Is your ticket number lucky?
Checks a number against the classic equal-halves rule.
4, 6, 8 or 10 digits. Leading zeros are counted.
The classic rule
A ticket is lucky if the sum of the digits in the first half of the number equals the sum in the second half. For the six-digit "123321" that is 1+2+3 = 6 and 3+2+1 = 6 — lucky. For "123456" it is 6 versus 15 — ordinary. The rule works for an even number of digits: four, six, eight and ten.
Why this is a tradition, not a probability calculation
Lucky tickets were invented on public transport as a little game, and the rule has no more mathematical meaning than looking for matching digits on a clock. What is worth knowing is different: the share of lucky numbers is small. About 5–6% of six-digit tickets qualify, and around 7% of four-digit ones. So you catch a lucky ticket on average once every twenty rides, not every other time.
How to check
Enter the number as is — you do not have to remove spaces and hyphens, they are ignored. Leading zeros matter: "001234" and "1234" are checked differently because their digit sums differ. The breakdown is shown below the result: which digits added up in each half and with what total.
The check runs locally, the number is not sent anywhere. If you want to check a whole batch of numbers, a console or spreadsheet is more convenient — this tool is designed for a single ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Which ticket numbers count as lucky?
The classic rule: the digits of the first half add up to the same as the second. It works for an even number of digits — 4, 6, 8 or 10.
Are leading zeros taken into account?
Yes, the number is checked in full including leading zeros: "001234" and "1234" are different tickets with different sums.
Why can’t a number with an odd number of digits be checked?
Under the classic rule the halves must be the same length. Other, less common rules exist for odd lengths, and we do not mix them with the main one.
Related tools
Checked: 26 October 2026. For reference only — the result depends on the material and the skill of the installer.