What makes this wheel spinner different
By default, the wheel is a plain random picker where every spin is independent. If you need turns to even out over many spins, such as in a class, a rota or a weekly stand-up, open the Smart ✦ tab for extra controls.
Smart Fair Rotation
Entries picked the fewest times go first. Add a cooldown of one to five spins so recent winners sit out, and follow a live balance score. Entries that are cooling down are shaded on the wheel, so everyone can see the rule.
SHA-256 draw receipts
Each finished spin creates a time-stamped receipt code. It is hashed from the winner, the visible entries, the page and the active modes. Copy it, or download all receipts as JSON for class records, prize draws and audits.
What is a spin the wheel tool?
A spin the wheel tool is a random name picker that runs in your browser. It turns names, numbers, pupils, prizes, chores, meals, teams or other options into coloured slices you can edit. Each spin uses random values from your browser to land on one visible entry. Elimination, accumulation, auto-spin, history and design settings let you fit the draw to the task.
A wheel shows the draw happening, unlike a hidden random generator. Every option is on screen, everyone watches the same spin, and the result is logged. That is why teachers, streamers, event hosts and team leads reach for a wheel spinner when a choice has to feel fair.
How to use the wheel spinner
Add names, numbers or options
Type entries one at a time, paste a full list or upload a CSV/TXT file. Remove duplicates, or hide anyone who is absent, before you spin.
Make the wheel your own
In Design, choose a palette and set the spin length. Turn on elimination, accumulation or auto-spin if your activity needs them.
Spin and confirm the winner
Press Spin the Wheel or tap the wheel. It slows down, stops on the chosen entry, shows it in a pop-up and saves it to History.
Advanced wheel spinner features
Editable entries
Add, rename, delete, shuffle, sort or paste many entries without reloading. Undo and redo fix mistakes in one click.
Elimination mode
Each winner is removed automatically. That gives you a no-repeat order where nobody wins twice.
Design controls
Change palettes, single-slice colours and spin length. Labels stay readable on phones, tablets and large screens.
History and export
See earlier spins, export them to CSV and keep a record in case a result needs checking later.
Share, fullscreen and OBS
Copy a share link, go fullscreen for a room, or add a transparent OBS overlay to a stream.
Special wheel modes
Use the weighted wheel spinner to set custom odds, or the multiple winners wheel to draw several names at once.
How the wheel decides: selection odds explained
In standard mode every visible entry has the same chance. With eight entries, each one has a one-in-eight chance on every spin. On a weighted wheel, an entry's chance is its weight divided by the total weight of all active entries. In elimination mode the winner is removed and the odds are worked out again for the entries left.
Standard random pick
Chance per entry = 1 ÷ active entries. Every option on the list has the same share.
Weighted random pick
Chance = weight ÷ total weight. A higher weight wins more often but is never certain to win.
No-repeat pick
Elimination removes the winner and shortens the list, so each remaining entry gets slightly better odds.
Want to see it in numbers? The randomness audit simulates thousands of spins and compares the results with the expected odds.
What can you use a spin wheel for?
Picking students at random
Choose readers, helpers, presenters or discussion groups with the random student picker.
Giveaways and raffles
Paste your checked list of entries, explain the rules, spin for a winner and save the receipt. Try the giveaway winner picker.
Meetings and team rotas
Pick a host, speaker, note-taker or captain with the meeting host picker or team generator.
Games and everyday choices
Choose a player, film, meal, challenge or chore. Start with the yes or no wheel or the food wheel.
Spinner modes and when to use each
| Mode | Best for | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | One independent random pick | Every entry stays on the wheel after each spin. |
| Elimination | No-repeat turns or unique winners | The winner is removed from the active list. |
| Weighted | Agreed, different chances | Higher weights get a bigger share of the odds. |
| Multiple winners | Several results in one round | Returns the number of unique winners you set. |
| Accumulation | Tracking repeat outcomes | Counts how many times each entry has won. |
| Auto-spin | Hands-free spinning | A new spin starts on its own after each result. |
| Fair Rotation | Balanced turns over time | Favours entries picked the least, with an optional cooldown. |
Is this wheel spinner fair and private?
The spinner gets its randomness from your browser's crypto.getRandomValues() and maps that number to the current active entries. Tidy the list before a draw, say whether winners are removed, and record important results so participants can follow the process.
