Online Dice Roller Guide: Virtual Dice for Board Games & D&D
An online dice roller is the handiest backup a gamer can have — it rolls any dice you need, adds them up instantly, and never rolls off the table. This guide explains dice notation like 2d6 and 1d20, which polyhedral dice each kind of game uses, and why virtual dice are just as fair as physical ones.
What an Online Dice Roller Does
A virtual dice roller lets you choose how many dice to roll and how many sides they have, then generates a fair random result and totals it for you. It covers the full set of polyhedral dice — D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, and D20 — so it works for everything from a simple board game to a full tabletop role-playing session. Try it on our free online dice roller.
Dice Notation Explained
Tabletop games use a compact shorthand for dice that you will see in rulebooks everywhere. It looks like NdS: a number of dice (N), the letter d, and the number of sides (S). So:
| Notation | Means | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1d6 | One six-sided die | 1–6 |
| 2d6 | Two six-sided dice, added | 2–12 |
| 1d20 | One twenty-sided die | 1–20 |
| 3d8 | Three eight-sided dice, added | 3–24 |
| 4d6 | Four six-sided dice, added | 4–24 |
Sometimes you will see a modifier, like 1d20+5, which just means “roll a d20 and add five to the result.” To use a roller, set the die count and sides to match the notation and add any modifier yourself.
Which Dice Does Each Game Use?
Different games lean on different dice. Most classic board games use one or two D6 — the familiar cube with pips — for movement. Role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons use the whole polyhedral set: the D20 is the workhorse for attack rolls and ability checks, while the D4, D8, D10, and D12 usually handle weapon and spell damage. Two D10 together are used for percentage rolls (00–99). Wargames and many modern board games mix and match, so a roller that covers every die is the most flexible option.
Are Virtual Dice Really Fair?
Yes — arguably fairer than physical dice. A virtual roller uses your device's random number generator, which gives every face an equal chance and treats each roll as independent, exactly like an ideal die. Real dice, by contrast, can be subtly biased by manufacturing flaws, wear, or the way they are thrown; casinos go to great lengths to detect “loaded” dice for this reason. A digital die has no such physical imperfections, so its fairness is as good as the (very good) randomness built into your browser.
Why Use a Dice Roller Instead of Real Dice?
- Nothing to lose. No more hunting under the sofa for a runaway d20.
- Automatic totals. Roll 3d6 and the sum is calculated for you — no mental arithmetic mid-game.
- Always available. Your phone is always in your pocket; a full polyhedral set is not.
- Roll many at once. Roll a fistful of dice in one tap without gathering them all up.
- Works offline. Once loaded, a browser roller keeps working with no connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 2d6 mean?
It means “roll two six-sided dice and add the results,” giving a total from 2 to 12. The first number is how many dice, and the number after the d is how many sides each has.
Are online dice random?
Yes. Each die uses your browser's random number generator, so every face has an equal, independent chance — just like a fair physical die, without any physical bias.
What dice do I need for D&D?
A standard set of seven: D4, D6, D8, D10 (often two, one for percentages), D12, and D20. The D20 is used most often, for attacks and checks. An online roller covers them all.
Start Rolling
Grab a fair roll any time with our free online dice roller. Pick your dice count and type, roll, and get instant totals with a running history. It runs entirely in your browser — no signup, and it works offline once loaded, so it is the perfect backup at the game table.