Generate a random number in seconds
A random number generator is a simple online tool that picks a number for you, fairly and without favouritism, from any range you choose. Enter a minimum and a maximum, decide how many numbers you need, and press Generate. The tool is ideal for raffles, classroom games, prize draws, team selections, board games and giveaways, because it removes arguments about who picked the number and whether the choice was fair. It works instantly in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer, needs no sign-up, and is free to use as often as you like.
Teachers use it to choose pupils for a question, to split a class into groups, or to pick a winning ticket. Families use it for games night, for deciding who goes first, and for choosing a film or a takeaway when nobody can agree. Event organisers use it for raffles and lucky draws, while coaches and club leaders use it to draw lots for fixtures and starting positions. Because every whole number in the range has the same chance of appearing, the result is as fair as drawing a numbered ball from a bag.
Random Number Generator
How to use the random number generator
- Enter the smallest number you want to allow in the Minimum box. For a raffle with tickets numbered from 1, enter 1.
- Enter the largest number you want to allow in the Maximum box. If the last ticket is 100, enter 100.
- Enter how many numbers you need. For one winner, enter 1. For five prizes, enter 5.
- Tick No repeats only if every result must be different. Leave it unticked if repeats are allowed, for example when rolling a dice several times.
- Press Generate. Your numbers appear below the button. Press it again for a fresh set.
Always double-check the range before a live draw. A common mistake is to set the maximum one too low, so the last ticket can never win, or to forget to tick No repeats when the same person must not win twice. If you see an error message, read it carefully, adjust the figures, and generate again.
Worked example
Suppose a teacher has 30 pupils, numbered 1 to 30, and wants to choose five pupils for a quiz team, with no pupil chosen twice. She enters a minimum of 1, a maximum of 30, a count of 5, and ticks No repeats. The range contains 30 numbers, because 30 minus 1 plus 1 equals 30, so five different numbers are easily possible. The tool then returns five different numbers between 1 and 30, and those five pupils form the team. If she had asked for 35 numbers with No repeats ticked, the tool would refuse, because only 30 different numbers exist in that range.
Tips for a fair draw
Use the full range that matches your tickets, names or entries, and agree the rules before you press Generate. If you are running a public draw, show the screen to the audience so everyone can see the settings and the result. For a draw with several prizes, use No repeats so one entry cannot take every prize. For repeated rolls, dice throws or coin-style choices, leave No repeats unticked. Save a screenshot of the result if you need a record, and run the draw again only if everyone agrees that the first attempt was invalid, otherwise a second draw can look unfair.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is the random number generator really fair?
Yes. It uses the browser built-in random function, which gives every whole number in your chosen range the same chance of being selected. No number is favoured, and the result is not influenced by previous draws unless you choose No repeats.
2. What happens if I tick No repeats?
With No repeats ticked, every number in the result is different. The tool checks each new number against the numbers already chosen and keeps drawing until it finds one that has not been used. The count must not be larger than the number of values in the range.
3. Can the minimum and maximum be negative?
Yes. You can use negative numbers, for example a minimum of minus 10 and a maximum of 10, which is useful for temperature games, maths practice and classroom activities. The maximum must still be greater than the minimum.
4. How many numbers can I generate at once?
You can generate one number for a single winner, or a larger set for a group draw. Keep the count sensible for the screen and for your purpose. If you need a very long list, generate it in smaller batches and combine the results.
5. Do I need to install anything or create an account?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser, on any device, with no download, sign-up or payment. Your numbers are generated on the page in front of you and are not sent anywhere else.