Thunderball Prize Breakdown: What You Win for Each Match
This is an editorial guide provided for information only. fortunegames.com is an online slots site and is not affiliated with, nor an agent of, the National Lottery, Allwyn or People's Postcode Lottery. Prizes, odds and ticket prices are set by the relevant operator and can change — always check the official site for the latest details.
Thunderball is the National Lottery game with a fixed £500,000 top prize and nine ways to win. Because the prizes are fixed, you know exactly what each match is worth before you play — the amount never changes based on how many people win. Here's the full breakdown.
How Thunderball works
You pick five main numbers from 1–39 and one Thunderball from a separate set of 1–14. Each line costs £1, and draws take place four times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Matching just the Thunderball on its own guarantees a prize.
The full Thunderball prize table
| Match | Prize | Odds of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 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 3,647 |
| 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 |
What you win for 2 numbers
This is the most-asked Thunderball question, and the answer surprises people: matching two main numbers alone wins nothing. You only win with two numbers if you also match the Thunderball, in which case you get £10. Without the Thunderball, you need at least three main numbers to win.
The odds of winning anything
The overall odds of winning any Thunderball prize are about 1 in 13 — among the better odds of the UK draw games, largely because the smallest prize only requires the Thunderball itself. The trade-off is a smaller, fixed top prize compared with Lotto or EuroMillions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the £500,000 ever shared?
No — every prize tier is a fixed amount paid in full to each winner, save for an extremely rare capping rule.
Are winnings taxed?
No, UK lottery winnings are tax-free.
How long do I have to claim?
Prizes are typically claimable for 180 days after the draw.