Lottery Odds Calculator

Compare

Lottery odds compared by game

Every preset in the calculator, ranked from the best jackpot odds to the longest. Lower numbers mean better chances per play.

For a ranked list of U.S. games with current jackpots, see the lottery odds guide.

Method

How the lottery odds calculator works

Lottery odds come from counting combinations. For a game where you pick k numbers from a pool of n, the number of possible tickets is C(n,k) = n! / (k! × (n−k)!). A 6-from-49 game has C(49,6) = 13,983,816 possible tickets, so one ticket has jackpot odds of 1 in 13,983,816.

Games with a separate bonus ball multiply the two pools. Powerball picks 5 from 69 plus 1 from 26, so its jackpot odds are C(69,5) × 26 = 292,201,338. Mega Millions picks 5 from 70 plus 1 from 24 for 290,472,336. Lower prize tiers use the same idea: the calculator counts the ways to match exactly that many main numbers and bonus numbers, then divides by the total.

Odds with multiple tickets

When you enter more than one ticket, the calculator assumes every line is a different combination and shows the chance that at least one of them wins: 1 − (1 − p)ⁿ, where p is the single-ticket chance and n is the number of lines. For long-shot jackpots this is almost exactly n × p, so 100 lines are about 100 times as likely to win as one. Duplicate lines add cost without adding coverage.

Expected value

Expected value multiplies each prize by its odds and adds them up. The calculator uses the jackpot's lump-sum cash value, taxes prizes over $5,000 at the 37% top federal rate plus your state's rate, and assumes the jackpot is not shared. Lotteries only withhold 24% at payout, but a jackpot winner owes the top rate when filing, so 37% gives the realistic number. If the value per ticket is below the price, the game returns less than it costs on average.

What the calculator cannot do

Odds describe the game's rules, not the future. No calculator, number pattern, or prediction method makes one valid combination more likely than another. Quick Picks, birthdays, and hot or cold numbers all have identical odds. The only things that change your chances are the game you choose and how many different lines you play.

Game formats were last checked on July 24, 2026 against each lottery's official rules. For full breakdowns by game, see the Powerball odds, Mega Millions odds, Millionaire for Life odds, and Lotto America odds pages.

Next steps

What to check next

Use these Lottery Valley tools after checking the odds for a game.