Spinning Wheel Tool
Result:
Spin History
No history to display. Spin the wheel to see your history here.
How the Spinning Wheel Works
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add your entries to the wheel by typing them in the input field
- Customize colors for each entry to make your wheel visually appealing
- Click the "Spin" button to start the wheel spinning
- Watch the wheel spin with realistic physics and momentum
- See the selected entry highlighted when the wheel stops
- Review your history to see all previous spin results
Technical Explanation of Randomization
Our spinning wheel uses the Web Crypto API when supported by your browser to generate random values. Before the animation begins, the winning segment is pre-selected, with each entry designed to have equal probability of being chosen, regardless of how many entries you have on the wheel.
The wheel animation is calculated to land on the pre-selected segment, with realistic deceleration physics that make the spin feel natural. The rotation includes multiple full spins plus the angle needed to land on the winner, creating suspense. The visual presentation doesn't influence the outcome—the result is determined when you click spin. Limitation: Results depend on browser support for the Web Crypto API and are generated client-side.
Each segment's size is automatically calculated based on the total number of entries, ensuring equal representation. Whether you have 2 entries or 100 entries, each one is designed to have equal probability of being selected. The selection triangle at the top indicates which segment is chosen when the wheel stops spinning.
Customization Options Explained
Personalize your spinning wheel with these features:
- Custom Entries: Add unlimited entries with any text you want, perfect for names, options, or prizes
- Color Customization: Assign unique colors to each segment or use auto-generated color schemes
- Spin Duration: Adjust how long the wheel spins from quick selections to dramatic builds
- Sound Effects: Enable spinning and success sounds for enhanced engagement
- Fullscreen Mode: Expand to fullscreen for presentations, events, or group activities
- Import/Export: Save your wheel configuration and share it with others
Real-World Use Cases for Spinning Wheels
🎓 Classroom Applications
Student Selection and Participation: Teachers use spinning wheels to randomly select students for answering questions, presentations, or classroom jobs. The visual excitement of the spinning wheel keeps students engaged and eliminates any perception of favoritism. Many teachers create wheels with student names at the beginning of the year and use them throughout the semester.
Topic Selection and Review Games: Educators create wheels with review topics, vocabulary words, or math problems for game-based learning. Students spin to determine which topic they'll present on or which problem they'll solve, adding an element of chance that makes review sessions more engaging.
💼 Business Uses
Team Building and Ice Breakers: HR professionals and team leaders use spinning wheels for ice breaker activities, team building exercises, and meeting energizers. Wheels can contain conversation starters, activity options, or team member names for random pairing.
Prize Drawings and Giveaways: Marketing teams use spinning wheels for social media contests, trade show giveaways, and customer appreciation events. The visual nature of the wheel creates excitement and transparency, and the fullscreen mode works great for live events and video streams.
🎮 Gaming Scenarios
Stream Giveaways and Viewer Interaction: Twitch and YouTube streamers use spinning wheels for subscriber giveaways, game selection, and viewer challenges. The customizable colors and fullscreen mode make it perfect for streaming, and the history feature provides transparency for contest rules.
Game Night Decision Making: Board game groups use wheels to decide which game to play, who goes first, or to add random elements to gameplay. The ability to save and load wheel configurations means you can create dedicated wheels for different gaming groups or game types.
🎉 Event Planning Examples
Party Games and Activities: Party hosts use spinning wheels for games like "spin the bottle" alternatives, truth or dare categories, or activity selection. Wedding planners use them for bouquet toss alternatives and reception games, with customized colors matching the wedding theme.
Raffle Drawings and Prize Selection: Event organizers use wheels for raffle drawings, door prize selections, and contest winners. The large, clear display ensures all attendees can see the selection process, and the ability to remove winners and re-spin makes it perfect for multiple-prize events.
Tips & Best Practices
Expert Advice
- Use contrasting colors: Choose colors that are visually distinct to make each segment easy to identify when the wheel is spinning
- Keep entry text concise: Short, clear labels are easier to read on the spinning wheel, especially with many entries
- Save your configurations: Use the export feature to save wheels you use frequently, like classroom rosters or team member lists
- Test before live events: Do a practice spin before using the wheel in front of an audience to ensure everything displays correctly
- Use fullscreen for visibility: Fullscreen mode ensures everyone in the room can see the result clearly
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't add too many entries: While the wheel can handle many entries, having more than 50-100 makes individual segments hard to read. Consider using the Name Picker tool for larger lists.
Avoid duplicate entries: Unless intentionally weighting the selection, remove duplicate entries to ensure fair selection. Each unique option should appear only once.
Optimization Tips
Use the import feature: Create your wheel entries in a spreadsheet and import them to save time when setting up large wheels.
Enable sound for engagement: The spinning sound effect builds anticipation and makes the selection more exciting for audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How random is the spinning wheel?
We use the Web Crypto API when supported by your browser to generate random values. The winning segment is selected before the animation begins, with each entry designed to have equal probability of being selected, regardless of its position on the wheel or the colors used. The animation is calculated to land on the pre-selected winner.
How many entries can I add to the wheel?
You can add as many entries as you need, though we recommend keeping it under 100 for optimal visibility. With many entries, individual segments become smaller and harder to read. For very large lists (like 100+ names), consider using our Name Picker tool instead, which is optimized for larger selections.
Can I save my wheel configuration?
Yes! Your wheel entries and colors are automatically saved in your browser, so they'll be there when you return. You can also use the export feature to save your wheel configuration as a file, which you can share with others or import on different devices. This is perfect for teachers who want to use the same student wheel across multiple devices.
Does the spin duration affect which entry is selected?
No, the spin duration has no impact on the selection. The winning entry is determined when you click the spin button. The duration setting only controls how long the animation lasts—whether you prefer a quick spin or a dramatic slow reveal, the underlying randomization process remains the same.
Can I remove an entry after it's been selected?
Yes! This is perfect for situations where you don't want the same entry to be selected twice, like prize drawings or student selection. After an entry is selected, you can remove it from the wheel, and the remaining entries will be redistributed evenly. The history feature keeps a record of all selections, including removed entries.
Can I use this for commercial giveaways and contests?
Yes, our spinning wheel can be used for commercial purposes, including social media giveaways, trade show contests, and customer appreciation events. The randomization is designed to provide fairness, and the history feature provides an audit trail. Many businesses use the fullscreen mode for live events and the export feature to document their selection process.
Why does the wheel sometimes land between segments?
The wheel is designed to land on a segment, with the selection triangle at the top indicating the winner. If it appears to be between segments, the triangle pointer at the top of the wheel shows which segment is selected. The winning segment is also highlighted and displayed clearly below the wheel.
Does this work offline?
Yes! Once you've loaded the page, the spinning wheel works offline thanks to our Progressive Web App implementation. All randomization happens in your browser, so no internet connection is required. This makes it useful for classroom use, events in areas with poor connectivity, or situations where internet access is restricted.
Customize Wheel
Celebration Effects
Select the animation that will play when the wheel stops spinning.
Statistics
Total spins: 0
Entry distribution: