Last updated Written by Lotje8
Thunderball is a UK National Lottery game with a £1 line, four draws a week and a fixed top prize of £500,000. You pick five main numbers from 1 to 39 and one Thunderball from 1 to 14. Every prize amount is fixed, so the jackpot never rolls over and is never shared: each line that matches all six numbers wins the full £500,000.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operator | The National Lottery (Allwyn) |
| Price | £1 per line |
| Numbers | 5 from 1 to 39, plus 1 Thunderball from 1 to 14 |
| Draws | Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday |
| Top prize | £500,000, fixed |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 8,060,598 |
| Odds of any prize | 1 in 13 |
| Claim period | 180 days after the draw |
Latest Thunderball Results
The official Thunderball winning numbers appear on the National Lottery website and in the National Lottery app shortly after each draw. Because every prize is fixed, you know what a winning line pays the moment you compare your numbers. Our lottery results overview lists the UK games next to other world lotteries.
How to Play Thunderball
A Thunderball line has two parts. The five main numbers come from one set of balls numbered 1 to 39. The Thunderball comes from a separate set numbered 1 to 14. Because the two sets are drawn separately, the same number can appear once as a main number and once as the Thunderball.
- Choose five main numbers from 1 to 39.
- Choose one Thunderball from 1 to 14, or let a Lucky Dip pick all six numbers for you.
- Pick the draw days you want to enter. You can play up to four weeks ahead, which covers up to 16 draws, or play every draw by Direct Debit online.
- Buy before sales close at 7.30pm on the day of the draw. A ticket bought later counts for the next draw.
- Check your numbers after the draw. Online tickets are checked for you automatically.
Matching the Thunderball alone already wins a prize. Without the Thunderball, you need at least three main numbers to win anything.
Thunderball Draw Days and Tickets
Thunderball is drawn four times a week: on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Tuesday draw was added in 2018. Ticket sales close at 7.30pm on each draw day.
A line costs £1, which makes Thunderball the cheapest draw game of The National Lottery alongside Lotto HotPicks. You can buy a ticket in three ways:
- at a National Lottery retailer in the UK;
- in the official National Lottery app;
- on the official National Lottery website.
Online play is only open to players aged 18 or over who live in the UK or the Isle of Man, have a UK bank account and are in the UK when they buy. How Thunderball compares with Lotto, EuroMillions, Set For Life and Powerball, you read on our page about UK lotteries.
Thunderball Prizes and Odds
Thunderball has nine prize tiers. All prizes are fixed amounts, other than in exceptional circumstances, so they do not depend on how many people win. This is the main difference from UK Lotto, where the jackpot is shared and can roll over.
| Winning combination | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers + Thunderball | £500,000 | 1 in 8,060,598 |
| 5 numbers | £5,000 | 1 in 620,046 |
| 4 numbers + Thunderball | £250 | 1 in 47,416 |
| 4 numbers | £100 | 1 in 3,648 |
| 3 numbers + Thunderball | £20 | 1 in 1,437 |
| 3 numbers | £10 | 1 in 111 |
| 2 numbers + Thunderball | £10 | 1 in 135 |
| 1 number + Thunderball | £5 | 1 in 35 |
| Thunderball only | £3 | 1 in 29 |
The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 13. Most of those wins are the £3, £5 and £10 tiers. The odds of the £500,000 top prize are 1 in 8,060,598: the number of ways to pick five numbers from 39, multiplied by the 14 possible Thunderballs. No way of choosing numbers changes those odds, because every combination has exactly the same chance in each draw.
For UK residents, National Lottery prizes are not taxed. If you live elsewhere, the rules of your own country apply; read more on our page about tax on lottery winnings.
Thunderball FAQs
What is Thunderball?
Thunderball is a draw game of the UK National Lottery that started in June 1999. You pick five numbers from 1 to 39 and one Thunderball from 1 to 14. The top prize is a fixed £500,000.
When are Thunderball draws held?
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Ticket sales close at 7.30pm on the day of the draw.
How much does a Thunderball ticket cost?
£1 per line. You can play up to four weeks of draws in advance.
Does the Thunderball jackpot roll over?
No. There are no rollovers in Thunderball. If nobody matches all six numbers, the next draw again offers £500,000.
What are the odds of winning Thunderball?
1 in 13 for any prize and 1 in 8,060,598 for the £500,000 top prize. The most common win is £3 for matching the Thunderball only.
Can you play Thunderball from outside the UK?
Not online through The National Lottery: you must live in the UK or the Isle of Man and be in the UK when you buy. Visitors can buy a ticket at a UK retailer. Some international services buy tickets or offer bets on the draw, but they are not part of The National Lottery and whether you may use them depends on the law where you live.
How long do I have to claim a Thunderball prize?
180 days from the draw. Unclaimed prizes go to National Lottery good causes.
Play Thunderball
Thunderball suits players who want a low price per line and a better chance of a six-figure prize than Lotto or EuroMillions give. In the UK, buy your ticket from a retailer, the app or the National Lottery website. Living abroad? Our ticket seller reviews explain how each international service works and where it is available.
You must be 18 or older to play. A lottery ticket is a game of chance, not an investment: most lines win nothing. Set a budget and stick to it. Need help? Contact BeGambleAware or read about the signs of an early gambling addiction.
Official sources
