Quick answer
Power Play costs $1 more per play and multiplies any non-jackpot Powerball prize by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X, and it always turns the $1 million Match 5 prize into $2 million. It never touches the jackpot and does not improve your odds of winning; it only makes the smaller prizes bigger. Whether it is “worth it” depends on whether you prefer bigger small prizes or more plays for the same budget. If you play regularly, a tool like Atlas AI keeps your lines, results and draw history organized either way.
“Do you want Power Play with that?” is the question every Powerball player hears at the counter, and most people answer on instinct. People also search for Double Play vs. Power Play, because the two add-on boxes sit side by side on the play slip and both cost a dollar. This guide sticks to what the official Powerball prize chart and the state lotteries say, then does the math out loud so you can decide calmly.
What Power Play does, in one paragraph
Each Powerball drawing also draws a Power Play number: 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10. If you added Power Play to your play (an extra $1 per play, so a $2 play becomes $3) and you win any prize except the jackpot, that prize is multiplied by the Power Play number. Two special rules apply: the Match 5 prize is always $2 million with Power Play, whatever multiplier is drawn, and the 10X multiplier is only available when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
The official multiplier odds
The Powerball prize chart publishes the odds of each multiplier being drawn:
| Multiplier | Odds when 10X is available | Odds when 10X is not available |
|---|---|---|
| 10X | 1 in 43 | — |
| 5X | 2 in 43 | 2 in 42 |
| 4X | 3 in 43 | 3 in 42 |
| 3X | 13 in 43 | 13 in 42 |
| 2X | 24 in 43 | 24 in 42 |
Source: official Powerball prize chart, powerball.com, checked November 2026.
In plain words: more than half the time the multiplier is 2X, and 10X is rare and only possible on smaller jackpots.
What each prize becomes with Power Play
| Match | Base prize | 2X | 3X | 4X | 5X | 10X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot | Jackpot (never multiplied) | ||||
| 5 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 with any multiplier | ||||
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4 | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 + Powerball | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 1 + Powerball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Powerball only | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
For the full base chart with odds and taxes, see our Powerball payout chart.
What Power Play does not do
- It does not change your odds. Your chance of matching any prize tier is exactly the same with or without it.
- It does not multiply the jackpot. The grand prize is the same either way.
- It does not multiply Double Play prizes. The two add-ons are separate.
- It is not in every lottery the same way. Rules are set by the participating lotteries; always check your state’s Powerball page.
Power Play vs. Double Play
| Power Play | Double Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Extra cost | $1 per play | $1 per play |
| What it does | Multiplies non-jackpot prizes in the main drawing | Enters your numbers in a second, separate drawing |
| Jackpot affected? | No | No (Double Play has its own top prize) |
| Where | Offered with Powerball across participating lotteries | Only in some states |
| Can you add both? | Yes, a $2 play with both add-ons costs $4 | |
Double Play has its own prize chart and availability; our Double Play guide covers it in full.
The honest math: is Power Play worth it?
We ran the numbers using only the official prize chart and odds. Adding up every non-jackpot prize multiplied by its odds, and weighting each multiplier by how often it is drawn, the extra prize value Power Play adds comes to roughly 46 cents per extra dollar when 10X is not available, and about 50 cents when it is, as a long-run average before taxes. In other words, like the base game, it returns less than it costs on average.
That does not make it a bad choice; it makes it a preference. Some players like the idea that a $4 win becomes $8 to $40, or that a Match 5 doubles to $2 million. Others prefer to spend that dollar on an extra line or keep it. Neither choice changes your odds. The right answer is the one that fits a fixed entertainment budget.
- Set your budget firstDecide what you spend per drawing before you think about add-ons.
- Decide: bigger small prizes or more lines?Power Play makes small prizes bigger; an extra line gives one more set of numbers. Neither improves the jackpot odds in a meaningful way.
- Check the jackpot size10X is only possible when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
- Mark the box on the slipPower Play must be added when you buy; it cannot be added later. Check it is printed on your ticket.
New to the game? Our step-by-step guide to playing Powerball walks through the play slip, and Powerball drawing days has the full schedule.
Our recommendation: Atlas AI
Whether you add Power Play or not, playing well means staying organized: knowing your lines, checking results quickly and keeping an eye on draw history. For that, Atlas AI Lotto Money is the tool we recommend. Smart Pick builds up to ten combinations across the full number ranges using draw history since 1985. The Results Panel shows the latest Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life draws, the searchable Draw History lets you check any ticket in seconds, and the Powerball Frequency Analyzer and Hot & Overdue Tracker turn the number history into clear charts.
It costs $197 once for lifetime access (no subscription), includes four bonus guides, and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Access details arrive by email after checkout. To be clear, it does not predict draws or change the odds — nothing can, with or without Power Play. What it does is make your picks, results and history fast and organized.
Frequently asked questions
How does Power Play work in Powerball?
For $1 more per play, Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot prize you win by the Power Play number drawn for that drawing: 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or, when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less, 10X. The Match 5 prize of $1 million always becomes $2 million with Power Play. The jackpot is never multiplied.
Is Power Play worth the extra $1?
It depends on what you want from your ticket. Power Play does not improve your chances of winning anything; it only makes non-jackpot prizes bigger. Using the official prize chart and odds, the extra prize value works out to roughly 45 to 50 cents per extra dollar in the long run, before taxes, so it is a choice about bigger small prizes, not a better bet.
What are the odds of getting 10X Power Play?
According to the official Powerball prize chart, when 10X is available the odds are 1 in 43 for 10X, 2 in 43 for 5X, 3 in 43 for 4X, 13 in 43 for 3X and 24 in 43 for 2X. The 10X multiplier is only in play when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
Does Power Play multiply the jackpot?
No. Power Play applies only to non-jackpot prizes. The grand prize stays the same with or without Power Play.
What is the difference between Power Play and Double Play?
Power Play multiplies the non-jackpot prizes of the main drawing. Double Play, offered only in some states, enters your same numbers into a second, separate drawing with its own prize chart. Each costs $1 more per play, and Power Play does not multiply Double Play prizes.
Play for fun, play within a budget
Decide on a fixed entertainment budget before you buy, and treat add-ons like Power Play as part of that budget, never as a way to win back losses. 18+ only (or the legal age in your state). Help is available 24/7 at 1-800-MY-RESET.