Spin a Name

Random state generator

This random state generator picks US states at random: choose how many you want, press Generate, or spin the wheel of all 50 states.

Your random states

    State wheel

    Random state

    Or click the wheel, or press Ctrl + Enter (⌘ + Enter on a Mac).

    Quick lists:
    50 entries

    Up to 1,000 entries. Add an entry twice to double its chance.

    Colours

    The wheel picked

    About this list: The 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. Plain facts.

    How to use the state generator

    1. Type how many states you want. One is enough for a quick pick.
    2. Leave "Include" on "50 states", or switch it to add Washington, D.C..
    3. If you like, choose a first letter under "Starts with".
    4. Press Generate. You get that many different states, in a random order.

    Press Copy list to paste the states into a document, or "Spin these on the wheel" to let the wheel choose one of them in front of everyone.

    The state wheel

    The wheel starts with all 50 states. On a large screen the names fit on the slices. On a small phone they may be too thin to read, but the picked state always shows in large text in the pop-up. The quick lists load the states from A to M or from N to W, for a wheel with bigger slices.

    To stop a state coming up twice, press "Remove this entry" after each spin. That is useful when every student or team needs a different state.

    Ideas for the classroom

    • State reports: give each student a random state to research: its capital, its main cities, its land and its history.
    • Map practice: spin a state and ask the class to find it on a blank map.
    • Capital quiz: spin a state and see who can name its capital first.
    • