Playing EuroMillions can be exciting because there are many ways to land a prize, not only for matching every number. If you are new or just curious, knowing which number combinations lead to wins makes the whole thing easier to follow.
This guide explains the main winning combinations, how many numbers are needed for each prize tier, how payouts are worked out, how Lucky Stars shape the odds, and how prizes are shared. You will also find simple examples that show how different matches tend to pay.
Read on to learn more.
What Are The EuroMillions Winning Combinations?
EuroMillions uses five main numbers and two Lucky Stars. Each line you play has these seven selections, and prizes are awarded when your numbers match those drawn. The more matches you have, the higher the tier you reach.
The jackpot is won by matching all five main numbers plus both Lucky Stars. You can also win with fewer matches. For instance, matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star sits just below the jackpot, and five main numbers without any Lucky Stars is a tier of its own.
Lower tiers include combinations of main numbers and Lucky Stars, such as four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, four main numbers and one Lucky Star, or three main numbers with one or two Lucky Stars. You can also receive a prize with smaller matches, like two main numbers, or with certain mixes that include Lucky Stars.
In the UK, each draw also includes Millionaire Maker. A unique code printed on your ticket is entered into a separate draw, and one code is guaranteed to win £1,000,000 in every standard draw.
Now that the structure is clear, how many matches do you actually need to see a return?
How Many Numbers Do I Need To Win A EuroMillions Prize?
You can win a prize with several different combinations. The simplest is matching two main numbers. There are also prizes for certain Lucky Star mixes, including one main number plus both Lucky Stars, and two main numbers plus one Lucky Star.
At the top end, the jackpot requires all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars. Between those two ends, prize tiers cover familiar milestones, such as five main numbers with one Lucky Star, five main numbers alone, four main numbers with one or two Lucky Stars, and three main numbers with or without Lucky Stars.
All combinations are checked against the numbers drawn, and results vary by draw.
Prize Tiers And Required Matches
EuroMillions has 13 prize tiers, each defined by how many main numbers and Lucky Stars you match. Each tier has its own odds and typical payout level, with the jackpot at the top.
Odds For Each Prize Tier
The chance of matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to win the jackpot is around 1 in 139,838,160. Matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star is about 1 in 6,991,908, while five main numbers with no Lucky Stars is roughly 1 in 3,107,515.
For four main numbers and two Lucky Stars, the odds are close to 1 in 621,503. As you move to tiers that require fewer matches, the odds improve. For example, matching two main numbers is around 1 in 22, and the overall chance of winning any prize is much better than the jackpot odds, as there are many more routes into the lower tiers.
Typical Prize Range For Each Tier
The jackpot is the largest prize and can roll over when it is not won, which allows it to grow. Just below that, five main numbers and one Lucky Star has recently paid in the region of £130,000, while five main numbers without Lucky Stars has been around £13,000 in typical draws.
Mid-level tiers, such as four main numbers with one or two Lucky Stars, often pay from tens to several hundreds of pounds. For smaller matches, such as three main numbers or three main numbers plus one Lucky Star, payouts are usually in single digits to low double digits. The prize for matching two main numbers is £2.50 in the UK.
Exact amounts change from draw to draw because most tiers share a percentage of the prize fund and are influenced by ticket sales and the number of winners.
How Are EuroMillions Prizes Calculated And Paid?
Prizes come from a shared prize fund for each draw, which makes the jackpot possible while still supporting lower tiers.
How Prizes Are Calculated
A set percentage of ticket sales forms the prize pool. That pool is split across the tiers, with higher tiers receiving larger shares. Most tiers are pari-mutuel, which means the money for a tier is divided equally among all tickets that qualify for that tier in that draw. In the UK, the prize for matching two main numbers is a fixed £2.50, but other non-jackpot tiers vary.
Special UK draws also include Millionaire Maker. Every valid UK ticket gets a unique code, and the code that matches the one drawn wins £1,000,000. On promotional nights, there can be multiple winning codes.
How Prizes Are Paid
How you are paid depends on where and how you bought your ticket, and on the size of the win. Online wins are usually credited to your account, while very large prizes involve an in-person claims process and identity checks. Prizes are paid as a lump sum. The published results for each draw confirm the value of each tier and how many winners there were.
With the mechanics in place, it helps to understand the role of Lucky Stars in nudging tickets up or down the tiers.
How Do Lucky Stars Affect Your Chances?
Lucky Stars are crucial because they create extra combinations. Many tiers require one or both Lucky Stars alongside your main numbers, and this is why two tickets with the same number of main matches can still land in different tiers.
For example, three main numbers and one Lucky Star is a different tier to three main numbers on their own, and the version with a Lucky Star generally pays more. At the top, both Lucky Stars are needed along with all five main numbers to reach the jackpot.
Put simply, Lucky Stars do not replace main-number matches, but they can lift a line into a higher-paying tier when combined with main matches.
Examples Of Winning Combinations And Prize Outcomes
Here are a few examples to show how combinations map to prizes. Amounts are indicative and can change from draw to draw.
A ticket that matches all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars wins the jackpot. Five main numbers and one Lucky Star has recently paid around £130,000, while five main numbers without Lucky Stars has been about £13,000.
Further down, four main numbers and two Lucky Stars has often been in the hundreds of pounds, while three main numbers and one Lucky Star tends to be a small cash amount, often a few pounds. Matching two main numbers pays £2.50 in the UK.
Alongside the main game, the UK-only Millionaire Maker guarantees one £1,000,000 winner per standard draw via a separate code.
Do Multiple Winners Share The Jackpot?
Yes. If more than one ticket matches all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars in the same draw, the jackpot is split equally between all winning tickets. So if the jackpot is £50 million and there are two winners, each receives £25 million.
This shared approach only applies to the top tier. For the other tiers, each qualifying ticket receives the same amount for that draw, based on the allocation to that tier and the number of winners.
EuroMillions draws are random and outcomes cannot be guaranteed. If you choose to take part, set a sensible limit and only spend what you can afford.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.