How often do consecutive Mega Millions numbers turn up together?
Mega Millions has been drawn as 5 numbers from 70 plus a Mega Ball from 24 since April 2025. Everything on this page counts only the 158 draws since that change.
25.3% of Mega Millions draws contain at least one pair of neighbouring numbers, like 17and18. Chance predicts 26.2%.
Across 158 draws, 40 had a neighbouring pair where 41 were predicted. Three in a row turned up 0 times against a predicted 2. Draws that look "too tidy" turn up about as often as the arithmetic says they should.
What was measured
Red marks a figure outside the range ordinary variation produces
How to read this what counts as a pair
A neighbouring pair is two numbers one apart, such as 17and18, both in the same draw. Three in a row is three numbers like 171819. Each draw was sorted and checked for both.
The chance prediction is exact. The number of ways to choose 5 numbers with a given number of neighbouring pairs is a counting formula, so no simulation is involved. It is worked out for each draw using that draw's own pool and then added up, because the pool changed size during the record and a larger pool makes neighbours less likely.
How many pairs a draw holds 158 draws
| Neighbouring pairs in the draw | Draws | Predicted | vs chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 118 | 117 | +1.1% |
| One pair | 38 | 38 | +1.0% |
| Two pairs | 2 | 4 | -44.2% |
| Three or more | 0 | 0 | -100.0% |
Predicted counts add up each draw's own chance, using that draw's pool.
Which neighbouring pair has come up most 69 pairs ranked
Together most often
| Pair | Together | Predicted | vs chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37and38 | 3 | 0.7 | +358.5% |
| 41and42 | 3 | 0.7 | +358.5% |
| 57and58 | 3 | 0.7 | +358.5% |
| 10and11 | 2 | 0.7 | +205.7% |
| 31and32 | 2 | 0.7 | +205.7% |
Together least often
| Pair | Together | Predicted | vs chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69and70 | 0 | 0.7 | -100.0% |
| 68and69 | 0 | 0.7 | -100.0% |
| 66and67 | 0 | 0.7 | -100.0% |
| 65and66 | 0 | 0.7 | -100.0% |
| 61and62 | 0 | 0.7 | -100.0% |
A pair is compared only with the draws it could have appeared in, so a pair that exists only under the larger pool is measured over those draws alone.
The recent run latest 140 draws
In the last 100 draws, 21.0% held a neighbouring pair. Over the whole record it is 25.3%, and chance predicts 26.2% for these draws. That is inside the range ordinary variation allows for 100 draws.
result for the blockrange ordinary variation allowsoutside that range
A good run says where the measure has been, not where it is going. Each draw is drawn afresh, and a neighbouring pair is exactly as likely next time as it was before.
Applied to the latest draw draw 158 · 2026-10-09
This draw held no neighbouring pair. Of the five pairs that have come up together most often, 0 appeared in it.
The chance of a given neighbouring pair showing up together in the next draw is 0.41%, the same for every pair, however often it has come up before.
Why the top pair is not a discovery
37and38 lead the list, together 3 times against 0.7 predicted (+358.5%). It is the best of 69 pairs, and the best of 69 tries is above average by definition: rank any 69 pairs of a random record and one has to come first.
3 of the 69 pairs sit more than two standard errors from their predicted count. With 69 tries, about 3.1 would be expected to do that by chance alone. The lowest, 69and70, is the mirror image and means as little. Nothing here says anything about the next draw.
What to ask next
Related statistics
Share this page
If this report does not answer your question, tell us what you need and we will look at building it. Contact