The Luckiest Numbers in America
Lotteries have long been a favorite game in the United States, with millions of players hoping to win a life changing amount of money. From massive multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions to regional lotteries like Lotto America and Cash4Life, the thrill of the game keeps players drawn in. But beyond the random nature of the game, many players believe in “lucky numbers”, those they see as more likely to bring fortune.
Certain numbers have gained a reputation for being luckier than others. This is usually down to personal superstitions, cultural beliefs, or even statistical patterns. Numbers like 7, 3, and 10 often stand out in public perception, while birthdays and anniversaries are also popular picks. But do these personal favorites actually appear more often in winning lottery draws? To find out, we analyzed real lottery data spanning up to 15 years ago. Across multiple U.S. games, ranking the numbers that have historically been drawn the most.
Top 10 Luckiest Numbers in the U.S.
Our analysis across Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash4Life, Lotto America, and Lucky for Life revealed the numbers that have been drawn the most across all games. These numbers have consistently appeared in winning combinations, making them statistically “luckier” than others.
The Top 10 Most Drawn Lottery Numbers Across All Games:
- Number 10 – 628 total appearances
- Number 15 – 628 total appearances
- Number 1 – 626 total appearances
- Number 38 – 609 total appearances
- Number 8 – 607 total appearances
- Number 31 – 606 total appearances
- Number 28 – 604 total appearances
- Number 3 – 600 total appearances
- Number 5 – 599 total appearances
- Number 36 – 597 total appearances
- Number 6 – 597 total appearances
These numbers have been drawn the most across different lottery games, but the data shows that perception doesn’t always match reality. Many people consider numbers like 7 or 9 to be lucky or unlucky, yet neither ranks in the top 10. This means that lottery luck isn’t based on superstition but rather on random statistical frequency and luck. Popular birthday-related numbers like 1, 8, and 10 do appear frequently, likely reinforcing why players continue to choose them. However, purely random numbers like 38 and 36 also rank high, showing that frequent appearances don’t always align with what players expect to be lucky.
The Luckiest Numbers By State
Beyond looking at overall lottery trends, we also looked at state-specific data to highlight the lucky numbers that appear most frequently across state-wide lotteries.
The top three luckiest numbers across all U.S. states based on total lottery appearances are Number 10, which appears most frequently in multiple states and across different lotteries. Number 1, which is consistently drawn in various state lotteries, reinforcing its high frequency nationwide. And Number 8, which ranks among the most frequently drawn in state-specific games.
While national lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions follow broad trends, individual state lotteries often draw slightly different patterns, and each state has their own lucky number.
The Luckiest Numbers in Each Game
Each lottery operates differently, with unique number pools and drawing methods. This means that some numbers tend to appear more often in certain games than others. Below, we break down the top 3 luckiest numbers in each major U.S. lottery.
In Powerball, number 61 has been drawn the most at 107 times, followed by numbers 21 and 27, which have appeared 104 and 101 times respectively. Powerball remains one of the most popular lotteries in the U.S., known for its record-breaking jackpots. These numbers have had the highest frequency of appearances, making them stand out in the game’s history.
For Mega Millions, the most frequently drawn numbers are 31, which has appeared 66 times, 14 with 67 appearances. 10 and 3 have also been drawn 71 times. Mega Millions players love picking personal milestones like birthdays, but the numbers above have statistically shown up more often in winning combinations.
In Cash4Life, number 13 takes the top spot with 140 appearances, followed by number 5 at 137 and number 26 at 134. Cash4Life offers a unique prize structure where winners receive consistent payouts over time, and these numbers have historically been among the most frequent winners.
Lotto America has its own trends, with number 15 ranking highest at 101 times, followed by number 51 with 100 appearances and number 52 with 99. Lotto America is a smaller but well-loved game, with a strong following in states that participate. These three numbers have led the way in frequency of appearances.
In Lucky for Life, the most commonly drawn numbers match Lotto America’s trends, with number 28 leading at 275 times, followed by number 1 at 274 and number 15 at 263. This pattern suggests that some numbers might perform better in specific draw structures, making them key picks for frequent players.
What This Data Tells Us
Some numbers appear consistently across multiple lotteries – Numbers like 15, 10, and 38 show up in multiple games, reinforcing their statistical luck.
Even “unlucky” numbers make the list – Despite its reputation, 13 appears frequently in Cash4Life, showing that superstitions don’t always align with statistics.
Odd numbers tend to rank higher – Many of the top-performing numbers, including 15, 21, and 27, are odd, potentially influencing player choices.
Lottery players across the U.S. have long believed in lucky numbers, and this data study shows which numbers have historically been the most frequent winners. While some numbers appear more often than others, the reality is that all numbers technically have an equal chance in each draw. However, if you’re looking for inspiration on your next ticket, you might want to keep an eye on 10, 15, and 38, as they’ve proven to be some of the most commonly drawn across multiple games.
At the end of the day, lotteries are a game of chance, and players should always approach them for entertainment rather than expecting guaranteed wins. Whether you believe in lucky numbers or simply enjoy the thrill, this study offers a fun and fascinating look at America’s lottery trends.
Methodology
This analysis was conducted using historical draw data from Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash4Life, Lotto America, and Lucky for Life. The numbers were ranked based on their total number of appearances across all recorded draws that are at least a year old. But going back to 15 years for some of the bigger lotteries where more data was available. The data includes multi-state and regional lotteries, with results normalized to highlight the luckiest numbers across different games. All figures are based on available draw records, and while trends are visible, individual lottery outcomes remain entirely random.