What is a magic 8 ball?
A magic 8 ball is a fortune-telling toy that answers yes or no questions. You ask a question, turn the ball over, and one of 20 answers floats up in a window: 10 say yes, 5 say ask again and 5 say no. The toy dates from 1946 and is made by Mattel. This online magic 8 ball keeps the same odds with original answers, three answer styles and no download.
How to use the online magic 8 ball
- Think of a yes or no question. "Should I text them?" works. "What should I eat?" does not, because the orb only speaks in yes, no and not yet.
- Type it, or keep it in your head. Then press Shake the orb, tap the ball, or shake your phone.
- Read the ink. The answer floats up through the ink inside the orb. Green glow means yes, red means no, gold means ask again.
Not happy with what it said? That tells you something too. Plenty of people use a magic 8 ball to find out which answer they were hoping for.
Pick an answer style
All three styles keep the same odds as the classic toy: 10 yes, 5 unclear and 5 no out of 20. Only the voice changes.
- Oracle is calm and mysterious, for real decisions. "Yes, without a shadow", "The ink says yes", "Count on it" and 17 more.
- Sarcastic answers like a teenager who has been asked one too many times. Good for group chats and parties. See all of them on the sarcastic magic 8 ball.
- Love is tuned for crushes, texts and should-I-say-something moments. It has its own love magic 8 ball page.
Want your own answers? Make a custom magic 8 ball and send the link to a friend. If you just need a straight answer, the yes or no oracle drops the "ask again" replies, and the yes or no wheel lets you spin for it.
Questions people ask about it
Does the magic 8 ball actually work?
It works as a random answer picker, not as a predictor. It is as accurate as a coin with opinions. Every answer is picked at random by your browser, so nobody, including us, can steer the result. Use it for fun, for breaking a tie, or for noticing which answer you were secretly hoping for.
What are the odds of getting a yes?
In the Oracle, Sarcastic and Love styles, 10 of the 20 answers are a yes, 5 are unclear and 5 are a no. That gives a 50% chance of yes, 25% of ask again and 25% of no on every shake, the same split as the classic toy.
Do I have to type my question?
No. You can ask in your head and just tap the orb, which is how the toy works. Typing it in lets you keep a record of your last answers on this device and share the result with a friend.
Can I shake my phone?
Yes. On most phones a firm shake asks the orb. iPhones ask for motion permission the first time you tap the orb. You can always tap the orb or press the button instead.
Is there a digital magic 8 ball?
Yes. This page is one: a free online magic 8 ball that works in any browser on a phone or computer. Mattel, which makes the toy, also released its own app in 2015.
Is it free?
Yes. No account, no app, no sign up. Your history stays in your own browser and is never sent to us.
Where the idea comes from
The fortune-telling 8 ball dates back to 1946, when Albert C. Carter of Cincinnati filed a patent for a liquid-filled fortune teller. It became a billiard 8 ball in 1950 and has been sold as a toy ever since.
Read how a magic 8 ball works for the inside story, or see all 20 classic magic 8 ball answers.