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How this random picker chooses
This random picker uses your browser's cryptographic generator (crypto.getRandomValues) for every spin, number, shuffle, coin and die. That is the same source browsers use for encryption keys, and it is a step up from the Math.random() most quick wheel sites rely on.
Getting a fair number out of random bits takes one more step. Squeezing a 32-bit value into, say, 1 to 6 with a plain remainder makes the low numbers very slightly more likely. The picker throws away the few values that would cause that tilt and draws again, so every outcome has exactly the same chance. On the wheel, the winner is fixed the moment you press Spin. The animation just slows down onto that slice.
Spin the wheel random name picker: running a fair draw
- Paste the names into the box, one per line. A copied spreadsheet column works.
- Tick Remove the winner before the next spin for a raffle where nobody can win twice. Leave it off when you are picking who answers the next question and repeats are fine.
- Press Spin, tap the wheel, or press the Space bar. Use Full screen when the wheel is on a projector.
- Download the history as a .txt file if you need a record of who won and when.
Each line is one slice. Typing a name twice gives it two slices and double the odds, which is a simple way to weight a draw (for example, one entry per ticket bought). The counter under the box warns you when duplicates are in the list so nobody gets extra chances by accident.
| Names on the wheel | Chance per spin | Spins until everyone has won (with removal) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 50% | 1 |
| 5 | 20% | 4 |
| 8 | 12.5% | 7 |
| 10 | 10% | 9 |
| 30 | 3.33% | 29 |
| 100 | 1% | 99 |
The last column counts spins until one name is left, because the last one standing needs no spin. Your lists stay in this browser's storage, so a class list typed on Monday is still there on Friday on the same device.
Random number generator 1-100 and other ranges
For a single number, set min and max and press Generate. From 1 to 100 each value has a 1% chance; from 1 to 10 it is 10%. The presets cover the usual cases, including a 4-digit PIN (four digits from 0 to 9, repeats allowed) and 6 of 49, which draws six different numbers and sorts them like a lottery ticket.
- No repeats draws without replacement. Ask for 10 numbers from 1 to 100 and you get 10 different ones. Ask for 101 and the tool tells you only 100 fit.
- Decimals picks on a grid. With 0.01 steps between 0 and 1 there are 101 possible values, 0.00 and 1.00 included.
- Sort orders the output, which helps when you are checking a long list of ticket numbers.
Ways to pick 6 of 49 = 49! ÷ (6! × 43!) = 13,983,816
So one particular 6-of-49 combination has a 1 in 13,983,816 chance. A random generator cannot improve those odds. It just saves you choosing birthdays, which a lot of other people pick too.
Random team generator: splitting a list into groups
Paste the names in the List & teams tab, choose Make groups, and set either the number of groups or the people per group. The list is shuffled, then dealt out like cards, so group sizes never differ by more than one.
| People | Setting | Group sizes you get |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 3 groups | 4, 4, 4 |
| 10 | 3 groups | 4, 3, 3 |
| 30 | 4 groups | 8, 8, 7, 7 |
| 23 | 4 per group | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3 |
| 10 | 4 per group | 4, 3, 3 |
That last row surprises people: 10 players in groups of 4 gives 4, 3 and 3, not 4, 4 and 2. A team of two against teams of four is rarely what you want, so the picker balances. If you do want full groups plus one small leftover group, use Pick winners to draw the extra names first, take them out of the list, and group the rest. Results download as .txt, or as .csv with one row per person for a spreadsheet.
Pick winners chooses several different names in one go (three prize winners from 40 entries, for instance), and Shuffle returns the whole list in random order, handy for presentation or speaking order.
Flip a coin or roll dice online
Each coin flip is a true 50/50, and earlier flips have no effect on the next one. Streaks still happen more than people expect. Three heads in a row has a 1 in 8 chance (12.5%), and in 100 flips a run of five or more of the same side is normal. The tally shows the counts, percentages and the longest streak so you can see it for yourself.
The dice panel rolls up to 50 dice with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20 or 100 sides and adds them up. With two six-sided dice, 7 is the most common total: 6 of the 36 combinations make it, a 16.7% chance, while 2 and 12 each come up 1 time in 36.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spin the wheel name picker really random?
Yes. The winner is chosen with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's cryptographic random generator, the moment you press Spin; the animation only shows the result. With 8 names on the wheel, each has exactly a 12.5% chance on every spin.
How do I pick a random number between 1 and 100?
Open the Number tab, keep min at 1 and max at 100 and press Generate; each value has a 1% chance. To draw 10 different numbers, set How many to 10 and tick No repeats.
How do I make random teams from a list of names?
Paste one name per line in the List & teams tab, choose Make groups and enter the number of teams. 12 names in 3 groups gives three teams of 4, and 10 names in 3 groups gives 4, 3 and 3. Download the teams as .txt or .csv.
Can the wheel remove a name after it wins?
Yes. Tick Remove the winner before the next spin and each winner leaves the wheel when you spin again, so with 20 names the second draw is 1 in 19. You can also press Remove winner right after a spin.
Is an online coin flip really 50/50?
Yes, every flip has exactly a 1 in 2 chance of heads, whatever happened before. Short runs still look uneven: three heads in a row happens 12.5% of the time, and over 1,000 flips the split settles close to 50%.
Are my names saved if I close the page?
Yes, on the same device and browser. The wheel and list entries are kept in local storage, so a class list typed on Monday is still there on Friday. Nothing is sent to a server, and clearing browser data deletes them.
Can I show the wheel on a projector or TV?
Yes. Press Full screen under the wheel, then spin with the Space bar or by tapping the wheel; the winner shows in large type. Press Esc or Exit full screen to go back.
What are the odds with two dice?
With two six-sided dice a total of 7 is most likely, at 6 in 36 or about 16.7%. Totals of 2 and 12 each come up only 1 time in 36 (2.8%).