How Does a Wheel of Names Choose a Winner?
See why the winner is selected before animation and how the wheel lands on the already chosen segment.
Wheel Tools
Wheel of Names
Add names, spin the wheel and pick a random winner instantly. Free, private and easy for classrooms, teams and giveaways.
🔒 Your list is processed locally in your browser. It is not uploaded unless you create a share link.
Input & settings
Excel / CSV draw: step-by-step guide and sample files
Review file before importing
Read on this device only. Applying replaces the current list and resets the draw cycle and results.
Matching text does not prove the same person. Use unique participant IDs for people with the same name.
Preview: first 10 entriesResult
Configure the tool, then run it.
Result history
- No results yet.
Quick answer
What does this tool do?
Wheel of Names selects one or more entries with the browser Web Crypto API, then animates the wheel to reveal the result. Names stay on the device unless the user explicitly creates a temporary share link.
- Selection method
- Web Crypto random sampling
- Maximum list size
- 1,000 entries
- Repeat control
- Keep or remove winners
- Default processing
- In this browser
Why use this tool?
Wheel of Names turns a plain list into a clear visual draw without uploading the list during normal use. Paste or import as many as 1,000 names, tasks, topics or other eligible choices, then decide whether duplicate lines are allowed and whether a selected entry should remain available. The browser chooses the result with Web Crypto before the wheel starts moving; the animation only reveals the already selected segment, so frame rate and device speed cannot change the winner. You can draw several distinct entries, shorten the animation, enable reduced motion, change the color theme, copy or download results and review a local history. It works well for classrooms, meetings, events and everyday tie-breaking, but the organizer must still verify eligibility, rules and any accessibility needs before using the result.
How to use it
- Enter one name or option per line.
- Choose duplicates, sound, spin time and winner removal settings.
- Press Spin or use Enter/Space when the button is focused.
- Copy, remove or keep the winner and review the result history.
Common use cases
- Choose a classroom speaker
- Draw an event winner
- Pick a meeting presenter
Practical examples
- Choose one speaker from a six-person class group.
- Draw three distinct door-prize winners from an imported CSV.
- Resolve a tie between approved meeting topics.
How it works
Random values come from window.crypto.getRandomValues(). Lists are shuffled with an unbiased Fisher–Yates process. For a wheel, the result is chosen before the animation; for weighted entries, each positive weight defines its share of the total probability.
Limits to understand
- The wheel does not verify eligibility or identity.
- A visual animation is not a certified lottery audit.
- Review duplicate and removal settings before the first spin.
Privacy
Input and results stay inside this browser during normal use. Local saving is optional. If you select Create Share Link, the visible list and settings are uploaded under a hard-to-guess token and expire automatically.
Random Picker Tools · Editorial Policy · Updated:
Wheel of Names FAQ
Is my list uploaded?
No. Entries are processed in your browser unless you explicitly create a share link.
What kind of randomness is used?
The browser Web Crypto API supplies unbiased random values. Wheel animation only reveals a result chosen in advance.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. The controls, results and wheel adapt to current mobile browsers and keyboard navigation.
Can I reuse my settings?
Yes. Device storage can remember recent settings unless you turn off local list saving.
Is this suitable for a certified lottery?
No. It is a general-purpose classroom, work, event and decision tool, not a regulated drawing system.
Related tools
Related guides
How to Run a Fair Random Draw
Prepare a clean entry list, state rules in advance and preserve a useful result record. Review practical steps, examples, limits and privacy-aware checks before using the result.
How to Remove Duplicate Entries Before a Draw
Normalize and review repeated entries without accidentally merging different people. Review practical steps, examples, limits and privacy-aware checks before using the result.