Wheel of Names
Spin a wheel to pick a name or an option, fairly.
Wheel of Names: the tool
The wheel
Entries and options
6 entries. Up to 200. A name written twice has twice the chance.
The winner stays on the wheel for a moment, then leaves the list.
Saved lists
They are kept in this browser only. Nothing is sent to a server.
No saved list yet.
Type your names or options, one per line, and spin. The wheel turns, slows down and stops on a winner. Use it to choose who goes first, what to eat, who wins a prize or which task to do next. Your list stays in your browser, and you can save it for next time.
How it works
The winner is drawn before the wheel moves. Your browser's cryptographic random generator picks one entry, and every entry has exactly the same chance. The spin is then worked out backwards: the wheel is turned by five or more full turns plus the exact angle that brings the pointer inside the winner's slice. The animation therefore cannot disagree with the result, and it cannot be nudged by timing or by how long you wait.
Each line is one slice. A name written twice gets two slices and twice the chance, which is useful for weighting and surprising if you did not mean it. Colors are taken from the palette you choose in order, and two touching slices never share a color, including the last and the first. With more than 48 entries the names are hidden, because they would be too small to read, and the winner is shown under the wheel instead.
Lists are kept only where you choose. Save a list and it is stored in your browser's local storage under a name. Copy a link and the list travels inside the link, after the # sign, a part that browsers never send to a server. Nothing is uploaded either way, and nobody, including this site, can see what is on your wheel.
How to use it
- Type your entries in the box, one per line, or press Use an example to try the wheel with a few names.
- Choose the wheel colors, and tick Remove each winner from the wheel if every name should win only once.
- Press Spin the wheel and wait for it to stop. The winner appears below the wheel and is read out for screen readers.
- Spin again for another draw, save the list for later, or copy a link to send the same list to someone else.
Example
A run on six entries, with a fixed sequence so that the page is the same every time. The winner is drawn first, then the rotation is computed, and the check at the end proves the pointer is inside the winner's slice.
What was set
- Entries
- Pizza, Sushi, Tacos, Burgers, Salad, Curry
- Colors
- Classic: #E4572E, #F6B100, #1F9E89…
What came out
- 1. Winner drawn
- Pizza (entry 1 of 6)
- 2. Wheel turned
- 2123.4° clockwise, at 61% of the slice
- 3. Pointer ends in
- slice 1: Pizza
Good to know
- The wheel takes up to 200 entries, each up to 100 characters, and needs at least 2 to spin.
- Results are random but not certified. Do not use the wheel for a lottery, a regulated giveaway or any draw that must be audited: nobody can verify a spin afterwards.
- A shared link contains the whole list, so anyone who receives the link can read it. Do not share a list of private names in a public place.
Questions people ask
Is the wheel really fair?
Yes. The winner comes from your browser's cryptographic generator, with a method that gives every entry exactly the same probability, and it is chosen before the animation starts. Where the wheel happens to stop is a consequence of that choice, not a second dice roll.
Can I make one name more likely to win?
Write it more than once. A name listed three times has three slices and three times the chance of a name listed once. If you do not want that, remove duplicates before you spin.
How do I remove the winner and spin again?
Tick Remove each winner from the wheel before you spin, and the winner leaves the list a moment after it is announced. Or leave it unticked and press the Remove button that appears under the winner. Either way the wheel is redrawn with one slice fewer.
Are my names stored on a server?
No. The list exists in your browser's memory while you use the page, and in local storage only if you press Save. A shared link carries the list in the part after the # sign, which browsers do not send to any server.
Why do I see no names on the wheel?
With more than 48 entries the slices are too narrow to print readable text, so the names are left off. The wheel still works and the winner is shown in large type under it.
Does it work for people who prefer less motion?
Yes. If your device is set to reduce motion, the wheel does not spin: the winner is drawn and shown straight away. The result is announced to screen readers when it is ready.