Magic 8 Ball
Type a question, give the ball a shake and watch the answer float up. Twenty answers, the same split as the classic toy. Just for fun.
Ask a yes-or-no question, then shake.
- Small decisionsPizza or tacos, text them now or later. Let the ball break the tie.
- Party funPass the phone around and ask the ball the questions nobody wants to answer.
- Stream and classroomA quick, harmless way to answer chat or class questions on screen.
- Gut checkNotice whether you feel relieved or disappointed by the answer. That is your real answer.
How to ask the magic 8 ball
Ask a yes-or-no question
The answers only make sense for questions like Should I or Will it. Open questions like What should I eat get odd replies.
Shake
Press the button, tap the ball, or turn on phone shake on a mobile device and shake it for real.
Read the triangle
The answer appears on the blue triangle and is saved in your recent answers below.
A faithful take on the classic toy
All 20 magic 8 ball answers and the odds
The toy contains a 20-sided die, an icosahedron, with one answer on each face. Half of the faces are positive, a quarter are non-committal and a quarter are negative, so a yes-ish answer comes up 50 percent of the time and a clear no only 25 percent of the time. This online ball keeps that split, with answers in our own wording.
| Type | Answers | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | It is certain · Definitely so · No doubt at all · Yes, count on it · You can rely on it | 25% |
| Positive | As I see it, yes · Very likely · Outlook is good · Yes · Signs say yes | 25% |
| Non-committal | Too hazy, try again · Ask me later · Better not say now · Cannot tell yet · Focus and ask again | 25% |
| Negative | Do not count on it · My answer is no · My sources say no · Outlook not so good · Very doubtful | 25% |
A short history of the magic 8 ball
The idea is usually traced to Albert C. Carter in Cincinnati, who built a fortune-telling tube filled with liquid in the 1940s, reportedly inspired by his mother’s work as a spiritualist. Carter and his partner Abe Bookman sold it through their company, Alabe Crafts.
Around 1950 the tube was redesigned as a black pool ball, commonly said to be a promotional item for the billiards company Brunswick, and the familiar Magic 8 Ball shape was born. The brand later passed through several toy companies, including Ideal, and today it is owned by Mattel.
Dates in toy histories vary between sources. The outline above is the commonly reported version.
Using the ball to make decisions
A magic 8 ball cannot know anything, which is exactly why it helps. When you are stuck between two equal options, an outside answer forces you to react. If the ball says no and you feel a flash of disappointment, you already wanted yes.
- Phrase the question so yes means one clear action.
- Got a non-committal answer? That is your cue to think a little longer.
- Playing with friends? Try best of three, or let each person ask one question per round.
- For choices with more than two options, use a spinning wheel instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is the online magic 8 ball random?
Yes. Each shake draws one of the 20 answers with equal chance using your browser’s cryptographic random generator. Your question does not influence the result.
What are the 20 magic 8 ball answers?
Ten positive answers such as It is certain and Very likely, five non-committal answers such as Ask me later and Cannot tell yet, and five negative answers such as My sources say no and Very doubtful. The full list is in the table on this page.
What are the odds of getting yes?
Ten of the 20 answers are positive, so you get a yes-type answer 50 percent of the time, a non-committal answer 25 percent of the time and a negative answer 25 percent of the time.
Who invented the magic 8 ball?
It is generally credited to Albert C. Carter, with his business partner Abe Bookman developing and selling it. The pool ball design appeared around 1950. The brand is owned by Mattel today.
Can I shake my phone to get an answer?
On most phones, yes. Tap Shake my phone, allow motion access if your phone asks, then shake. On a computer, press the button or click the ball.
Should I make real decisions with a magic 8 ball?
Only for fun or low-stakes choices. For anything important, such as health, money or relationships, talk to someone you trust. The ball is a toy.
Is this the official Magic 8 Ball?
No. This is an independent, unofficial online version made for fun. Magic 8 Ball is a trademark of Mattel.