Let fate decide with a virtual straw draw. Whoever gets the short straw is chosen.
1. Add your names or options
Example: Alice, Bob, Charlie | Example: Pizza, Pasta, Sandwich
2. Begin drawing
The tool tells you whose turn it is to draw. Click on any straw.
3. The short straw wins
Keep drawing until the short straw is found and the final choice is made.
Drawing straws adds visual ceremony to selection, whether you're choosing who goes first in a game, picking a restaurant from your list, or selecting which task to tackle next. The familiar metaphor of drawing the short straw makes random selection feel more engaging.
Unlike abstract random number generators, straw drawing provides tangible visual feedback. You see each straw emerge from the container, watch them reveal their lengths, and experience the buildup to discovering which option was chosen. It transforms a mundane selection process into something with personality and anticipation.
The sequential drawing process creates natural suspense even when you're the only person involved. Each straw drawn eliminates possibilities and builds toward the final reveal. This pacing makes the eventual selection feel more significant than instant randomization - like the choice had to be earned through the drawing process.
The visual metaphor also makes results easier to accept. When the short straw appears, it feels like a definitive outcome rather than an arbitrary assignment. The physical representation of straws with different lengths provides concrete evidence of why that particular option was selected.
Whether you're choosing between restaurants, deciding which friend gets the last concert ticket, or picking a random winner from a list, straw drawing works for both solo decisions and group scenarios. The tool adapts seamlessly—you can draw all the straws yourself to make a personal choice, or pass the device around for group participation.
Absolutely! You can draw all the straws yourself to make any kind of random selection. The visual process makes it more engaging than clicking a Random button, even when you're the only participant.
Yes, the short straw is randomly assigned before drawing begins using random number generation. Every option has exactly equal odds regardless of which straw you click first.
Straw drawing provides visual engagement and familiar metaphorical meaning. The sequential reveal creates suspense and makes the final selection feel more significant than instant randomization.
You can add up to 10 options. The tool works well for everything from simple either/or choices to selecting from larger lists of possibilities.
Of course! Like all of our tools, you can give it another go if needed. Sometimes the value is in your reaction to the initial result - it might reveal what you actually preferred.