Quick answer: The Powerball drawing is held at 10:59 PM Eastern Time every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday — 9:59 PM Central, 8:59 PM Mountain, 7:59 PM Pacific. The draw itself takes about two minutes, and winning numbers are published within minutes of the balls being drawn.
That single line answers most of the question, but the detail people actually get burned by is the sales cut-off, which lands roughly an hour earlier. Here is the full timetable.
What time is the Powerball drawing in my time zone?
Powerball is drawn from the Florida Lottery's studio in Tallahassee, and the time is set in Eastern Time — so the local clock time changes as you move west. Because the whole country shifts to daylight saving together, these conversions hold all year (Arizona is the exception, staying on Mountain Standard Time year-round).
| Time zone | Powerball draw time | States (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 10:59 PM | NY, FL, PA, GA, OH |
| Central (CT) | 9:59 PM | TX, IL, MO, LA, MN |
| Mountain (MT) | 8:59 PM | CO, NM, MT, ID (south) |
| Pacific (PT) | 7:59 PM | CA, WA, OR |
| Arizona (MST, no DST) | 8:59 PM in summer, 7:59 PM in winter | AZ |
What days are Powerball drawings?
Three nights a week: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Monday draws were added in August 2021 — before that, Powerball ran only twice a week, which is why older guides still say Wednesday and Saturday.
Between the two national games there is a drawing five nights out of seven: Powerball on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Mega Millions on Tuesday and Friday. Thursday and Sunday are the only nights with neither.
What time do Powerball ticket sales stop?
This is the deadline that matters. Sales close at least 59 minutes before the drawing in every jurisdiction, and many states cut off earlier than that. The national cut-off recorded for the game is 10:00 PM ET, but your state can be an hour or more ahead of it.
Buy after your state's cut-off and the terminal simply sells you a ticket for the next drawing — it will not be rejected, and nothing on the counter warns you. Check the draw date printed on the ticket before you walk away. Our guide to when lottery ticket sales stop breaks the cut-offs down state by state.
What is "draw break" for Powerball?
Draw break is the window when the terminals stop selling tickets for tonight's draw and have not yet opened sales for the next one. It starts at your state's sales cut-off and typically ends shortly after the drawing is complete and certified. If a clerk tells you the machine is "in draw break," the game is locked — the next ticket you buy will be for the following draw date.
What time does the Powerball drawing end?
The drawing itself is short: the five white balls and the red Powerball are drawn in roughly two to three minutes, so it is over by about 11:02 PM ET. Numbers appear on official channels within minutes. Results are then audited before prizes are paid, which is why a jackpot winner is not confirmed on air.
Lottery Atlas updates the Powerball results page continuously through the night, and each drawing gets its own permanent page with the full nine-tier prize breakdown.
Where can you watch the Powerball drawing?
The draw is streamed on Powerball's official channels and carried live by many local TV stations in participating states. If you miss it, nothing is lost — the numbers are published immediately and a ticket does not have to be checked on draw night. You have up to a year in most states (180 days in some) to claim.
Do Powerball drawings happen on holidays?
Yes. Powerball draws on its normal nights regardless of the calendar, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day. What changes on a holiday is retailer hours and claim-office availability, not the drawing — see lottery drawings on holidays.
Quick answers
What time is the Powerball drawing tonight?
10:59 PM Eastern Time, if tonight is a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday. That is 9:59 PM Central, 8:59 PM Mountain and 7:59 PM Pacific.
What time is the Powerball drawing EST?
10:59 PM Eastern — the drawing time is defined in Eastern Time, so it is 10:59 PM ET whether the country is on standard time or daylight time.
What days is Powerball drawn?
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights, three drawings per week.
How late can I buy a Powerball ticket?
At least 59 minutes before the draw, and often earlier depending on your state. Treat roughly 9:45–10:00 PM ET as the practical national deadline, and check your state's exact cut-off.
How soon after the drawing are the numbers posted?
Within minutes. Official prize amounts per tier follow shortly after, once the drawing is certified.
Bottom line
Powerball: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 PM ET, drawn in Tallahassee, over in about two minutes, numbers posted immediately. The deadline you actually need on your calendar is your state's sales cut-off, at least 59 minutes earlier. Tonight's numbers are always on our Powerball page, and the next draw's date and time are shown at the top of the homepage.
Draw times are set by the lotteries and can shift around holidays or technical delays. Verified against Lottery Atlas draw data, September 2026. For entertainment only — 1-800-GAMBLER.
