How the duck race works
- Line up your ducks. Each name in the list becomes a duck in its own lane, with the name beside it.
- Start the race. Press Start the race or the Space bar. "Ready… set… GO!"
- Watch the lead change. Ducks paddle, surge and fall back while the commentary calls out who is in front.
- Crown the winner. The first duck across the checkered line wins and gets a crown. With several winners, each one gets its place: 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
Why pick names with a duck race?
A wheel is over in a few seconds. A duck race gives everyone something to watch and cheer for: the duck that leads early often gets caught near the line, and the room goes up a notch every time the lead changes. It turns "who's next?" into a small event, which is exactly what you want in a classroom, at a party or on a stream.
Ideas for an online duck race
- Classroom: race for who presents first, who picks the class reward or who gets the first question. No repeats until everyone is picked is on from the start, so every duck gets its moment.
- Fundraisers and raffles: a virtual version of the classic charity duck race, with no ducks to
fish out of a river. Give supporters with more tickets extra chances using
Name *5. - Team meetings: a quick race to decide who speaks first or who hosts next week.
- Streams: let viewers enter names and race for a prize live; fullscreen hides everything but the pond.
- Family game night: decide who goes first, or race for the last slice of pizza.
Fair from start to finish
The finishing order is decided at the start with your browser's secure random generator, before any duck moves. Every duck has an equal chance (unless you gave someone extra entries), and the race animation simply plays that order out with plenty of drama on the way. Your names never leave your device. How the picking works.
Questions people ask
Is the duck race random?
Yes. Before the ducks set off, your browser's secure random number generator picks the finishing order, with every duck getting the same chance. The surges and comebacks during the race are just for fun; they never change who wins.
How do you create a duck race online?
Type or paste the names into the list (one name per duck), then press Start the race. That's it: no sign-up, no download. Use Settings to choose a quick, normal or dramatic race and how many winners you want.
How many ducks can race?
Up to 30 ducks, each in its own lane with its name. For bigger lists the picker switches to Quick pick, or use names in a hat, which handles any number of names.
Can I have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place?
Yes. Set Winners to 3 in Settings. The ducks cross the line in that order and each one gets its place number next to its name.
Can I run a duck race raffle online?
You can use the race to draw raffle winners: add each entry as a name (or Name *5 for someone with five tickets) and race. We don't sell tickets or handle money. Check your local rules for running raffles.
Can I make the race longer for more suspense?
Yes. Choose Dramatic speed in Settings for a longer race, and turn on the 3-2-1 countdown for a proper start.
Can I show the duck race on a big screen?
Yes. Press the fullscreen button (or F) and the race fills the screen, ready for a projector, a TV or a video call.