Weighted Random Wheel Guide — Set Odds and Probabilities

Labs

A standard random wheel gives every option the same chance to win. A weighted random wheel lets you control who is more likely to win. Larger slices mean higher odds—the visual matches the math, which is ideal for giveaways, games, or any scenario where odds should differ.

This guide explains how weights work on the random wheel tool, how to set them in the editor, and a few practical examples.

Weights and win probability

Each visible option has a weight (default 1). The chance to win is:

option weight ÷ sum of all visible weights

Slice arc length on the wheel uses the same ratio, so you can read odds at a glance.

Quick example

Three options A, B, C with weights 1, 2, and 1:

  • Total weight = 1 + 2 + 1 = 4
  • A: 1/4 = 25%
  • B: 2/4 = 50%
  • C: 1/4 = 25%

B’s slice is twice as wide as A or C.

Setting weights in the editor

  1. Open the random wheel.
  2. When adding or editing an option, enter a number in the weight field (decimals work, e.g. 0.5 or 2.5).
  3. Weight 0 means the option cannot win; Hide temporarily removes an option from the pool without deleting its label.
  4. After you change weights, slices update immediately so you can sanity-check the layout.

Bulk input and the x2 syntax

Use Bulk input to paste many lines at once. Add x2, x3, etc. at the end of a line to set weight:

Apple
Banana x2
Orange x3

Here Banana has weight 2 and Orange 3; Apple stays at 1. Confirm to add them in one step.

Practical scenarios

Giveaway: rare grand prize

Set prizes like Consolation x10 and Grand prize x1 so most spins land on the common outcome while the grand prize stays a small, visible slice.

Game: uneven roles

Role A at weight 3 and Role B at weight 1 means A is picked three times as often—useful for asymmetric random events.

Classroom: exclude past winners

Hide or zero-weight winners, keep other weights as-is, and spin again from the remaining pool.

Tips while configuring

  • Ratios matter more than raw numbers — weights 2 and 4 behave like 1 and 2.
  • Hide vs delete — hide for temporary removal; delete removes the row. Hidden options are excluded from the weight sum.
  • Share your setup — save the wheel, copy a link, or export a .wheel file so others use the same odds table.
  • Limits — 2–100 visible options; if a share link gets too long, export a file instead.

FAQ

Can weights be decimals?
Yes. For example 0.5 vs 1 is a 1:2 probability ratio.

Do slice sizes really match odds?
Yes. Rendering and random selection use the same weight ratios.

Is data sent to a server?
No. Weights and labels stay in your browser unless you share a link or file.

Try the weighted wheel

Open the random wheel tool, set weights on your options, and spin a few times to see slices and results align. When every option should have equal odds—such as picking names at random—keep all weights at 1.