Mega Millions and Powerball are the two multi-state lotteries sold almost everywhere in the United States, and they look alike: five white balls plus one extra ball, jackpots that roll over and no cap. But the price, the odds, the multiplier and the drawing days are different. Here's how they compare.
Side by side
| Mega Millions | Powerball | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per play | $5, multiplier included | $2, plus $1 for Power Play |
| Numbers | 5 from 1 to 70 + a Mega Ball from 1 to 24 | 5 from 1 to 69 + a Powerball from 1 to 26 |
| Drawing days | Tuesday and Friday, 11:00 p.m. ET | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10:59 p.m. ET |
| Where it's drawn | WSB-TV studio, Atlanta, Georgia | Florida Lottery draw studio, Tallahassee |
| Starting jackpot | $50 million | $20 million |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Odds of any prize | 1 in 23.07 | 1 in 24.87 |
| Match 5 | $2 million to $10 million | $1 million ($2 million with Power Play) |
| Multiplier | On every play, 2X to 10X, printed on the ticket | Optional Power Play, 2X to 10X, one drawn per drawing |
| Where it's sold | 45 states, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands | 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Record jackpot | $1.602 billion (Florida, 2023) | $2.04 billion (California, 2022) |
| Run by | A consortium of state lotteries | The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) |
Price: $5 against $2
A Mega Millions play costs $5 and always includes the multiplier. A Powerball play costs $2, or $3 if you add Power Play. So a Powerball ticket is cheaper, but with Mega Millions every winning play is multiplied at least 2X and the smallest prize, $10, is worth twice the ticket.
Odds: almost the same for the jackpot
The jackpot odds are very close: 1 in 290,472,336 for Mega Millions and 1 in 292,201,338 for Powerball. Mega Millions is slightly better for winning any prize, 1 in 23.07 against 1 in 24.87. In practice, the difference is small: both games are long shots for the jackpot. Every Mega Millions tier is in Mega Millions odds.
Two ways to multiply a prize
In Mega Millions, every play gets its own multiplier at random when you buy it, and you can see it on your ticket before the drawing. In Powerball, Power Play is optional: one multiplier is drawn for each drawing and applies to every ticket that paid for it, and the 10X is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. With Power Play, matching five white balls always pays $2 million. More in the Mega Millions multiplier.
Never on the same night
Mega Millions is drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays and Powerball on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, so between them there's a drawing five nights a week and they never overlap. The only nights without either are Thursday and Sunday.
Jackpots: who has paid more
Powerball holds the world record, $2.04 billion, won in California on November 7, 2022. The Mega Millions record is $1.602 billion, won in Florida on August 8, 2023. Mega Millions starts from a higher base, $50 million against Powerball's $20 million, and neither game has a cap.
Both pay the jackpot the same way: an annuity of 30 payments, each 5% bigger than the last, or a lower lump-sum cash option. The biggest Mega Millions wins are in the biggest Mega Millions jackpots.
Where you can play them
Both games are sold in the same 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Powerball is also sold in Puerto Rico. Neither is available in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada or Utah. They've been sold side by side since January 31, 2010, when the cross-selling agreement between the two games took effect. Where and how to buy Mega Millions is in where to play Mega Millions.
Which one should you play?
Neither gives you a real edge: the jackpot odds are almost identical and both are games of chance. The differences are about what you prefer. Mega Millions costs more per play but multiplies every prize and starts with a bigger jackpot. Powerball is cheaper, has three drawings a week and lets you decide whether to pay for the multiplier.
Whatever you choose, set a budget first. And after each drawing, check your Mega Millions numbers in our ticket checker.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easier to win Mega Millions or Powerball?
The odds are very close. Mega Millions is slightly better: 1 in 290,472,336 for the jackpot and 1 in 23.07 for any prize, against 1 in 292,201,338 and 1 in 24.87 for Powerball.
Can one ticket play both Mega Millions and Powerball?
No. They're separate games with their own playslips and tickets. You can buy both at the same retailer.
Which game has had the bigger jackpot?
Powerball, with $2.04 billion in November 2022. The Mega Millions record is $1.602 billion, from August 2023.
Are Mega Millions and Powerball run by the same organization?
No. Powerball is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), while Mega Millions is run by a consortium of state lotteries. Most state lotteries belong to both games and sell both.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.