Set For Life is a popular lottery game in the UK, with draws taking place every Monday and Thursday. If you're considering taking part, it’s useful to understand how the prize structure works.
This blog post offers a straightforward breakdown of the prizes, with a particular focus on what you can win by matching two main numbers. It also explains how the prize tiers are organised and the role of the Life Ball. You’ll find clear information about the odds of winning, including those for the top prize.
Read on to learn more.
What Are The Set For Life Prizes?
Set For Life is a National Lottery game where players choose five main numbers from 1 to 47 and one Life Ball from 1 to 10. Prizes depend on the combination matched in a draw.
The top prize is £10,000 every month for 30 years when all five main numbers plus the Life Ball are matched. The second prize is £10,000 every month for one year for matching five main numbers without the Life Ball. Below these, most prizes are fixed cash amounts paid as single lump sums.
Prize amounts and conditions are set out in the published game rules and prize table. In rare cases, procedures such as prize capping can apply, particularly if there are many winners in the same tier, and the official rules explain how that is handled. That being said, prize capping typically applies only to the top two annuity prize tiers in exceptional cases when there are multiple winners.
Do You Get Anything For 2 Numbers?
Because the Life Ball is so important in this game, matching only two main numbers does not pay a prize. However, matching two main numbers and the Life Ball does pay a fixed, low-tier cash prize of £10.
For context, the Life Ball can also make a difference at even lower levels. For example, matching one main number and the Life Ball pays £5, whereas one main number on its own does not pay. Checking tickets carefully for both the main numbers and the Life Ball is therefore essential.
How Does The Set For Life Prize Breakdown Work?
Each tier is defined by how many main numbers and whether the Life Ball is matched. Higher tiers pay more, and the two annuity prizes sit at the top.
Here is the standard prize structure:
- Match 5 main numbers + Life Ball: £10,000 every month for 30 years
- Match 5 main numbers only: £10,000 every month for 1 year
- Match 4 main numbers + Life Ball: £250
- Match 4 main numbers only: £50
- Match 3 main numbers + Life Ball: £30
- Match 3 main numbers only: £20
- Match 2 main numbers + Life Ball: £10
- Match 1 main number + Life Ball: £5
Matching only the Life Ball, or matching main numbers without meeting one of the combinations above, does not pay a prize. The National Lottery website publishes the definitive, current table.
What Happens If You Match More Than 2 Numbers?
If you go beyond two matches, prize values step up. The Life Ball acts like a booster across almost every tier, increasing the amount compared with the same count of main numbers alone.
For example, matching three main numbers pays £20, but three plus the Life Ball pays £30. Four main numbers pays £50, while four plus the Life Ball pays £250. The biggest jump is at the top: five main numbers without the Life Ball pays £10,000 a month for a year, and adding the Life Ball elevates that to £10,000 a month for 30 years.
These fixed differences between neighbouring tiers are what make the Life Ball so influential across the prize ladder.
Set For Life Top Prize Explained
The headline prize is £10,000 paid every month for 30 years, awarded for matching five main numbers and the Life Ball in a single draw. Once a winning ticket is verified, payments are made monthly to the winner’s chosen account, in line with the game’s rules.
More than one ticket can win the top prize in the same draw. If that happens, each qualifying ticket is treated as a top-tier winner, subject to any capping procedures set out in the rules. The prize is designed as an annuity-style series of payments rather than a single lump sum, which is one of the defining features of Set For Life.
If you are interested in the finer points, such as the claim period, verification steps, and how prize capping works in exceptional circumstances, the official game rules provide the full details.
Odds Of Winning A Set For Life Prize
Set For Life has several prize tiers, so the chances of winning depend on how many numbers are matched and whether the Life Ball is included. The odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 12.4 per line. Hitting the top prize by matching five main numbers plus the Life Ball has odds of around 1 in 15,339,390.
As you move down the table, the odds improve and the prize amounts reduce. That is why combinations such as two main numbers and the Life Ball are more common than top-tier wins, yet they pay much smaller fixed sums. The exact odds for each tier are listed on the National Lottery website and are worth reviewing before taking part.
Understanding how the tiers, payouts and odds work makes it easier to decide whether to play and what to expect. Keep a clear budget, treat each line as a cost, and only play if it stays affordable.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**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.