Need to settle something quickly? Flip a coin. This online coin flip gives a fair, instant heads-or-tails result and keeps a running tally of how it lands — handy for making decisions, starting a game, or seeing probability play out over many flips.
Press the button; the result is a genuine 50/50 draw generated in your browser.
Coin Flip: step-by-step worked example
- Number of flips
- 10
- 1
Probability of one flip
P(heads) = P(tails) = 1 ÷ 2
= 50%
- 2
Possible sequences
Sequences = 2ⁿ
2^10 = 1,024
- 3
Expected number of heads
E = n × p
10 × 0.5 = 5
- 4
Chance of an exact 50/50 split
P = C(n, n/2) ÷ 2ⁿ
C(10, 5) ÷ 2^10 = 252 ÷ 1024 = 24.61%
- 5
Chance of at least one heads
P = 1 − (1/2)ⁿ
1 − 0.5^10 = 99.9%
- Probability:0.0977% → 0.0977%
Good to know: Each flip is independent: five heads in a row do not make tails more likely next (gambler's fallacy). Over many flips the share approaches 50 %, yet an exact 50/50 split becomes less likely.
Coin Flip — how it works
A fair 50/50 draw
Each flip is independent and equally likely to be heads or tails — the tool picks one at random with no memory of previous results. Over many flips the split converges toward 50/50, but any single run can streak.
The gambler’s fallacy
A coin has no memory. After five heads in a row, the next flip is still exactly 50/50 — the coin doesn’t “owe” you tails. Expecting a reversal because a result is “due” is the gambler’s fallacy, and the running counter here is a good way to see how uneven short runs can be even when the coin is perfectly fair.
Uses
- Settling a yes/no decision or a friendly dispute
- Kicking off a game (who goes first)
- Demonstrating probability and randomness in class
- Generating a single random bit
Worked example
Flip ten times and you might see 7 heads and 3 tails — a 70/30 split that feels “unfair” but is completely normal for a small sample. Keep going to 100 flips and the ratio will usually settle much closer to 50/50. That gap between a small run and the long-run average is exactly what the gambler’s fallacy misjudges: each individual flip stays 50/50 no matter what came before.
Frequently asked questions
Is the coin flip really random?+
Yes — each flip is an independent 50/50 draw generated at the moment you press the button, with no bias toward heads or tails and no dependence on previous results.
If I get heads five times, is tails more likely next?+
No. The coin has no memory, so the next flip is still exactly 50/50. Believing a result is “due” after a streak is the gambler’s fallacy. Streaks are normal in small samples even with a perfectly fair coin.
What are the odds of heads or tails?+
Each is 50% on every flip. The chance of a specific sequence, like five heads in a row, is 0.5⁵ = about 3.1% — small, but it happens regularly over many attempts.
Can I use it to make a decision?+
Absolutely — that’s one of its most common uses. Assign one option to heads and the other to tails, flip once, and you have an impartial answer. (Some people notice their gut reaction to the result tells them what they actually wanted.)
Does it keep score?+
Yes. It tallies heads, tails and total flips with the running percentage, so you can watch the split approach 50/50 over many flips. Reset the counter any time to start a fresh session.
About this page
- Publisher:
- Kalkoro — Teknolojig Bilişim Teknolojileri A.Ş., İstanbul
- Written by:
- Ahmet Tur — Editor (Math, date & time, unit conversion, physics & chemistry, everyday tools)
- Reviewed by:
- Kübra Yıldız — Editor
Parameters come from official sources; the last update date is shown at the bottom of the page.
Spotted a wrong result? Use the "Report a bug" button at the top of the page; every report is reviewed.
How we calculate and our accuracy policy →
Results are for information only. For official matters the relevant authority's calculation prevails.
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