Dice Average Calculator (2024)

If you wondered how to calculate the average dice roll, our dice average calculator is the right tool for you! A die is a standard tool for generating random numbers in various games and activities.

While calculating the average of a d6 (6-face die) may be straightforward, it can become more challenging with, for example, the average of a d10 (10-face die). This is where the dice average calculator comes in handy, providing an efficient and accurate way to calculate the average of a selected set of dice rolls.

Read the following article to learn about the average dice roll formula and check the dice average chart!

What is average?

Before we go into how the dice average calculator works, let's first define what we mean by average. In statistics, the average (or mean) measures the central tendency or the value most representative of a data set.

To calculate the mean of a group of numbers, you add all of them and divide by the total number of values. To understand it better, you can check our average calculator or mean median mode calculator to learn about different central tendency measures.

What is average dice roll?

What exactly is the average value when it comes to the dice roll? When we say the average of a d6 is 3.5, it means that, on average, over a large number of rolls, the expected value of dice would be 3.5.

However, it's important to note that a single roll of a fair six-sided die can only result in one specific outcome (i.e.,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) and may not necessarily match the calculated average. The average is a statistical concept representing the expected value of several dice rolls over many repeated trials.

How to calculate the average dice roll

Calculating the average by adding values and dividing by the total number is a general approach. However, calculating the dice average is a special case when a different formula may be applied. If you want to sum a simple sequence of 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... + n, you can use this simple and elegant average dice roll formula:

m=h+12m=\frac{h+1}{2}m=2h+1

where:

  • mmm — dice average;
  • hhh — the highest value (for example, for a 12-sided dice, the highest value is 12).

🙋 This is a case of every die. It does not matter if you need an average of a d6 or an average of a d10.

Since we want to calculate the average of any number of dice, we should adjust the above dice average formula by multiplying the result by the total number of dice nnn:

m=h+12×nm=\frac{h+1}{2} \times nm=2h+1×n

How to use the average dice roll calculator?

Using the dice average calculator is extremely simple:

  1. First, select the type of die you are using. We will show you the die and its expected value.
  2. Then, enter the number of dice you will be rolling.
  3. And that's it! You can immediately see the result. The dice roll average is what you were looking for.
  4. Check the advanced mode in the dice expected value calculator to see the standard deviation of your average as well.

To roll three six-sided dice, for instance, you can select Cube (6 faces) from the dropdown menu and enter 3 in the Total number of dice field. The calculator will then show 10.5 as the average value of your rolls. If we have just one die, the average of a d6 is 3.5, and so for three dice, we multiply by 3, which gives 10.5.

Or do you want to get an average of a d10 roll? So select Deltohedron (10 faces) and determine how many dice you want to use.

Dice average chart

We prepared the following dice average chart for quick access whenever you need it. Remember, you can use the dice average calculator to get the same results!

No. dice

d4

d6

d8

d10

d12

d20

1

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

10.5

2

5

7

9

11

13

21

3

7.5

10.5

13.5

16.5

19.5

31.5

4

10

14

18

22

26

42

5

12.5

17.5

22.5

27.5

32.5

52.5

Dice average formula and normal distribution

Have you noticed that most dice have an even number of sides? This is one of the reasons why some of the dice roll averages we calculate in the dice expected value calculator are not integers, for instance, 3.53.53.5 as an average of a d6 or 10.510.510.5 for three such dice. Let's see the examples that should explain why it happens like that.

Rolling one 6-sided die can result in six possibilities from 1 to 6. The probability of getting a specific value is the same for all of them and is equal to:

100%616.67%\frac{100\%}{6} \approx 16.67 \%6100%16.67%

These equal chances allow us to find the simple average of the numbers, which is:

1 ⁣+ ⁣2 ⁣+ ⁣3 ⁣+ ⁣4 ⁣+ ⁣5 ⁣+ ⁣66=216=3.5\frac{1\!+\!2\!+\!3\!+\!4\!+\!5\!+\!6}{6} = \frac{21}{6} = 3.561+2+3+4+5+6=621=3.5

Now, what happens if you roll three d6? You need to:

  1. Take into account all the possibilities of 63=2166^3 = 21663=216;
  2. Sum up the values on the three dice and write down the results;
  3. Count how many times you obtain a specific sum;
  4. Select the two sums that appeared most frequently; and
  5. Find their average... or use the die average calculator.

The two most probable sums are 101010 and 111111 (the average is 10.510.510.5) that were rolled out 272727 times each, which is 12.5%12.5\%12.5% of all cases. Next, the sums 999 and 121212 have a 11.57%11.57\%11.57% chance of occurring (252525 times), 888 and 131313 have a 9.72%9.72\%9.72% chance of occurring (212121 times), and so on with other numbers having smaller chances.

The important thing is that when you roll three dice, the sums should be somewhere around 101010 and 111111 in most cases. In the advanced mode of the dice average calculator, we also calculate the standard deviation, which measures the dispersion of the sums around the average value. For three d6, the standard deviation equals 2.9582.9582.958.

Check the below histogram showing the frequency of finding the sums of three dice, which is very similar to the Gaussian distribution explained in the normal distribution calculator. In fact, when you increase the number of rolls, you will quickly approach this distribution!

Dice Average Calculator (1)

What are possible uses for the dice average calculator?

There are plenty of possible applications of the average dice roll calculator:

  • You can use it for educational purposes to better understand statistics and probability, especially if you combine it with using the dice probability calculator.

  • In games, you can use the dice expected value calculator to determine a weapon's average damage output or a monster's average hit points.

  • When preparing your own game, the dice roll average can be helpful in deciding which type of dice to use in an activity.

Don't have a physical dice within reach? No worries! You can always use our dice roller, which allows you to use many different types of dice.

FAQ

How do you find the average of a die?

To find the average of a die:

  1. Add one to the number of sides your die has.
  2. Divide it by two to find die average.
  3. Multiply it by the number of rolled dice.
  4. You will find the dice roll average.

For example, the average of three 6-sided dice is 10.5.

What is the average dice roll of a d20?

The 20-sided die roll has an average of 10.5. Multiply it by the number of dice used if you rolled more than one die. To find this result:

  1. Sum all the possibilities of rolled values from 1 to 20 to obtain 210.

  2. Divide the result by the number of possibilities, i.e., by 20, to get 10.5.

  3. Multiply it by the number of dice you're using.

  4. You can alternatively use the dice average formula:

    average = dice number × (1 + sides) / 2

Do dice rolls average 3.5?

Yes, but only for one 6-sided die. The sum of all the possibilities from 1 to 6 is 21, and divided by the number of sides, you obtain 21/6 = 3.5.

You can use a similar approach to dice roll average for different types of dice, for example, average of a d10, or use the average dice roll formula:

average = (1 + sides) / 2

How do I determine the average rolled on two dice?

The average of two 6-sided dice is 7. To determine it:

  1. Find the die expected value.

  2. It equals one plus die side's number, and then divided by two.

  3. Multiply the result by the total number of dice, i.e., by two, to get the average rolled on two dice.

  4. Following the instruction above, the average of two d6 is 7:

    (1 + 6) / 2 × 2 = 7

Dice Average Calculator (2024)
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