Ways to use the random number generator
- Giveaways and raffles: number the entries and draw winners without repeats, or paste the entrant names and pick from the list.
- Games: roll dice (1 to 6), flip a coin (1 to 2) or choose who goes first.
- Classrooms: pick a student, or shuffle a list to make random groups or a presentation order.
- Decisions: can't choose a restaurant? Put the options in a list and let chance decide.
How it stays fair
Many simple generators use a method (“modulo”) that makes some numbers slightly more likely than others. This
one uses rejection sampling, which throws away the few random values that would cause that bias, so every
number and every name has exactly the same chance.
Frequently asked questions
Are the numbers really random?
They come from your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator (the Web Crypto API), the same source used for encryption keys. Each number in the range is equally likely.
Can I generate numbers without repeats?
Yes. Turn off “Allow repeats” to get unique numbers, like drawing balls from a lottery machine. The amount you ask for can't be larger than the size of the range.
How do I pick a random winner from a list of names?
Switch to “Pick from a list”, paste the names one per line, and choose how many winners to draw. Each name can only be picked once per draw.
Is this suitable for official lotteries or legal draws?
It's fair and unbiased, but official draws usually need an independently audited process. For giveaways, classroom picks, games and decisions it's ideal.