Complete D&D Dice Guide

Everything you need to know about D&D dice — types, sets, materials, and how to choose.

D&D dice are the physical language of the game. Attack rolls, saving throws, damage, hit points, and wild chance all start with a polyhedral set. This hub walks through the dice themselves, what belongs in a starter kit, how materials differ, and how to shop without overbuying.

What “D&D dice” means

When players say they need dice for Dungeons & Dragons, they almost always mean a polyhedral set: four-, six-, eight-, ten-, twelve-, and twenty-sided dice, plus a second d10 used for percentile (d100) rolls. That seven-piece kit is the baseline for 5e and most fantasy TTRPGs.

Physical dice and hit dice are different ideas. Hit dice are a character-sheet resource for healing and HP — not a special eighth shape in the bag. Our hit dice guide covers that mechanic.

Start here

If you are new, read these in order:

  1. What dice do you need for D&D? — the minimum kit and smart extras
  2. D&D dice types explained — what each die is for at the table
  3. How many dice are in a D&D set? — what’s in the box vs what veterans carry
  4. Metal vs resin D&D dice — weight, noise, price, and trays
  5. Best D&D dice — how to pick by budget and style

Prefer browsing products? Shop D&D dice sets, try the Dice Finder, or roll online with the D&D dice roller until your set arrives.

The standard polyhedral set

Die Sides Common uses in 5e
d4 4 Daggers, cantrips, small healing
d6 6 Weapons, Fireball, ability scores (4d6 drop lowest)
d8 8 Martial weapons, many class features
d10 10 Heavy weapons, some spells; paired for d100
d12 12 Greataxes, barbarian rage damage, a few features
d20 20 Attacks, checks, saves — the star of 5e
d100 100 Percentile tables (usually two d10s)

Deep dives: dice types and dice names.

Materials at a glance

  • Resin / acrylic — everyday workhorse; colorful, affordable, travel-friendly
  • Metal — heavy, sharp look, best with a dice tray
  • Liquid-core — moving center for flash and photos; shop liquid-core
  • Gemstone / stone — unique grain and weight; gemstone and stone
  • Wood & glass — warmer or display-forward options

Compare materials in metal vs resin, then browse metal or resin sets.

Buying without regret

  • One good 7-piece set beats three muddy cheap sets you cannot read in dim light.
  • Contrast matters — inked numbers on a clear face beat camouflage swirls for speed.
  • Budget for a tray if you go metal; tables and character sheets will thank you.
  • Add dice later — extra d6s and a second d20 solve most “I need more dice” moments.
  • Test the feel — if you can, compare weight in hand; online, read size and edge notes carefully.

When you are ready to choose, use Best D&D dice or jump into the full D&D dice collection.

Guides in this series

Browse every article below — each one is written to answer a specific shopping or rules question, with links into the store when you want to act on it.