The draw time is fixed in Eastern Time and broadcast from the Florida Lottery's draw studio in Tallahassee, according to Powerball's official site. The time that catches people out is the sales cut-off, so that gets most of the attention below.
What time is the Powerball drawing in my time zone?
Because the draw is scheduled in Eastern Time and almost the whole country changes to and from daylight saving time on the same dates, the local times below hold all year. Arizona is the exception: it stays on Mountain Standard Time, so its local draw time shifts by an hour twice a year.
| Time zone | Powerball draw time | Example states |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 10:59 PM | New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ohio |
| Central | 9:59 PM | Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Minnesota |
| Mountain | 8:59 PM | Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, most of Idaho |
| Pacific | 7:59 PM | California, Washington, Oregon |
| Arizona (no daylight saving) | 7:59 PM from March to early November; 8:59 PM in winter | Arizona |
What days are Powerball drawings?
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Powerball was drawn only on Wednesdays and Saturdays until August 23, 2021, when the Monday drawing was added. Older articles that list two draw nights are out of date.
With Mega Millions on Tuesday and Friday, one of the two big national games draws on five nights of the week. Thursday and Sunday have neither. Our lottery drawing schedule lists the days and times for other games.
What time do Powerball ticket sales stop?
It depends on where you buy. The Powerball FAQ says only that sales cut-off times vary by selling jurisdiction and tells players to check with their local lottery; Powerball's news releases describe the cut-off as one to two hours before the drawing. Two examples from state lottery sites:
- Texas stops Powerball sales at 9:00 PM Central (10:00 PM Eastern) and resumes at 10:15 PM Central, per the Texas Lottery.
- California and New York both close Powerball sales at about the same moment, 7:00 PM Pacific and 10:00 PM Eastern respectively, roughly an hour before the draw.
If you buy after your state's cut-off, the terminal won't refuse the sale. It issues a ticket for the next Powerball drawing, and the clerk may not mention it. Check the draw date printed on the ticket before you leave. State-by-state detail is in our guide to when lottery ticket sales stop.
What is draw break?
Draw break is a pause in sales that starts at your state's cut-off. Its length varies a lot. In Texas the Powerball draw break runs from 9:00 to 10:15 PM Central, past the drawing, and no Powerball tickets are sold in that window. California's lasts five minutes, from 7:00 to 7:05 PM Pacific, and tickets sold after it are for the next drawing. Either way, once your state's cut-off has passed you can't get into that night's draw.
When are the winning numbers posted?
The numbers are public as soon as the balls are drawn on the live stream, and Powerball posts them on its site shortly afterwards. Powerball's FAQ notes that the official winning numbers are the ones recorded under the observation of an independent accounting firm. Prize amounts for each tier and the count of winners come later, once the participating lotteries have reported their sales and winning tickets.
Our Powerball results page is filled from a commercial results feed that we poll every two minutes, so new numbers usually appear within a few minutes of being published. Each drawing also gets its own page with the prize breakdown for all nine tiers.
Where can you watch the Powerball drawing?
Powerball streams the drawing live on powerball.com and keeps clips on its YouTube channel. Some local TV stations in participating states also air it. You don't need to watch: the numbers stay published, and the claim period runs from 90 days to one year depending on the state that sold the ticket. See how long you have to claim a prize.
Do Powerball drawings happen on holidays?
Yes. Powerball draws on its usual nights whatever the date. The January 1, 2024 drawing, for instance, produced an $842.4 million jackpot win in Michigan. Holidays can change retailer opening hours and close claim offices, but not the draw. More in lottery drawings on holidays.
Powerball drawing time FAQ
What time is the Powerball drawing tonight?
If tonight is a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday, the drawing is at 10:59 PM Eastern, which is 9:59 PM Central, 8:59 PM Mountain and 7:59 PM Pacific. There is no Powerball drawing on the other four nights.
What days are Powerball drawings held?
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Monday drawing was added on August 23, 2021; before that Powerball was drawn twice a week.
What time do Powerball ticket sales stop?
Each state sets its own cut-off, generally one to two hours before the 10:59 PM ET drawing. Texas, for example, stops at 9:00 PM Central. A ticket bought after the cut-off is entered in the next drawing.
What is draw break for Powerball?
It is a pause in ticket sales that begins at your state's cut-off. It may last a few minutes (California) or until after the drawing (Texas). After it ends, any ticket you buy is for the next drawing.
Is there a Powerball drawing on holidays?
Yes. Powerball keeps its Monday, Wednesday and Saturday schedule on holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Sources: powerball.com (Watch the Drawing and FAQs pages), Texas Lottery Powerball game page, Powerball's 2021 announcement of the Monday drawing. Draw and cut-off times can change; your state lottery's website has the current cut-off.
