A marble race is a random name picker built like a marble run. Every name becomes a glass marble with its own coloured swirl, rolling in its own groove down a 10-metre wooden track. The marbles pick up speed, bump and clack, and slip past each other until the first one drops over the finish line. You get a podium for the top three and the full finishing order below it.
Marble runs are fun to watch even for people who are not in the draw, which makes this a good pick for a stream, a classroom screen or a party. Up to 60 marbles fit on the track. When the race is over you can copy the results in one click and paste them into a chat or a document.
How to run a marble race
- Type or paste the names, one per line. Each line is one marble.
- Pick a race length: about 10 seconds for Short, up to about a minute for Epic.
- Press Start race. The camera follows the leading marble down the track.
- When the last marble arrives, check the podium and the full order, then press Copy results or run it again.
Is the marble race fair?
Yes. Real marble runs can favour a lane or a heavier marble, but this one cannot. When you press Start, the page shuffles the names with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues, and every finishing order has the same chance. That shuffle is the result. Each marble then gets a speed curve with bursts and slow patches, tuned to cross the line at its assigned moment.
The bumps and overtakes are animation, and nothing during the race changes the outcome. Swirl colour and lane do not matter. Your list stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Ideas for marble races
- Draw giveaway winners on a stream and paste the full order into chat.
- Assign seats, groups or presentation slots in class.
- Pick a random order for a tournament bracket or a quiz.
- Choose who makes the next round of drinks. Tick Remove winner to spread the job around.
Frequently asked questions
How many marbles can race at once?
Up to 60. Each marble rolls in its own lane, so with a very long list the marbles and name tags get smaller. For big groups, run heats of 10 to 15 and then a final.
Can I paste a list from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Copy a column from Excel or Google Sheets and paste it into the names box, and each row becomes one marble. You can also import an .xlsx, CSV, Word or text file.
Does the marble race make sound?
Yes: countdown beeps, the clack of marbles knocking together on the track and a fanfare for the winner. The sounds are made in the browser, and you can turn them off in the race settings.
Can a marble win twice in a row?
Yes, every race is a fresh draw. If each name should only win once, tick Remove winner after race and the winner is taken off the list.