Many people in the UK enjoy playing Thunderball because it offers regular draws and clear ways to win. If you have ever picked your numbers and waited for the results, you may have wondered what happens if only two of your selections come up.
In this guide, we explain how Thunderball prizes work and what matching two numbers really means for your winnings. Whether you play occasionally or are thinking about joining in for the first time, having the right information could make a real difference. Read on to learn more.
What Are the Thunderball Prizes?
Thunderball is a UK lottery game where you choose five main numbers and one separate Thunderball number. Prizes are fixed at each tier, so the amount you win for a matching combination does not change based on how many other people win the same tier. The smallest prize is for matching the Thunderball on its own, and the top prize is for matching all five main numbers plus the Thunderball.
For example, matching all five main numbers and the Thunderball pays £500,000. Other tiers pay amounts such as £3, £5, £10, £20, £100, £250, and £5,000, depending on how many main numbers you match and whether the Thunderball is included.
You can always find the current prize table on the official National Lottery website. If you do decide to try your hand at the thunderball, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose.
Do You Get Anything for 2 Numbers on the Thunderball?
If only two of your chosen numbers come up, you win a prize only when one of them is the Thunderball. Matching one main number plus the Thunderball pays £5. Matching two main numbers without the Thunderball does not pay a prize.
These outcomes are part of the fixed prize table for Thunderball. For the latest details, it might be useful to check the official National Lottery information so you know exactly what to expect.
How Many Numbers Do You Need to Win on Thunderball?
As noted above, the lowest tier is for matching the Thunderball by itself. From there, prizes increase as more of your main numbers match, especially when the Thunderball is included.
The top prize is awarded when all five main numbers and the Thunderball match. If you match five main numbers without the Thunderball, there is still a set payout. To see how each combination is treated, it might help to look at the full breakdown.
Thunderball Prize Breakdown Explained
The Thunderball prize structure is fixed and published in advance. Here is the prize table in plain terms:
- Thunderball only: £3
- 1 main number + Thunderball: £5
- 2 main numbers + Thunderball: £10
- 3 main numbers only: £10
- 3 main numbers + Thunderball: £20
- 4 main numbers only: £100
- 4 main numbers + Thunderball: £250
- 5 main numbers only: £5,000
- 5 main numbers + Thunderball: £500,000
Because the prizes are fixed, amounts are not shared or reduced if many people win at the same tier. The National Lottery website lists the current paytable so you can confirm the figures before a draw.
Odds of Winning a Thunderball Prize
Your chances in Thunderball depend on the combination of numbers you match on a single play. The chance of matching all five main numbers plus the Thunderball is 1 in 8,060,598. Matching just the Thunderball number is 1 in 29. Hitting two main numbers and the Thunderball is 1 in 555. The overall chance of winning any prize with one play is about 1 in 13.
These odds are set out by The National Lottery and do not change based on how many people enter a draw. Each line you play has the same probabilities as any other. With the prize table and odds clear, it is easy to see where two numbers fit in: it only pays when one of them is the Thunderball.
**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.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.