: chance of every match
| White balls | Powerball | Odds per ticket |
|---|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | yes | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 of 5 | no | 1 in 11,688,054 |
| 4 of 5 | yes | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 of 5 | no | 1 in 36,525 |
| 3 of 5 | yes | 1 in 14,494 |
| 3 of 5 | no | 1 in 580 |
| 2 of 5 | yes | 1 in 701 |
| 2 of 5 | no | 1 in 28.05 |
| 1 of 5 | yes | 1 in 91.98 |
| 1 of 5 | no | 1 in 3.68 |
| 0 of 5 | yes | 1 in 38.32 |
To see what a jackpot pays after tax, use the Powerball payout calculator or the Mega Millions payout calculator.
Questions
Which lottery has the best odds?
Of the big games here, Lotto 6/49 has the best jackpot odds (1 in 13,983,816) and Powerball the worst (1 in 292,201,338). In the US, Mega Millions is slightly better than Powerball. Games with fewer numbers to match have better odds and smaller prizes; enter any format in the calculator to compare.
What are the odds of winning the UK National Lottery?
The National Lottery's Lotto game draws 6 numbers from 59: 1 in 45,057,474 for the jackpot. EuroMillions, also sold by the National Lottery, is 1 in 139,838,160.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
1 in 292,201,338: C(69, 5) × 26. Matching the five white balls without the Powerball is 1 in 11,688,054.
What are the odds of winning Mega Millions?
1 in 290,472,336 for the jackpot since the April 2025 change to a Mega Ball from 1 to 24: C(70, 5) × 24.
Does buying more tickets help?
Each different ticket adds one winning chance. 10 Powerball tickets give 1 in 29,220,134, still far from likely.
How are lottery odds calculated?
Count the ways to choose the numbers: C(pool, picks) for the main draw, times C(bonus pool, bonus picks). One of those combinations wins the jackpot. Lower tiers use the hypergeometric formula.