Pick a number between 1 and 2
When you need to pick a number between 1 and 2, you are really making a choice between two things. This page puts the numbers 1 and 2 on a wheel, picks one at random, and spins to land on it. It is a 1 or 2 wheel for settling a tie, taking a turn, or answering a question that has two sides.
It is free, runs in your browser, and needs no account. The page opens on 1 to 2, so you can press Spin straight away. A window shows the number that came up, and everyone watching can see it land.
How to get a random number 1 or 2
- Decide what each number means. Say out loud that 1 is the left door and 2 is the right, or that 1 is your pick and 2 is theirs.
- Press Spin. You can also click the wheel or press Ctrl (⌘ on a Mac) plus Enter.
- Read the number. It appears in a window, and the Results tab keeps a list of every number from your visit, newest first.
- Stick to the result. The wheel only helps if the rule was agreed before the spin.
Is it a fair 50/50?
Yes. There are two slices of equal size, so each number has a one-in-two chance on every spin. When you press Spin, your browser’s secure random number generator picks the number first, and the wheel is then turned to stop on it. The animation never changes the result. You can read the full explanation on the how WheelSpinny picks page.
Fair does not mean the numbers alternate. Spin ten times and you might see 1 come up three times in a row, and it would not be a fault. A particular number turns up five spins in a row about one time in 32. The previous spin has no effect on the next one, so a number is never due.
Settle it before you spin
Most arguments over a random pick start after the result, when someone decides the rules were different. Two habits stop that. First, agree what 1 and 2 stand for. Second, agree whether one spin is final or whether it is best of three.
For a best of three, spin three times and count. With only two numbers and three spins, one of them is always ahead, so there is never a draw. Use an odd number of spins whenever you want a clear winner.
Ways to use a 1 or 2 wheel
- Two options, one answer. Two films, two restaurants, two routes home. Give each a number and spin once.
- Who goes first. In a two-player game, 1 is the player on the left and 2 is the player on the right.
- Heads or tails without a coin. Call 1 heads and 2 tails when nobody has a coin. For a coin you can see turn over, the coin flip does that job directly.
- Odd or even. Let 1 stand for odd and 2 for even, then use the number to decide who picks the next round.
- Splitting two chores. The person who gets 1 takes the first chore, and the other takes the second.
- Teaching probability. Spin twenty times, tally the 1s and 2s, and talk about why the split is rarely exactly ten and ten.
When two choices are not enough
If a third choice appears, move up to the 1 to 3 wheel. For a plain yes or no answer, the yes or no wheel puts the words on the wheel so nobody has to remember the key. To pick between named options of your own, type them into the random name picker.
You can also change the range on this page. Edit the From and To boxes beside the wheel, or open the general random number generator to count in steps or leave numbers out.
Why not just think of a number?
Asking someone to think of 1 or 2 sounds fair, but people are poor random number generators. They avoid repeating themselves, so they switch between the two more often than chance would, and they lean towards whichever number feels luckier. If you are the one making the call, a rival can learn your habit within a few rounds.
A wheel has no habits. It does not try to look random, so it can repeat the same number three times and then switch, just as chance does. That is why a spin is the better way to settle anything that matters to both sides, even if it is only who sits in the front seat.
A simple ritual keeps it fair for everyone. One person presses Spin, the other person names their number before the wheel starts, and the result is read out loud by someone who is not involved. That way nobody can claim they were not paying attention.
Good to know
- Both 1 and 2 are included, so the wheel holds exactly two numbers.
- Your range and settings are saved in your own browser, and the Results tab lasts until you close or reload the page. Nothing is sent to a server.
- It works on phones, tablets and desktop browsers, and with a keyboard. The result is shown as text and announced to screen readers.
- A device set to reduce motion skips the long spin, and the number still appears.
- It is made for games and everyday decisions. Do not use it for passwords, security keys or anything regulated.