Mega Millions Ticket Price and Current Cost
The standard Mega Millions play costs $5 per drawing, which covers one set of five white balls from 1 to 70 and one gold Mega Ball from 1 to 25. The $5 price applies to a single base game line, and each additional play or multiplier option is added at checkout on the official lottery terminal or authorized digital platform. The Mega Millions lottery is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and is available in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can confirm the current $5 base price and participating jurisdictions on the official Mega Millions website Mega Millions official site.
Retailers and official state lottery apps sell Mega Millions tickets for the same $5 base price, and the cost remains fixed regardless of drawing date or jackpot size. Some jurisdictions may add a small convenience fee when purchasing through third-party digital services, but the core $5 ticket price set by the lottery is unchanged. The $5 ticket buys one set of numbers for one drawing, and players can choose their own numbers or request a random quick pick at the point of sale.
Prize Structure and Odds for a $5 Ticket
A $5 Mega Millions ticket qualifies for nine fixed prize tiers, starting with matching only the Mega Ball, which pays $2, and ending with the jackpot for matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball. Matching two white balls plus the Mega Ball also pays $2, while matching two white balls without the Mega Ball returns the $5 base wager as a free play. Other fixed prizes include $10 for three white balls, $200 for four white balls, and $10,000 for four white balls plus the Mega Ball, with the jackpot starting at $20 million and rolling over by adding contributions from a percentage of $5 ticket sales.
The overall odds of winning any prize with a $5 Mega Millions ticket are roughly 1 in 24, while the odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.6 million. The $5 base ticket does not include the Megaplier option by default, which is an add-on that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times, and the Megaplier cost varies by jurisdiction. Players can review the full prize table and current odds on the official Mega Millions rules page Mega Millions rules and odds.
Where to Buy Mega Millions Tickets and Drawing Schedule
Mega Millions tickets are sold at authorized retail locations in participating states, as well as through official state lottery websites and apps that sell $5 tickets online. The drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and the $5 ticket price applies to each set of numbers played in each drawing. Sales typically close shortly before the drawing, and cutoff times vary by state and retailer. Players can check drawing results, jackpot amounts, and sales status on the official Mega Millions website Mega Millions official site.
The $5 Mega Millions jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order plus the gold Mega Ball, and if no one matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and increases based on ticket sales. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date was $1.602 billion, won in 2023, and the next drawing resets to a $20 million minimum if the jackpot is won. Winners can claim prizes through state lottery offices, with rules and deadlines varying by jurisdiction, and larger jackpots may require in-person claims at the state lottery headquarters or an authorized claim center.