Everything runs on your device. Entries, images and history are kept in local storage and never uploaded. Don't add passwords, health details, home addresses, private student records or other sensitive data. A random wheel should never replace safety decisions, professional judgement, accessibility adjustments, hiring choices or legal duties.
Technical reference: MDN Web Docs, Crypto.getRandomValues().
Why this random name picker is easy to use
Spin the wheel FAQs
Is this spin the wheel tool free?
Yes. Every wheel, mode and tool on WheelSpinner is free, with no account, no entry limit and no watermark. A few clearly labelled adverts keep the site running.
How do I add a lot of names at once?
Paste the whole list into the entries box, one item per line, and press Apply List. You can also upload a CSV or TXT file, and the first column becomes the entries. Dedupe removes repeats.
Can I stop the same person from winning twice?
Open Design and turn on Elimination. Each winner is removed as soon as the pop-up appears. Press Undo to bring a name back.
Can entries have different chances?
Yes. Use + and − in Edit Entries to change an entry's weight. Its slice grows to match, and its chance equals its weight divided by the total weight.
Can the wheel choose multiple winners?
Set Multiple winners in Design. The wheel spins once for each winner and never repeats an entry within that round.
Does the wheel spinner work on mobile?
Yes. The layout stacks on small screens, the wheel responds to taps, and your entries are saved on that phone or tablet.
Can I save or share my custom wheel?
Your wheel saves automatically in your browser. Share copies a link with your entries built in, so anyone who opens it sees the same wheel.
What can I put on the wheel?
Names, numbers, prizes, tasks, questions, emoji or short phrases. You can also add a picture to any slice.
What is another name for a spin the wheel tool?
People also call it a wheel of names, random name picker, wheel spinner, name wheel, prize wheel, decision wheel or random picker wheel.
How do digital spin-the-wheel tools work?
They turn a list into coloured slices, draw a random number, map it to an entry by weight, then animate the wheel so it lands on that entry.
Are there other randomiser tools here?
Yes: coin flip, dice roller, Magic 8 Ball, bingo caller, list randomiser, comment picker, team generator, number generator, countdown timer and a randomness audit.
What is a wheel spinner?
A wheel spinner is an on-screen version of a prize wheel. You add options, spin, and a pointer marks the random result.
What is an online name picker?
A tool that picks one name at random from a list you provide. A wheel makes the pick visible, which helps everyone trust it.
What kinds of events use a name wheel?
Lessons, giveaways, raffles, stand-ups, team building, parties, livestreams, sports drafts, gift exchanges and chore rotas.
How can I keep a record of spins for an event?
Every spin goes into History with a time and a receipt code. Export it as CSV or download the JSON receipts for your files.
What are some creative ways to use a name wheel?
Writing prompts, workout roulette, date-night ideas, drawing challenges, debate topics, quiz categories and dinner decisions.
Where can I find ready-made wheel templates?
Use Popular templates in the Entries tab, or visit the Templates page for every preset wheel on the site.
How do I save and export my spin data?
Open History and choose Export CSV for a spreadsheet, or Receipts JSON for a detailed file with codes and entries.
Is this the easiest name wheel to use?
It is designed to be: type, spin, done. Advanced options live in tabs, so they stay out of the way until you need them.
Can teachers customise the wheel?
Yes. Save a class list, hide absent students, use Fair Rotation for balanced turns and project the wheel full screen.
How do I run team-building games with a wheel?
Use the ice-breaker, would-you-rather or trivia wheels, and choose who answers with a name wheel or the team generator.
How does a wheel boost classroom engagement?
The visible spin builds suspense, feels fair to students and turns routine questions into a quick game.
Does the wheel have sound effects?
Yes. Sound Lab has tick and win sounds with a volume control. Turn sound off any time.
Which colours can I use for the slices?
Choose from several palettes in Design, or set any single slice colour with the swatch next to that entry.
Can I add images to the wheel?
Yes. Use the 🖼 button on an entry for a slice image, or add a centre logo or background in the Images tab.
WheelSpinner trust centre
See how the spinner works, how your browser data is handled, the rules for using the site and how to contact us.
Popular guides and specialised spinners
Start with a practical guide, then open a wheel made for that exact activity. Each one has its own example list, steps and FAQs.