To pick a random name, type or paste your names in the Names, one per line box, then select Spin the wheel. The wheel spins for 6 seconds by default and stops on one slice. The name under the pointer is the winner, and it's added to Winner history. Use Pick instantly to skip the spin.
How to use the random name picker
- Add names. Enter one name per line, paste a column copied from Excel or Google Sheets, or select Import .txt to load a .txt file. The wheel builds itself as you type.
- Set the rules. Under After a name is picked, choose to keep the winner on the wheel, keep it but mark it as picked, or remove it until the round is reset.
- Spin. Select Spin the wheel or press Space. Drag the Spin duration slider anywhere from 3 to 10 seconds for more suspense.
- Keep going. Spin again for the next winner. When everyone has been picked, select Reset round to put all names back on the wheel and clear the marks.
How the random name picker wheel chooses a winner
Each name gets a slice of the wheel, sized by its weight. When you spin, the winner is drawn with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues(), so each name's chance equals its share of the wheel with no rounding bias. The wheel then turns 6 to 9 full rotations and slows to a stop at a random point inside the winning slice, so the name under the pointer is always the name recorded.
With equal weights, every name has the same chance: 1 in 10 for a list of 10. The Entries panel shows each name's chance as a percentage, and it updates when names are removed. Pick instantly uses the same odds and then turns the wheel to the winning slice.
Pick a random name from a list without repeats
For classroom cold-calling or a draw with several prizes, you'll want each name to come up once. Set After a name is picked to Remove it until the round is reset. The winner leaves the wheel straight away, so the wheel gets one slice smaller after every spin. Removed names stay in the Entries list, labeled Out of draw, with a Put back button.
If everyone should stay in the draw but you want to see who has had a turn, choose Keep it, but mark as picked. Picked names are crossed out in the list with a Picked label, and their slice turns grey on the wheel. Reset round clears the marks and brings removed names back.
You can also remove a single name by hand with the x button next to it in Entries. Shuffle and Sort A-Z only reorder the list and the wheel; they don't change anyone's odds.
Random winner picker for giveaways
Paste the entrant names, one per line, and spin while you share your screen or record it. Two details matter for a fair draw:
- Duplicates are merged. Names are matched without regard to capital letters, so "Sara" and "sara" become one entry. With Use weights on, their weights add up, giving that person two chances. Turn Use weights off if each person should have exactly one chance.
- Weights are optional. Write
Ali|3to give Ali three times the chance of a name with weight 1. Weights go up to 999, and the wheel draws bigger slices for bigger weights.
Names longer than 20 characters are cut short on the wheel, but the full name shows in the result and in Winner history. Select Copy under Winner history to keep a record with the time of each pick. To split people into pairs or decide who goes first, a coin flip or the dice roller can settle ties.
Frequently asked questions
Is the name picker really random?
Yes. Each winner is drawn with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues(), and each name's chance equals its share of the wheel. With no weights, every name is equally likely.
How do I remove a name after it's picked?
Set After a name is picked to Remove it until the round is reset. Select Reset round, or Put back next to a name, to bring removed names back.
Can I import names from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy the column of names and paste it into the box, and each cell becomes one line. You can also save the list as a .txt file and use Import .txt.
How many names can I add?
There's no fixed limit. With a few hundred names the slices get very thin, so Pick instantly and Winner history are easier to read than the wheel.
Why does someone have a bigger slice than everyone else?
That name has a higher weight, either from the Name|weight format or because it was entered more than once and merged. Turn off Use weights to make every slice equal.
Is my list saved if I close the page?
Yes. Your names, settings and the last 50 winners are kept in this browser's local storage. Select Clear to delete them.