The last time you can buy a Powerball ticket depends on the state where you are playing. In most places it is roughly 1–2 hours before the drawing.
General cutoff window
Most jurisdictions stop Powerball sales about 1 to 2 hours before the drawing time of 10:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. This means many East Coast players can usually buy until around 9:45–10:00 p.m. local, while some states cut off a bit earlier.
State and time zone differences
Cutoff rules are set by each state lottery, so the exact “latest” time varies. For example, some West Coast and Mountain Time states may stop sales as early as around 6:45–7:00 p.m. local on draw nights, while Central Time states are often around 8:59 p.m. local.
Best way to know your exact deadline
The precise answer for you comes down to your state and whether you are buying at a retailer or through an online courier/app, which can have even earlier cutoffs. To avoid missing out, check your state lottery’s official website or ask a local retailer what time they stop selling Powerball on draw days, and try to buy at least a couple of hours before the drawing.