Powerball vs Mega Millions: Complete 2026 Comparison

Powerball and Mega Millions are the two biggest lottery games in the United States. Both offer massive jackpots, but they have key differences that matter. Numbers and Format Powerball: Pick 5 numbers from 1-69, plus 1 Powerball from 1-26. Mega Millions: Pick 5 numbers from 1-70, plus 1 Mega Ball from 1-25. The slightly smaller bonus pool in Mega Millions (25 vs 26) is offset by the larger main pool (70 vs 69). Jackpot Odds Powerball: 1 in 292,201,338 Mega Millions: 1 in 302,575,350 Powerball gives you slightly better odds at the jackpot, but the difference is about 3.5% — negligible in practical terms. Overall Winning Odds Powerball: 1 in 24.9 for any prize Mega Millions: 1 in 24 for any prize Mega Millions has slightly better overall odds. Drawing Schedule Powerball: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 PM ET Mega Millions: Tuesday, Friday at 11:00 PM ET This means you can play a major lottery game 5 days a week. Multiplier Options Power Play ($1 extra): Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x Megaplier ($1 extra): Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x Power Play offers a potential 10x multiplier that Megaplier does not. Biggest Jackpots Ever Powerball record: $2.04 billion (November 2022) Mega Millions record: $1.602 billion (August 2023) The Bottom Line Both games offer incredible jackpots with similar odds. The best strategy? Play whichever has the higher current jackpot, and always play within your budget.