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Random Name Picker Wheel

Type or paste names, one per line, and spin the wheel to pick one at random - with an option to remove each winner so nobody is picked twice. Tabs add a dice roller, coin flip and random number generator. Every pick uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator.

Free, no signupNo daily limitRuns in your browser - nothing you enter is uploadedUpdated

Press Spin to pick a name.

Nothing is saved unless you press Save. A saved list stays in this browser only.

Ways teachers use it

  • Cold-calling without favourites. Spin to choose who answers. Turn on "remove the winner" and nobody is asked twice until everyone has had a turn.
  • Turn order. Spin repeatedly with removal on to set the order for presentations or reading aloud.
  • Prizes and jobs. Pick the line leader, the board cleaner or the winner of a raffle in front of the class, so the choice is visibly fair.
  • Groups and games. The dice tab covers board-game dice from d4 to d20, the coin settles a tie, and the number tab draws raffle tickets or question numbers.

Your class list stays yours

Names never leave the page. If you want the list next lesson, press Save list on this device and it is kept in this browser's own storage; Delete saved list removes it. On a shared classroom computer, delete it before you leave.

Worked example: how a fair pick is made

The browser's cryptographic generator gives a random whole number from 0 to 4,294,967,295. Choosing one of 3 names with "number mod 3" would be slightly unfair, because 4,294,967,296 values do not split evenly three ways.

4,294,967,296 ÷ 3 = 1,431,655,765 remainder 1 accepted values: 0 … 4,294,967,294 (1,431,655,765 per name) value 4,294,967,295 → thrown away and redrawn

This is rejection sampling: every name gets exactly the same number of possible values, so each has exactly a 1 in 3 chance. The wheel then animates to the name already chosen.

Duplicates count: in a list of 5 lines where "Ali" appears twice, Ali's chance is 2 in 5 (40%).

What this calculator does not do

  • Names are trimmed and blank lines ignored; duplicate names are kept, so a name entered twice has twice the chance.
  • The wheel draws labels for up to 60 names; longer lists still pick fairly, with the winner shown below the wheel.
  • A saved list lives in this browser only - it does not follow you to another device.

Frequently asked questions

Is the wheel really random?
Yes. The winner is chosen by your browser's cryptographic random number generator (crypto.getRandomValues) using rejection sampling, which gives every name exactly the same chance. The spin animation is drawn after the winner has been chosen, so it cannot be influenced by when you click.
How do I stop the same student being picked twice?
Turn on "Remove the winner after each spin". Each winner is taken off the wheel, so every name is picked exactly once before the list runs out. Press "Restore all names" to start a new round.
Can I save my class list?
Yes, but only if you press "Save list on this device". The list is then kept in this browser's local storage, never sent to a server, and you can remove it at any time with "Delete saved list". Nothing is saved unless you ask.
What dice can I roll?
From one to six dice at a time, with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 20 sides. The total is shown with each roll.
Can I generate random numbers without repeats?
Yes. Set the minimum, maximum and how many numbers you want, and tick "No repeats". The tool refuses a request that is impossible, such as 10 different numbers between 1 and 5.
Does the wheel work without the animation?
Yes. If your device is set to reduce motion, the winner is shown straight away without spinning.

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Step-by-step guide: How to pick random names and make fair teams →

Built and checked by Taimur Hassan Siddiqui, who has more than ten years in computer-science education. The formulas on this page are covered by an automated test suite, and the worked example on this page is one of its cases. Last updated 7 October 2026.