How to use the yes or no wheel
- Type your question in Your question (optional) if you want it shown above the answer. It is never saved or sent anywhere.
- Under Answers, choose Yes / No or Yes / No / Maybe.
- Under Format, choose One spin, or Best of 3 or Best of 5 when one spin feels too final. A series runs by itself after one press and stops as soon as one side has won.
- To tilt the odds, switch on Set custom odds (weighted wheel) and give each answer a weight from 1 to 99. The slices change size and the line under the wheel shows each answer's chance.
- Press Spin, tap the wheel, or press Space or Enter. The answer appears in large letters below the wheel.
- Your tally counts every Yes, No and Maybe and lists your last 30 answers. Reset clears them.
Is the yes or no wheel random?
Yes. When you press Spin, the answer is drawn first with crypto.getRandomValues, the cryptographically secure random number generator built into your browser. The tool uses rejection sampling: it throws away the rare random values that would make one answer slightly more likely than another, so on a fair wheel Yes and No each have exactly a 1 in 2 chance, and with Maybe added each answer has 1 in 3. Only then does the wheel turn, easing out so it stops inside a slice of the chosen answer. The animation only shows the result; when or how you press has no effect on it.
The wheel repeats the answers round the circle (eight slices for Yes / No, nine with Maybe) because that looks better than two halves. It changes nothing: each answer covers exactly its share of the circle. With custom odds, the slices are resized to match the weights, and the label under the wheel changes from "Fair wheel" to "Weighted wheel" with the real percentages, so a weighted spin can never pass for a fair one.
Every spin is independent. The wheel has no memory, so after four Yes answers in a row the next spin is still 50/50. Expecting No to be "due" is the gambler's fallacy; runs like that are simply part of randomness.
The odds of yes, no and maybe
| Setting | Outcome | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Yes / No, fair | Yes (or No) on one spin | 50% |
| Yes / No / Maybe, fair | Each answer on one spin | 33.3% |
| Weights 7 and 3 | Yes on one spin | 70% |
| Best of 3, fair | Series ends 2–0 / 2–1 | 50% / 50% |
| Best of 5, fair | Series ends 3–0 / 3–1 / 3–2 | 25% / 37.5% / 37.5% |
| Best of 3, weights 7 and 3 | Yes wins the series | 78.4% |
| Best of 5, weights 7 and 3 | Yes wins the series | 83.7% |
The best-of numbers follow from simple counting. In best of 3, the series ends 2–0 whenever the first two spins agree, which happens half the time; otherwise a third spin decides it, 2–1. In best of 5, a 3–0 sweep needs three matching spins: 2 × (1/2)³ = 25%. A 3–1 result can happen in three orders for each side: 2 × 3 × (1/2)⁴ = 37.5%, and 3–2 takes the remaining 37.5%. With uneven odds a series favours the stronger side even more: at 70% per spin, Yes wins best of 3 with 0.7² × (3 − 2 × 0.7) = 78.4%. The tool shows this series chance live whenever you pick best of 3 or 5.
When a random yes or no helps
A random answer is useful when both options are fine and the cost is the time spent deciding: which film tonight, whether to order dessert, who goes first in a game, or a party question. It is also good at breaking a loop of overthinking, and at classroom and quiz games where everyone can see the answer is fair.
There is also the coin-flip trick. Ask the wheel, then notice your first reaction to the answer. If you feel relief, that was probably what you wanted; if you feel disappointed, you may want the other option. The wheel does not decide for you; it shows you what you already prefer. That is why the tool asks "relieved or disappointed?" after each answer.
Yes or no wheel, coin or name wheel?
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Yes or no wheel (this page) | A yes, no or maybe answer, best-of series that run automatically, and openly weighted odds |
| Flip a coin | Heads or tails, up to 100 coins at once, with streaks; it also has a yes/no mode |
| Spin the wheel | Your own list of names or options, up to 100, with winners removed as you go |
| Random number generator | Numbers in any range, dice and lottery-style picks |
Find more random generators among the everyday tools.
Privacy
Every spin happens in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Your question is not stored. Your settings (answers, format, custom odds and sound), the tally and your last 30 answers are kept in this browser's local storage so they survive a reload; Reset clears the tally and history.
Frequently asked questions
Is the yes or no wheel random?
Yes. The answer is drawn with your browser's cryptographically secure random generator, using rejection sampling so there is no rounding bias, before the wheel starts to turn. On a fair wheel Yes and No each have exactly a 50% chance, and every spin is independent of the last.
Can I add maybe?
Yes. Choose Yes / No / Maybe under Answers. Each of the three answers then has a 1 in 3 chance, unless you set custom odds. Best of 3 and best of 5 use Yes and No only.
How do I make the wheel land on yes more often?
Only by setting weights, and the wheel shows it openly. Switch on Set custom odds and give Yes a bigger weight, for example 7 for Yes and 3 for No for a 70% chance. The Yes slices grow to match and the wheel is labelled as weighted. There is no hidden way to rig a fair spin.
What is the best of 3 option?
Best of 3 keeps spinning until Yes or No has won twice, so it takes two or three spins. One press runs the whole series and shows each spin. On a fair wheel it ends 2–0 half the time and 2–1 the other half; best of 5 needs three wins.
Is it free?
Yes. The yes or no wheel is free, needs no sign-up and works on phones, tablets and computers. It runs in your browser, so once the page has loaded it keeps working even if your connection drops.
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