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Wheel of Names (Random Picker)

This wheel of names picks a random winner from any list you type in. Add names or options, spin, and watch the wheel land on a fair result: every entry has an equal chance on every spin. Great for picking students, giveaway winners or tonight’s dinner.

Built & reviewed by the TurboTeamTools team · Updated September 2026 · 0 uses on this device

Wheel of Names (Random Picker) tool

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Add entries and spin

0 entries

How to use it

  1. Type your entries, one per line.
  2. Click Spin and watch the wheel slow to a stop.
  3. The pointer lands on a random winner picked by a fair draw.

What is a wheel of names?

A wheel of names is a spinner wheel that picks one entry from a list at random. The spinning disc is the show; the substance is a fair draw. This one selects the winner first with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser’s secure random source, then animates the wheel to land on that segment, so animation timing cannot skew anything. With equal segments the rule is:

P(any entry) = 1 / number of entries
10 entries: each has a 1/10 = 10% chance

List an entry twice and its chance doubles, because each line is its own segment. That turns the wheel of names into a simple weighted random name picker when you need one.

Worked example

Input: Six dinner options
→
Result: The wheel lands on one at random, like Ramen

How picking methods compare

MethodEqual odds?Drawbacks
This wheel of namesYes, cryptographic drawNone beyond needing a browser
Slips from a hatRoughlyFolding and poor mixing bias the draw
Teacher or host picksNoUnconscious favorites and repeat picks
Going down the rosterNoPredictable, and early letters always go first
Asking for volunteersNoThe same confident few every time

Fair draw first, spin second

Many spinner tools decide the winner from where the wheel happens to stop, which depends on animation timing and can be nudged. This one does it the other way around. It draws the winner first with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's secure random source, then animates the wheel so it lands on that segment. The spin is for show. The outcome is a plain random draw in which every entry has exactly the same chance, no matter how many you add or where they sit on the wheel.

Setting up the wheel

Type or paste one entry per line and the wheel redraws itself as you go, each segment in a different color. Long names are shortened on the wheel to keep the labels readable, but the full name appears when it wins. To give one option a better chance, list it more than once: two lines out of ten means a 20 percent chance instead of 10. Your list is saved in your browser's localStorage, so the same wheel is waiting next time you open the page. Nothing is uploaded and no account is needed.

Using it for a raffle

For a giveaway, paste every entrant's name once and spin once. Because the draw is unbiased, that is a fair raffle. If you are picking several winners, remove each winner from the list before the next spin so nobody wins twice. Recording the screen while you spin is a simple way to show entrants that the draw was real. In a classroom the same wheel decides who reads next, which team presents first or which review question comes up, and students tend to accept the wheel's verdict more readily than a teacher's.

Common uses

  • Picking a student to answer or present
  • Choosing a giveaway or raffle winner
  • Deciding what to eat, watch or play
  • Assigning chores, tasks or presentation order
  • Settling any small group decision

When to use it

  • You want a wheel of names for classroom picks, so the wheel decides who reads next instead of you.
  • A giveaway needs a random name picker that entrants can watch land on the winner.
  • The group cannot agree on dinner, so a spinner wheel loaded with the restaurant list settles it.
  • Presentation order for project teams should be random, and visibly so.
  • Weekly chores go on the wheel at home and nobody argues with the result.

Related tools

Random Group Generator splits the whole list into fair teams instead of picking one winner at a time.

Coin Flip is quicker when there are only two options on the table.

Random Number Generator scales better for huge draws: number the entries and draw digits instead of spinning.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The wheel of names chooses the winner with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's secure random generator, before the wheel starts to turn. The animation then lands on that segment. Every entry has an equal chance, and nothing about the spin timing can steer the result.
Type or paste your names in the box, one per line. The wheel updates as you type. Click Spin and the pointer at the top marks the winner. There is nothing to install and no sign-up.
As many as you want, one per line. The wheel splits evenly among them, so with 40 names each slice is narrow but the odds stay equal. Long names are trimmed on the wheel to fit the slice, but the full name is shown when it wins.
Yes. Add the same entry on more than one line. Each line is a separate segment with an equal chance, so an option listed three times out of twelve has a 25 percent chance instead of about 8.
Spin once, note the winner, delete that line from the list and spin again. Repeat until you have as many winners as you need. Removing winners keeps the draw fair and stops the same person from winning twice.
Yes. Your list is saved in your browser's localStorage and reloaded the next time you open the page on the same device. It stays on your device and is never sent anywhere. Delete the entries or clear your browser data to remove it.
Yes. Add each entrant on its own line and spin once. Because the draw comes from a cryptographic random source, it is fair for prizes and raffles. For several prizes, remove each winner before the next spin so nobody wins twice.
Yes. On narrow screens the wheel sits above the entry box and scales to fit the width, and spinning works with a tap. The result appears under the wheel in large text, so it is easy to show to a room full of people.