NamesWheel

Wheel of Names

Add names or choices, spin the wheel, and get a fair random winner in seconds. Built for classrooms, offices, giveaways, and everyday decisions.

Add names to begin

Try an example

Secure random selection Runs in your browser No signup Saved locally

How to use the wheel of names

  1. Paste names — one per line — into the entries panel.
  2. Press Spin or hit Space.
  3. Read the winner, then spin again, remove them, or copy the name.

Create your own custom wheel

A custom wheel spinner does not have to be complicated. Type anything: people, prizes, chores, or yes/no style choices. Shuffle or sort the list, drop duplicates, and pick a color theme from Customize. The same engine powers every tool on this site.

More random picker tools

Need a number, a letter, a color, or a full random order instead of a single winner? These pages start with a different preset so you skip the setup:

Pick names without repeats

For a no-repeat draw, turn on “Remove winner after spin” or tap Remove & spin again. Eliminated names stay visible in history so you can show the room who already went. The raffle wheel and student picker default to this mode.

Multiple winners

Spin once per prize. After each result, remove that winner so they cannot be drawn again. Winner history keeps the order of the draw — useful when first, second, and third place matter.

Customize your wheel

Harbor, citrus, meadow, ink & gold, and other palettes change slice colors. You can also set custom colors, spin length, tick sound, winner sound, and confetti. Prefer less motion? NamesWheel respects your system reduced-motion setting and still picks a fair winner.

Save your wheel

NamesWheel stores the current list, Customize settings, and winner history in this browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded when you spin, and there is no account. Use New wheel to clear the list and start again.

Is the wheel really random?

The animation is theater. The winner is chosen first with crypto.getRandomValues(), then the wheel is told where to stop. That is the opposite of “whichever slice the spinner happens to land on.” Read the full method on the secure random selection page.

Common questions

Is the wheel of names really random?

Yes. NamesWheel picks the winner with the browser’s cryptographic random number generator before the wheel starts moving. The spin is animation only — it does not decide the result.

Can I pick names without repeats?

Open Customize and turn on “Remove winner after spin,” or use Remove & spin again after a result. The raffle and student picker tools do this by default.

Does NamesWheel save my list?

Your current wheel stays in this browser automatically. No account is required. Use New wheel to start clean.

Can I use this for a classroom or raffle?

Yes. Teachers often use the student picker in fullscreen. Raffles should use the raffle wheel so winners leave the pool after each draw.

What language is NamesWheel in?

NamesWheel is in English (US).