Weighted Random Picker
Pick a winner from a list where every option carries its own weight, with or without replacement, and see each entry's true probability next to what the run drew.
Options and weights
The winner
Uncommon
True probability versus what this run actually drew
| Option | Weight | True chance | Drawn | Share of this run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | 70 | 70.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncommon | 20 | 20.00% | 1 | 100.00% |
| Rare | 9 | 9.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| Legendary | 1 | 1.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
One draw will not look like the weights — that is what randomness means. Raise the draw count to a few thousand and the “share of this run” column converges on the “true chance” column.
Each option is given a stretch of a number line as long as its weight. A seeded mulberry32 generator throws a dart somewhere along that line and whichever stretch it lands in wins, which makes every option come up exactly weight ÷ total of the time. Because the generator is seeded rather than truly random, the same seed always replays the same draw — handy for a loot table you need to reproduce, and the reason you should never use this to award anything of real value. It all runs in your browser with nothing uploaded.
What is the Weighted Random Picker?
A weighted random picker lets some options come up more often than others. Give each row a name and a weight, and an option with a weight of 6 is picked six times as often as one with a weight of 1.
- Up to 60 weighted options with live percentage next to each row
- Whole or fractional weights, in any units you like
- Draw with replacement, or without so no option repeats
- From a single winner up to 10000 draws in one run
- True probability shown beside the frequency this run produced
- Seeded, so the same seed always replays the same draw
How to use the Weighted Random Picker
- 1
Type each option's name and give it a weight — bigger weights win more often.
- 2
Add or remove rows until the list matches your draw.
- 3
Set how many picks to make, and untick the replacement box if no option may repeat.
- 4
Press New for a fresh seed, or keep the seed to replay the identical draw.
- 5
Compare the true chance and share of this run columns, then export the tally as CSV.
About the Weighted Random Picker
A weighted random picker lets some options come up more often than others. Give each row a name and a weight, and an option with a weight of 6 is picked six times as often as one with a weight of 1. It is the right tool for loot tables, prize tiers, weighted sampling and any draw where the odds are not meant to be equal.
Each option is given a stretch of a number line as long as its weight. A seeded generator throws a dart along that line and whichever stretch it lands in wins, which makes every option come up exactly its weight divided by the total. The table below the winner shows that true probability next to what this particular run actually drew.
Because the generator is seeded rather than truly random, the same seed always replays the same draw — useful for a loot table you need to reproduce, and precisely why you should never use it to award anything of real value. Everything runs in your browser and your list is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
How does weighted random selection work?
The weights are laid end to end on a number line and a random point along that line is chosen. Whichever option's segment contains the point wins, so an option's chance is exactly its weight divided by the sum of all weights.
Do the weights have to add up to 100?
No. Weights are relative, so 70, 20, 9 and 1 behaves identically to 7, 2, 0.9 and 0.1. The tool works out each option's percentage for you and shows it beside the row.
Why did my rare option come up more often than its weight suggests?
Small samples are noisy. A one-percent option genuinely can appear twice in a hundred draws. Raise the draw count to a few thousand and the share of this run column converges on the true chance column.
What is the difference between drawing with and without replacement?
With replacement, every draw is independent and an option can win repeatedly. Without replacement, each winner is removed and the remaining weights are renormalised, so you get distinct winners — right for picking three different prize recipients.
Can I use this for a real prize draw?
Please do not. The generator is seeded and therefore reproducible, which means anyone who knows the seed can predict the result. Use it for game design, testing and simulations, and use a properly audited process for anything with real stakes.
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