How to Play Iowa Pick 3
50¢–$5 a play · Every day · 12:20 PM and 10:00 PM CT
- 1Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or get an Easy Pick (Quick Pick), a $1 Straight/Box.
- 2Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front Pair or Back Pair.
- 3Choose 50¢, $1, $2, $3, $4 or $5 a play. Straight/Box is $1 or more.
- 4Choose Midday, Evening or both, for up to 16 drawings in a row.
Ways to play
- StraightMatch all 3 digits in the exact order drawn.
- BoxMatch all 3 digits in any order.
- Straight/BoxA Straight and a Box on one number, at half the wager each.
- Front PairMatch the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Back PairMatch the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
You must be 21 or older to buy a ticket or claim a prize. Sales stop 20 minutes before each drawing. See every prize
More Pick 3 rulesStraight · Box · Straight/Box · Front Pair · Back Pair · Prizes · Liability limit · Advance Play
- Straight
- Match all 3 digits in the exact order drawn.
- Box
- Match all 3 digits in any order. Two of the same digit, like 112, make a 3-way Box, and three different digits, like 123, a 6-way Box: the fewer orders, the bigger the prize.
- Straight/Box
- Your wager is split evenly between a Straight and a Box on the same number, so a $1 Straight/Box is a 50¢ Straight and a 50¢ Box. The exact order wins both prizes, and any other order wins the Box prize. Straight/Box is $1 to $5, and an Easy Pick is always a $1 Straight/Box.
- Front Pair
- Pick 2 digits. Win if they match the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Back Pair
- Pick 2 digits. Win if they match the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Prizes
- Every Pick 3 prize is a set amount fixed by the wager: a $1 play pays twice what a 50¢ play does, and $2 to $5 plays two to five times the $1 prize. Pick 3 only pays cash, all at once.
- Liability limit
- Pick 3 pays set prizes, so the lottery can cap what it will owe on any one number in a drawing. Once a number reaches the cap, it's sold out until the next drawing.
- Advance Play
- One ticket plays the same numbers for up to 8 Midday or 8 Evening drawings in a row, or 16 drawings if you play both.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
You can't change Pick 3's odds.
You can pick better scratch-offs.
The best Iowa scratch-offs right now have up to x808 better big prize odds for $100 to $10K+ prizes.
Every Iowa scratch-off ranked by today's odds- The best tickets for your budget and the prize you want
- A free app, built on official Iowa Lottery data
More for Pick 3 Players
When it’s drawn, where to cash a win, and how other games are played.
Good to know
- Before You PlayIowa Lottery Draw Times Midday 12:20 PM, Evening 10:00 PM CT, every day. Sales stop 20 minutes before each drawing.
- After You WinHow to Claim an Iowa Lottery Prize Up to $600 at any lottery retailer. You have 90 days to claim.
- Keep MoreIowa Lottery Tax Calculator Iowa taxes winnings at 3.8%. 3.8% state tax is withheld from prizes over $600, plus 24% federal tax from prizes over $5,000.
How other Iowa games are played
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Iowa Pick 3 rules
How do you play Iowa Pick 3?
Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or get an Easy Pick (Quick Pick), a $1 Straight/Box. Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front Pair or Back Pair. Choose 50¢, $1, $2, $3, $4 or $5 a play. Straight/Box is $1 or more. Choose Midday, Evening or both, for up to 16 drawings in a row.
What are the ways to play Pick 3?
Straight: Match all 3 digits in the exact order drawn. Box: Match all 3 digits in any order. Straight/Box: A Straight and a Box on one number, at half the wager each. Front Pair: Match the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order. Back Pair: Match the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
How much is a Pick 3 ticket in Iowa?
50¢–$5 a play.
How late can you buy Iowa Pick 3 tickets?
The Iowa Pick 3 cutoff time is 20 minutes before each drawing: 12:00 PM CT for the 12:20 PM Midday drawing and 9:40 PM CT for the 10:00 PM Evening drawing.
Still have questions? Email our support team
Download Free
Ready to Play Smarter?
Join 50,000+ players who've stopped guessing and started winning more. Download free—no credit card, no commitment. Your state's best games are waiting.
Free forever - No card requiredFree forever - No credit card required
Real-time odds from 41+ statesReal-time odds - Updated daily from 41+ states
Optimized for your budget & goalSmart recommendations - Optimized for your budget and goal
Find best game in 30 secondsSimple & fast - Find the best game within 30 seconds
Scan to Download
iOS & Android
100% Legal & Free Forever100% Legal & Transparent•Free forever plan available