About the Wheel Spinner
What is a wheel spinner?
A wheel spinner is an online tool that picks a random entry from a list by spinning a wheel.
Each line you type becomes one slice. The winner is drawn first with the Web Crypto API's crypto.getRandomValues() and rejection sampling, so every slice has the same chance, and then the wheel spins and stops on that slice. People also call it a spinner wheel, a random wheel or a wheel of names.
What should you know before you spin the wheel?
- Every entry has an equal chance. Eight entries give each one 12.5% per spin, and ten give 10%.
- The winner is picked before the wheel moves. The spin animates a result that's already drawn.
- A name listed twice gets two slices. On a wheel of 5 lines, a name on 2 of them wins 40% of the time.
- The wheel holds up to 1,000 entries. Names show on wheels of up to 100 slices, and bigger wheels still spin and show the winner on the card.
- Your list stays in this browser. Nothing is sent to a server, and the list is still there next time.
How do you spin the wheel?
- Add your entries. Type or paste them into the box, one per line.
- Spin. Press Spin the wheel, press Space, or click the wheel.
- Read the winner. The card shows it when the wheel stops, with buttons to copy it or remove it from the wheel.
- Draw several winners with no repeats. Turn on Remove the winner after each spin before you start.
Example
A wheel of eight names will be converted to one random winner, each with a 12.5% chance:
Ava
Ben
Chloe
Daniel
Emma
Finn
Grace
Henry
Winner: Grace
Chance per spin: 12.5%
With Remove the winner turned on, Grace leaves the wheel and the next spin picks from the seven names left, each at 14.29%.
Is a wheel spinner really random?
Yes, this wheel spinner draws each winner at random with equal odds.
The winner comes from crypto.getRandomValues(), the browser's cryptographic random number generator. Rejection sampling throws away the few raw values that would make some slices slightly more likely, so no entry gets an edge. Where the wheel starts, how long it spins and how often you spin have no effect on who wins.
You can check it with your own list. Press Run 10,000 test spins and the wheel spinner draws 10,000 winners and shows each entry's share next to the share equal odds predict. Shares always wobble a little, because 10,000 draws is a sample.
What are the odds on a wheel spinner?
The odds on a wheel spinner are an entry's slices divided by the total number of slices.
Chance that one entry wins a spin, by the number of entries on the wheel
| Entries on the wheel | Chance per entry, per spin |
|---|
| 2 | 50% |
| 3 | 33.33% |
| 4 | 25% |
| 5 | 20% |
| 6 | 16.67% |
| 8 | 12.5% |
| 10 | 10% |
| 20 | 5% |
| 100 | 1% |
| 5, with one name listed twice | 40% for that name |
Common mistakes
These mistakes with a wheel spinner come up at raffles and in classrooms.
- One name keeps winning. Random draws cluster, so short streaks are normal. Check that the name isn't on the list twice, then run the fairness test to see the long-run share.
- The same person wins a raffle twice. Winners stay on the wheel unless you remove them. Turn on Remove the winner after each spin before the first spin.
- Part of a pasted list is missing. Blank lines are skipped and the wheel holds 1,000 entries. The count under the box says how many lines were left off.
Common Use Cases
People spin a wheel when a choice has to be fair and visible to everyone watching.
- Classrooms. A random name picker for who answers next or who presents first.
- Giveaways and raffles. Paste the entrants, turn on Remove the winner, and spin once per prize.
- Everyday decisions. Where to eat tonight, or whose turn it is to do the dishes.
- Games. Turn order for a board game, or a random category for a quiz round.
For a plain yes or no, the Yes or No Wheel has the answers ready. The Random List Item Picker picks from a list without the animation, and the Coin Flip and Dice Roller settle heads or tails and number rolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an online wheel spinner be rigged?
An online wheel spinner can be rigged through its code or through duplicate entries. This one draws every winner with crypto.getRandomValues() before the wheel moves, marks repeated names with a count, and lets anyone check the shares with Run 10,000 test spins.
How do you give one entry a better chance on the wheel?
Add the entry to the wheel more than once. Each line is one slice, so a name on 2 of 5 lines wins 40% of the time.
How many names can the wheel spinner hold?
The wheel spinner holds up to 1,000 entries. Names show on wheels of up to 100 slices, and bigger wheels still spin and show the winner on the result card.
How do you remove a name from the wheel after it wins?
Press Remove on the wheel spinner's winner card. To remove every winner automatically, turn on Remove the winner after each spin before you start.
Can you make a custom wheel spinner online?
Yes, type your own entries into the wheel spinner and it redraws with one slice per line. The list is saved in your browser, so the same wheel is there next time.
Can you spin the wheel on a phone?
Yes, the wheel spinner works in a phone browser with no app to install. Tap the wheel or the Spin the wheel button, and the winner appears when it stops.