You're standing in line at the gas station, ticket in hand, wondering if you've actually made the cut. We've all been there. The jackpot is massive, the energy is high, and the clock is ticking toward that magic moment when five white balls and one red one change someone's life. But if you're asking what time is the drawing for the powerball, the answer depends entirely on where you’re standing when you look at your watch.
The official Powerball drawing takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Wait. Don't just set your alarm and walk away. That time is for the live event in Tallahassee, Florida. If you're in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Denver, that 10:59 p.m. figure is going to feel a lot different.
The Time Zone Breakdown
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is forgetting that America is huge. The drawing happens simultaneously for everyone, but the clock on your wall will say something different depending on your zip code.
- Eastern Time: 10:59 p.m.
- Central Time: 9:59 p.m.
- Mountain Time: 8:59 p.m.
- Pacific Time: 7:59 p.m.
The Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee is the "home base" for these drawings. They use a high-security room and a sophisticated set of machines to ensure everything is above board. But knowing the drawing time is only half the battle. You’ve got to actually have a ticket in your pocket before the "draw break" begins.
What Time is the Drawing for the Powerball: The Cutoff Trap
You can't just walk up at 10:58 p.m. and expect to get a ticket. Every state has its own "cutoff time," which is basically a window before the drawing where they stop selling tickets to synchronize their systems with the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL).
Most states cut you off about one to two hours before the balls start spinning. In California, for example, sales for the evening draw stop at 7:00 p.m. PT. If you show up at 7:05, you're buying a ticket for the next drawing, not the one happening in an hour.
Florida and Virginia usually let you go until 10:00 p.m. ET.
Pennsylvania is another 10:00 p.m. cutoff state.
Texas typically stops sales at 9:00 p.m. CT.
Basically, if you haven't bought your ticket by 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, you are living dangerously. Some states are even stricter. Washington state often cuts off sales as early as 6:45 p.m. PT. It's a bummer to wait in line only to have the clerk tell you the machine is "down for the draw."
Where Can You Actually Watch?
Long gone are the days when everyone sat huddled around a tube TV to watch the local news broadcast the numbers. Today, it's mostly digital. You can catch the live stream on the official Powerball website or their YouTube channel.
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If you're a fan of the "Double Play" add-on—that extra $1 that gives your numbers a second chance to win in a separate drawing—that happens shortly after the main event. Usually, that secondary drawing occurs between 10:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. CT (which is 11:30 p.m. ET).
What Happens If the Drawing is Delayed?
It doesn't happen often, but it happens. We saw it in November 2022 when a record-breaking $2.04 billion jackpot drawing was delayed by nearly 10 hours.
Why? Because one of the 48 participating lotteries couldn't complete its security protocols. Powerball won't draw until every single state has confirmed its sales data is locked and loaded. If one state has a technical glitch, the whole country waits. In that specific 2022 case, the drawing didn't actually happen until the next morning.
So, if you check your phone at 11:05 p.m. ET and the numbers aren't there, don't panic. It usually just means the "verification process" is taking a few extra minutes.
The Odds and the Reality
Let’s be real for a second. The odds of hitting that jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. To put that in perspective, you are more likely to be struck by lightning while being attacked by a shark.
But people win. On January 14, 2026, for instance, while no one hit the $156 million jackpot, two lucky souls in Texas matched five numbers to snag $1 million each, and someone in Tennessee used the Power Play to turn that same match into $2 million.
The smaller prizes are actually where the action is. Your odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 24.9. That includes the $4 you get for just matching the red Powerball.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning to play the next draw, here is your checklist to make sure you don't get left out:
- Check your local cutoff: Google your specific state lottery (e.g., "Ohio Lottery Powerball cutoff") because some stop sales 59 minutes before the draw, and others stop 2 hours before.
- Use the app: Most states have an official lottery app that will notify you the second the numbers are verified.
- Sign the back: If you buy a physical ticket, sign it immediately. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument," meaning whoever holds it, owns it—unless your name is on the back.
- Double-check "Double Play": If you paid the extra buck for Double Play, remember those numbers are different from the main draw. Don't toss your ticket just because you missed the first set.
The next drawing is scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026. Good luck—and remember to play for fun, not as a retirement plan.