How to Roll Virtual Dice Online: d6, d20, and Dice Notation Explained

Virtual dice are perfect when the real dice are in another room, lost under the sofa, or needed by a whole online group at once. But dice notation like 2d6 or 1d20 confuses many beginners. This guide explains how to roll virtual dice online, what the notation means, and what the odds actually are.

What dice notation means

Dice notation has three parts: the number of dice, the letter d, and the number of sides. So 1d6 means one six-sided die. 2d6 means two six-sided dice added together. 1d20 means one twenty-sided die. A plus or minus at the end adds a modifier: 1d20+5 means roll a twenty-sided die and add five to the result. That is the whole system, and every tabletop game uses it.

The common dice, and what they are for

d6, six sides. The classic board game die. Used in Monopoly-style games, classroom games, and many board games.
d20, twenty sides. The main die in Dungeons and Dragons and similar role-playing games. One roll often decides success or failure.
d4, d8, d10, d12, d100. Used for damage, random tables, and percentage rolls in role-playing games.
2d6. Two six-sided dice together. The result ranges from 2 to 12, but 7 is the most common, because more combinations add up to 7 than to any other number.

Roll virtual dice in three steps

Open the free dice roller below. No app, no sign up.
Pick your dice. Choose the type, such as d6 or d20, and how many to roll.
Roll and read the result. The tool shows each die and the total, so everyone in the group sees the same result.

Understanding the odds, simply

A single die gives every number an equal chance. A d20 gives each number from 1 to 20 a one-in-twenty chance. But two dice together do not give equal chances: with 2d6, there is only one way to roll a 2, but six ways to roll a 7. That is why 7 comes up most often, and why game designers use 2d6 when they want results to cluster in the middle. Knowing this helps you judge whether a roll was lucky or just normal.

Uses beyond tabletop games

Teachers use virtual dice for classroom games, random student picks, and maths lessons about probability. Board game groups use them when playing online, so everyone sees the same roll. Writers use them for random story prompts. Families use them when the board game box is missing a die. A virtual roller is also fair: it cannot be loaded or misread, and the result is visible to all.

Try the free dice roller

The roller below handles d6, d20, and other dice, plus notation like 2d6+3. Use it for your next game night, classroom activity, or online session. Roll, read the total, and play on. No dice to lose, no arguments about what was rolled.

Fairness and fun in online games

When a group plays online, trust matters as much as luck. A shared virtual roller shows the same result to everyone at the same time, so nobody can claim a different roll or re-roll quietly. Agree on the rules before the first roll: which dice, which modifiers, and what happens on a natural twenty or a natural one. Write the agreed rules in the group chat so new players can see them. If a roll is disputed, re-roll openly rather than arguing about the first result. Games stay fun when the dice are visible and the rules are clear. A virtual roller also keeps a record of recent rolls in many tools, which helps settle the friendly argument about who has been luckiest all evening.