Dice Sets Explained: Materials, Styles, and Uses

Quick answer

Buy dice by material, size, and contrast before you buy by finish. For most RPG players, a full polyhedral set in acrylic or resin is the practical default. For wargamers rolling handfuls of D6, a matched set of standard 12mm dice with high-contrast pips keeps the table readable. Specialty finishes are a want, not a need.

Dice sets look like a simple purchase until you are staring at a wall of resin, metal, acrylic, and gemstone options in five different sizes. The differences that matter at the table are not the ones that photograph best. Material changes weight and feel, size changes how many dice fit in your hand, and contrast decides whether you can read a result from across the table.

This guide breaks down the main types of dice, the materials they are made from, and which sets suit RPG sessions, wargaming, board games, and shared tables. It also covers the trade-offs nobody mentions in product photos, so you can buy dice you will still enjoy rolling a year from now.

The main types of dice and what each one is for

Polyhedral dice are the seven-piece sets used in most roleplaying games: D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20, and usually a second D10 for percentile rolls. If you play Dungeons & Dragons or a similar system, a polyhedral set is the baseline purchase. Wargamers and board gamers mostly need D6s, often in bulk, because rules call for rolling several at once.

The practical question is quantity, not variety. A single polyhedral set covers one player at an RPG table. A wargame that asks you to roll ten or twenty D6s needs a pile of identical dice, not a mixed bag. Decide how many dice you roll in a typical turn before you decide how fancy they should be.

• RPG players: one full polyhedral set per player, plus a spare D20 for advantage rolls.
• Wargamers: matched D6s in a consistent size so handfuls roll evenly.
• Board gamers: check the rulebook first, since many games supply their own custom dice.

Dice materials: what changes at the table

Acrylic is the standard material for gaming dice. It is light, inexpensive, and available in every color and pattern, which is why most starter sets use it. The trade-off is that acrylic dice feel hollow and can chip if they are dropped on a hard floor. For casual play, that is usually fine.

Resin and gemstone dice are denser and heavier in the hand, and they tend to have sharper edges and deeper color. They cost more and deserve a dice tray, because a heavy die landing on a miniature or a card can do real damage. Metal dice sit at the far end of that scale: excellent presence, noticeable weight, and the loudest roll at the table.

• Acrylic: best value, widest choice, fine for travel and loaner sets.
• Resin and gemstone: heavier feel and sharper detail, better kept in a tray.
• Metal: durable and satisfying, but heavy and noisy, so check table rules before buying.

Size, readability, and why contrast beats finish

Standard 16mm dice are the common size for RPG sets, while 12mm dice are easier to hold in quantity and are popular for wargaming. Smaller dice save table space but can be harder to read in low light. Larger dice are easier to see but take up more room in a dice bag and cost more per die.

Contrast matters more than any finish. Crisp pips or deeply engraved numbers in a color that stands out from the body let you read results at a glance, even across a table. A beautiful translucent die with low-contrast numbering is a display piece, not a workhorse. If you roll dozens of dice per game, prioritize legibility over looks.

• Check the die size in the product listing before buying a full set.
• Look for a clear color break between the body and the numbers.
• For shared tables, buy one readable set rather than several decorative ones.

How many dice do you actually need

One polyhedral set per player is the standard starting point for RPGs. If you are the regular game master, two sets give you spares when a die goes missing or a player forgets theirs. For wargaming, count the largest number of dice a single attack or test requires, then buy at least that many matching D6s.

Buying in matched sets also keeps rolls consistent. Mixed sizes and materials roll differently, and at a competitive table that inconsistency is a distraction. If you only need a handful of dice, buy a small set now and add a second later rather than overbuying a bulk bag you will never finish using.

• RPG: one polyhedral set per player, two for the game master.
• Wargaming: enough matched D6s to cover your largest single roll.
• Board games: check whether the game already includes the dice you need.

Decision rules for buying dice sets

• Match material to table surface: If you roll on a bare wooden or glass table, acrylic or resin dice are the safer default. Metal and gemstone dice hit hard and can mark surfaces or knock over miniatures. Buy a dice tray before you buy heavy dice.
• Match size to how many dice you roll: Rolling one D20 per turn suits a standard 16mm set. Rolling ten or more D6s per turn favors 12mm dice that fit comfortably in one hand. Count your largest single roll, then buy that many dice in one size.
• Prioritize contrast over finish: A plain die with crisp, high-contrast pips reads faster than a decorative die with subtle numbering, especially in low light or across a table. If you can only judge one thing from a photo, judge readability.
• Buy matched sets for competitive play: Mixed materials and sizes roll differently from one another. At a tournament or league table, a uniform set removes one variable and looks deliberate. For events, buy enough identical dice in a single purchase.
• Treat specialty dice as a second purchase: Metal, gemstone, and heavily themed dice are enjoyable, but they cost more and need more care. Start with a practical set and add a display set later. Buy the working set first, the showpiece second.

Examples from the Frontline Gaming catalog

• FLG Dice: Blackout Edition: Each 12mm D6 is black with white pips, and the six face is replaced by the FLG logo. The high-contrast pips make results easy to read, and the 12mm size suits wargamers who roll several D6s at once.
• FLG Mats: Civic Cobblestone: This neoprene mat is not designed for small scale, and its cobblestones are styled more like boulders. It pairs well with larger-scale wargaming, but if you play skirmish games with small miniatures, choose a different mat style.
• FLG Mats: Black Alien Wasteland: The neoprene material is a heavy-duty option with cushioning that protects falling game pieces and dice. A cushioned mat softens dice rolls and reduces the chance of chipped dice or damaged miniatures.

Who should buy which dice set

Best for

• RPG players who need one complete polyhedral set with a readable D20
• Wargamers rolling handfuls of matched 12mm D6s
• Game masters who want a spare set for players who forget theirs

Not for

• Players who only need the custom dice already included with a board game
• Anyone buying for a glass table without a dice tray, if they plan on metal or gemstone dice
• Collectors looking for a display piece rather than a set they will roll weekly

Start with the material, size, and contrast that match how you actually play, then let color and finish decide between two otherwise equal sets. A practical set you roll every week beats a beautiful one that stays in the bag.