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Draw Straws Online

Who takes out the trash? Who goes first? Skip the broken broom bristles — add the names, draw, and let the short straw decide. Picked names drop out automatically.

The Short Straw, Without the Straws

"Drawing straws" is the oldest tie-breaker there is: everyone grabs a hidden straw, and whoever pulls the short one loses. It's how friends decide who pays, who drives, and who has to give the bad news. The only problem is you never actually have straws when you need them. This tool gives you the exact same fair, can't-argue-with-it draw — just add the names and let one come up. No prep, no props, no rigging.

How to Draw Straws Here

It takes seconds: • Add everyone's name to the pool • Draw once — that name is the "short straw" (the chosen one) • Need to rank everyone? Keep drawing — picked names are removed, so the order is the full pulling order • Draw until one name is left if you want the "safe" person instead Because picked names drop out automatically, nobody can be drawn twice and every draw is a clean elimination.

Is the Draw Actually Fair?

Yes. Every draw uses cryptographically secure randomness — the same kind browsers use for encryption — so every remaining name has an exactly equal chance. There's no pattern and no hidden bias, which is the whole point: even the person who loses can't claim it was fixed.

Draw the Short Straw

Add your names and draw — the picked name is the one who's it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I decide who loses with draw straws?

Add everyone's name, then draw once. The name that comes up is the "short straw" — the person who's it. If you'd rather the draw pick the safe person, keep drawing until only one name remains.

Can the same person be drawn twice?

No. This page has "exclude drawn" turned on, so each name drops out of the pool once it's picked. That makes it perfect for putting everyone in a fair order, one draw at a time.

How is this different from a coin flip?

A coin flip only handles two options. Drawing straws works for any number of people — three roommates, a whole team, a family — and you can keep drawing to rank everyone, not just pick one.

Set Up Your Own Straw Draw

Add your names and let the short straw settle it.

Create my draw

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