How to Play Powerball
Choose five white-ball numbers from 1–69 and one red Powerball from 1–26. A standard play costs $2, and drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Play Powerball step by step
- 1
Choose your numbers
Pick five different numbers from 1–69 and one Powerball from 1–26, or ask for a Quick Pick.
- 2
Choose any add-ons
Add Power Play if you want eligible non-jackpot prizes multiplied. Add Double Play where available if you want the same numbers entered into a second drawing.
- 3
Choose the draw or draws
Buy for the next drawing or use your selling lottery's advance-play option. Sales cutoffs and the number of advance draws vary by jurisdiction.
- 4
Keep the ticket and check the result
Check the official result after the draw. Winning tickets must be redeemed under the rules of the jurisdiction where they were sold.
Choose your Powerball numbers
You have two basic choices at the point of purchase. Neither changes the mathematical odds; the difference is whether the numbers mean something to you.
Choose your own numbers
Select five unique white-ball numbers from 1–69 and one Powerball from 1–26. The Powerball can share the same numeral as a white ball because it comes from a separate pool.
Create your Powerball Number Board →Use Quick Pick
The lottery terminal chooses a valid random line for you. Quick Pick is faster, but it does not have better or worse odds than choosing the numbers yourself.
Explore MLL number-selection methods →Should you add Power Play?
Power Play costs an extra $1 per play in jurisdictions where it is offered. A multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X is selected before the drawing and can increase eligible non-jackpot prizes.
Match 5 with Power Play is fixed at $2 million. The 10X multiplier is available only when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
- Jackpot multiplied?
- No
- Match 5 + Power Play
- $2 million
- California
- Power Play not offered
- Idaho / Montana
- Bundled; minimum $3 play
What Double Play adds
Double Play costs an additional $1 per play where offered. Your same Powerball numbers are entered into a separate drawing held after the main Powerball drawing, with a top cash prize of $10 million. A ticket can include both Power Play and Double Play, but Power Play does not multiply Double Play prizes.
Availability matters: Double Play is offered only by participating lotteries. Check Double Play availability, prizes and odds →
What will your Powerball play cost?
Use this for the standard US pricing model. Local rules still control whether the add-ons are available.
California does not offer Power Play. Idaho and Montana bundle Power Play with Powerball for a minimum $3 purchase. Double Play and advance-play limits vary by jurisdiction.
Where can you buy Powerball tickets?
In the United States, Powerball is sold by 45 state lotteries plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can buy from authorized lottery retailers in participating jurisdictions, and some lotteries also provide official online or mobile purchasing.
Online availability, location checks, minimum age and advance-purchase rules are controlled locally. A winning ticket is redeemed under the rules of the jurisdiction where it was sold, so use the official sales route for that jurisdiction.
Powerball draw days, times and ticket cutoffs
Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time in Tallahassee, Florida. Selling lotteries close ticket sales before the draw, typically earlier in the evening; the exact cutoff is local.
Powerball rules that can change by state
The core 5/69 + 1/26 game is national, but the selling lottery controls several practical details. Before buying or claiming, check the rules where the ticket is sold.
How a Powerball ticket wins
The jackpot requires all five white balls, in any order, plus the red Powerball. Lower prize tiers start with matching the Powerball alone. The detailed prize matrix belongs on the Powerball prize page; this guide keeps the playing decision simple.
What happens after the drawing?
Check the numbers, protect the ticket and follow the claim rules of the jurisdiction where it was sold. Jackpot winners can choose between the advertised annuity and the cash option, and both options are subject to applicable federal and jurisdictional taxes.
Powerball playing FAQs
How many numbers do you pick in Powerball?
Choose five different white-ball numbers from 1 to 69, then choose one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. The Powerball is drawn from a separate pool, so it may have the same number as one of your white balls.
How much does a Powerball ticket cost?
A standard Powerball play costs $2 in most US jurisdictions. Power Play generally adds $1 per play, and Double Play adds $1 where it is offered. Idaho and Montana bundle Power Play with Powerball for a minimum purchase price of $3.
Does Quick Pick have different odds from choosing your own numbers?
No. A valid Quick Pick combination and a valid combination you choose yourself have the same mathematical chance of being drawn.
What does Power Play do?
Power Play can multiply eligible non-jackpot prizes by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X. Match 5 with Power Play pays $2 million. The 10X multiplier is only available when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. Power Play is not offered in California.
What is Double Play?
Double Play enters the same Powerball numbers into a separate drawing held after the main draw in participating jurisdictions. It costs an additional $1 per play and has a top cash prize of $10 million. Power Play does not multiply Double Play prizes.
When are Powerball drawings held?
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Ticket sales close earlier, and the cutoff time is set by the selling lottery.
Can you buy Powerball tickets online?
Online purchase depends on the selling jurisdiction. Some state lotteries offer official online or mobile purchasing, while others require purchase from an authorized retailer. Check the rules and official sales channels for the state or jurisdiction where you are playing.
Do the five white balls have to match in the same order?
No. The five white balls can match in any order. The red Powerball must match the separately drawn Powerball number.
About this guide
This page explains the standard US Powerball game and highlights the state-level differences that affect the buying decision. Official Powerball rules and the rules of the lottery that sold the ticket take precedence where details differ.