Wheel of names

How the wheel of names works

Type or paste one name per line into the entries box. Each name gets an equal slice of the wheel, and the pointer decides the winner when the spin stops. The result is announced on screen, saved in your recent winners, and can be copied into a message.

Turn on Remove winner to run a draft or raffle without repeats. The winning name leaves the wheel automatically, so the next spin only includes people who have not won yet. Your list is saved on this device, which means you can close the tab and come back later.

When to use a name wheel

Teachers use it to call on students, hosts use it for giveaways, and teams use it to choose who presents first. It also works for chores, queue order, secret Santa, and any other decision that should be settled in public and without arguments.

The wheel is intentionally simple. There is no account, no download, and no setup wizard. Open the page, paste your names, and spin. If you need the same list later, copy the share link or leave it in the browser.

Is the result really random?

Yes. The winning index is chosen with crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's cryptographic random source, before the animation starts. The spin is only a visual representation of that result. Nothing about the animation changes who wins.

Weighted mode is available when equal odds are not what you need. Add a suffix such as Maya x3 to give that entry three times the chance. Leave weighting off for a standard, fair draw.

Tips for a smooth spin

Keep labels short so they stay readable on the wheel. Use full names if two people share a first name. For a live audience, open Focus mode to fill the screen and hide the editing panel.

If you are running a giveaway, screenshot the entry list before the first spin. That gives you a timestamped record of who was included if anyone asks later.