UK Lotto Odds & Prize Chances
See the chances of winning each UK Lotto prize, understand what the two-round draw means, and use the calculator to see how your odds change when you buy more £2 lines.
UK Lotto odds at a glance
UK Lotto prize tiers and your odds
Enter how many different £2 Lotto lines you are buying. The table will show the standard odds for one round and an approximate chance of hitting each prize tier across both rounds with your number of lines.
Use different lines. Buying the same combination twice does not make that combination more likely to be drawn.
| Match | Prize | Odds in one round | Your odds across both rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 main numbers | Jackpot | 1 in 45,057,474 | 1 in 22,528,737 |
| 5 + Bonus Ball | £1,000,000 | 1 in 7,509,579 | About 1 in 3,754,790 |
| 5 main numbers | £1,750 | About 1 in 144,415 | About 1 in 72,208 |
| 4 main numbers | £140 | About 1 in 2,180 | About 1 in 1,090 |
| 3 main numbers | £30 | About 1 in 96.2 | About 1 in 48.4 |
| 2 main numbers | Free Lotto Lucky Dip | About 1 in 10.3 | About 1 in 5.4 |
How to read the table: the third column is the chance for one line in one round. The final column changes with the number of lines you enter and estimates your chance across both rounds. The more different lines you play, the better the chance — but the larger prizes remain difficult to win.
Why are there two jackpot odds?
You may see both 1 in 45 million and about 1 in 22.5 million used for UK Lotto. Both are useful, but they answer different questions.
1 in 45,057,474
The chance of one line matching all six main numbers in one individual round.
About 1 in 22.5 million
The chance of that same line hitting the jackpot in at least one of the two rounds on the draw night.
About 1 in 4.9
The overall chance of winning any Lotto prize across both rounds from one £2 line.
Does picking different numbers change your odds?
No. Every valid six-number line has the same chance of being drawn. Birthdays, hot numbers, lucky numbers and tidy patterns do not make a combination more likely.
Popular combinations can still affect the size of a shared jackpot
If lots of players choose the same winning numbers, the jackpot can be split between more winners. That changes the amount each winner receives, not the chance of those numbers being drawn.
Can you improve your Lotto odds?
The only straightforward way to increase your mathematical chance is to have more different lines in the draw. You can buy more lines yourself or play as part of a syndicate.
UK Lotto odds FAQs
What are the odds of winning the UK Lotto jackpot?
The chance of matching all six main numbers in one Lotto round is 1 in 45,057,474. Because each £2 line is entered into two separate rounds, the chance of hitting the jackpot in at least one round is about 1 in 22.5 million.
What are the odds of winning any prize on UK Lotto?
The overall chance of winning any prize from one £2 Lotto line across both rounds is about 1 in 4.9.
Why are UK Lotto jackpot odds shown as 1 in 45 million and 1 in 22.5 million?
Both figures are useful. The 1 in 45,057,474 figure is the chance of matching all six main numbers in one individual round. About 1 in 22.5 million is the chance of matching all six in at least one of the two rounds entered by the same £2 line.
Does buying more Lotto tickets increase your odds of winning?
Yes, if the tickets contain different number combinations. More unique lines cover more possible outcomes, so your chance increases. The jackpot is still a very long shot, even when you buy several lines.
What are my Lotto odds if I buy 5, 10 or 20 tickets?
Your odds improve as you add different lines. Use the calculator in the prize table above and enter 5, 10, 20 or any other number of lines to see the approximate odds for each prize tier and your total spend.
What are the odds of matching 5 numbers and the Bonus Ball?
The chance of matching five main numbers plus the Bonus Ball in one round is 1 in 7,509,579. This prize tier pays £1 million under the current Lotto format.
Does matching the Bonus Ball improve every Lotto prize?
No. The Bonus Ball is used for the Match 5 + Bonus prize. The other main prize tiers are based on how many main numbers you match.
Do Lucky Dip numbers have better odds than choosing your own numbers?
No. A Lucky Dip and a line you choose yourself have exactly the same chance of being drawn. The draw does not favour one method of choosing numbers over another.
Are hot or overdue Lotto numbers more likely to be drawn?
No. Previous results do not make a number more likely in the next draw. Hot, cold and overdue statistics can be interesting to explore, but they do not change the odds of a future combination.
Is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 less likely to win the Lotto?
No. It has exactly the same chance of being drawn as any other valid six-number combination. The only practical difference is that obvious combinations may be chosen by more people, which could mean sharing a jackpot if they win.
Does playing the same Lotto numbers every week improve your odds?
No. Using the same numbers each week does not make them more likely to appear. Each draw starts with the same probabilities. Playing every draw simply gives you more separate chances over time.
Does joining a Lotto syndicate improve your odds?
A syndicate can improve the group's chance because it usually buys more different lines. The trade-off is that any winnings are shared between the members according to the syndicate agreement.
Sources
Game format, prize values and the overall chance of winning are based on current National Lottery and Allwyn information.