Pick a number from 1 to 6
This page is a random number generator 1-6 that works as a stand-in for a six-sided die. Six equal slices sit on a wheel, one spin picks one of them, and a window shows the number. It is free, it runs in your browser, and nothing can roll under the sofa.
The wheel opens ready on 1 to 6, so you can press Spin straight away. It suits board games with lost dice, quick decisions between up to six options, and anyone who wants a random number 1-6 without owning a die.
How to use the 1-6 dice wheel
- Press Spin. You can also click the wheel or press Ctrl (⌘ on a Mac) plus Enter.
- Read the number that appears in the result window. Treat it as the face that came up.
- Leave No repeats off so every spin can land on any number, as a real roll can. A 4 can follow a 4.
- Check the Results tab if anyone asks what came up last time. It lists every spin, newest first.
Is a number wheel as fair as a die?
Each number has a one-in-six chance, about 16.7%, on every spin. That matches a fair six-sided die. The number is chosen by your browser’s secure random number generator, then the wheel is turned to stop on it. The spin is for watching the result arrive and never affects it. The how WheelSpinny picks page covers it step by step.
A real die can be slightly uneven if it is worn, chipped or cheaply made. A wheel that picks the number first does not have that problem. What it lacks is the sound and feel of a roll, which some players prefer.
Replace dice in a board game
Most classic board games ask for one six-sided die per turn. Spin once for each move and play as usual. Because the Results tab keeps a log, a disputed roll can be checked by looking at the list instead of trusting memory.
Games that need two dice add a wrinkle. Spinning twice and adding the numbers gives the same totals as two dice, and totals near the middle come up more often than the extremes. A 7 is the most common total, with a one-in-six chance, while a 2 or a 12 each has a one-in-thirty-six chance. For two or more dice rolled together, the dice roller shows the total and the exact odds.
Other uses for a number 1 through 6
- Roll for a chore or a prize. Write six options on paper, number them 1 to 6, and spin to pick one.
- Role-playing games. Roll for loot, weather or a random encounter when the table says “roll a d6”.
- Teach probability. Spin thirty times and tally each number. Each should come up around five times, but rarely exactly five, which shows that fair does not mean even in a short run.
- Classroom games. Number six reading groups, six tables or six topics, and spin to choose.
- Pick a menu. Number six dishes for the week, then spin with No repeats to put them in order.
- Move a counter. Spin and count the squares on a hand-drawn game board.
When one die is not what you need
For a coin-style choice between two things, use the 1 to 2 wheel or the coin flip. For an eight-sided die, try the 1 to 8 page. For a d20, there is a 1 to 20 wheel, and the dice roller also handles notation such as 2d6+3.
You can change the range on this page at any time by editing From and To beside the wheel. The general random number generator adds steps and left-out numbers.
Six options, one spin
A six-number wheel is also a decision tool. Any list of up to six choices can be numbered and handed to the wheel: six films, six restaurants, six weekend plans. Write them down with their numbers first, so the result needs no interpretation.
If your list is shorter than six, do not leave blank numbers. Change To to the number of options you have, so every slice matches a real choice. A wheel with five numbers and a spare sixth would hand one in six spins to nothing, and you would only have to spin again.
If you have more than six, move up to the 1 to 7 or 1 to 12 page, or type your options into the random name picker so the wheel shows words instead of numbers. Either way, every option keeps the same chance.
Rolling more than once
Some games say “roll again on a six”. That is easy here: spin, and if a 6 comes up, spin once more and add the numbers. Each spin is independent, so the chance of a 6 stays one in six every time, however many sixes came before.
Good to know
- The wheel holds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, with both ends included.
- Your range and settings are saved in your own browser, and the Results tab lasts until you close or reload the page. Nothing is sent to a server.
- It works on phones, tablets and desktops, and with a keyboard. The result is announced to screen readers.
- A device set to reduce motion skips the long spin.
- It is made for games and decisions, not for gambling, security or regulated draws.