Lottery Odds Calculator
Enter the size of the number pool and how many are drawn to see the jackpot odds for any lottery. Set a partial match or add a bonus ball pool to model real games.
How to calculate lottery odds
- Enter the total pool size and how many numbers are drawn.
- Set how many you need to match (leave full for the jackpot).
- Add a bonus ball pool if your lottery uses one, then read the odds.
Examples
A 6 of 49 lottery
Pool 49, draw 6, match all 6
1 in 13,983,816
Matching 5 of 6
Pool 49, draw 6, match 5
258 winning tickets, 1 in 54,201
Frequently asked questions
How are lottery odds calculated?
The number of possible tickets is the combination C(total, drawn), the count of ways to choose the drawn numbers from the pool when order does not matter. The jackpot chance is 1 divided by that figure. For a 6 of 49 lottery that is 1 in 13,983,816.
How do I find the odds of matching only some numbers?
Multiply the ways to pick the matching numbers, C(drawn, match), by the ways to fill the rest from the missed numbers, C(total minus drawn, drawn minus match). Divide by the total tickets. For matching 5 of 6 in a 49-ball game that is 6 times 43, which is 258 winning tickets.
How does a bonus or Powerball number change the odds?
A bonus ball drawn from its own separate pool of size B multiplies the odds by B, because you must also match that one extra ball. A 5 of 59 main draw with a 1 of 26 bonus has jackpot odds of C(59,5) times 26, which is 1 in 130,166,036.
Why are partial-match prizes so much easier to win?
Because there are many more tickets that match some numbers than match all of them. Matching 3 of 6 in a 49-ball game has 246,820 winning tickets, while only one ticket wins the jackpot, so the lower tiers are thousands of times more likely.
Does buying more tickets meaningfully improve my chances?
Only a little. Each distinct ticket adds one chance out of millions, so even buying a hundred tickets in a 6 of 49 game leaves the jackpot odds around 1 in 139,838. The odds scale linearly with tickets bought, which is why the headline number barely moves.
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