How to draw names out of a hat online
- Fill the hat. Type or paste the names into the list, one per line. The hat fills up with slips.
- Draw. Press Draw a name or the Space bar. The hat shakes, a slip rises out and unfolds.
- Read the name. The winner appears on the slip and in the result card.
- Draw again, take the name out of the hat, or keep drawing until everyone has been picked.
One name, a few names, or the whole order
A random name draw isn't always about a single winner. Set the number of winners to draw three prize winners in a row, each slip landing next to the last. Or choose Rank everyone to pull every name from the hat and get a complete random order, ideal for presentation slots, a reading rota or the order of play.
When a hat is the right choice
- Big lists: the hat holds up to 10,000 names, far more than a wheel can show.
- Raffles and prize draws: draw winners in front of everyone, then keep the CSV history as a record.
- Choosing captains or leaders before you split into teams.
- Turn order for board games, debates or presentations.
- Secret picks: drawing names for a gift exchange? Draw in private and keep the result to yourself.
A perfectly shuffled hat
Real hats have a problem: slips folded differently, or the last ones dropped in sitting on top. A virtual hat
doesn't. Every draw uses your browser's secure random generator, every name has the same chance, and a name with
extra slips (Kim *2) really does have twice the chance. Your list never leaves your device.
How the picking works.
Questions people ask
What does "pick names out of a hat" mean?
It means choosing at random: everyone's name goes on a slip of paper, the slips are mixed in a hat, and someone draws one without looking. This page does the same thing on screen, with a perfectly shuffled hat every time.
How do you draw names out of a hat fairly?
Each name must be in the hat the same number of times, and the slips must be properly mixed. Here both are guaranteed: the winner is drawn with your browser's secure random generator, and each name counts once unless you give it extra slips with Name *3.
Can I draw more than one name?
Yes. Set Winners in Settings and the hat draws that many slips one after another, or tick Rank everyone to draw every name in order (great for turn order or a running order).
Are drawn names taken out of the hat?
In one draw, nobody can come out twice. Between draws, No repeats until everyone is picked is on from the start: every name comes out once before any comes out again. You can also choose to keep everyone in (pure chance) or Remove the winner.
How many names can go in the hat?
Up to 10,000, which makes the hat the best choice for big lists such as raffle entries or a whole school year.
Can I use it for a raffle or prize draw?
Yes. Add each entry as a name, draw as many winners as you need, and download the history as a CSV file as a record of the draw. We don't sell tickets or handle money; check your local raffle rules.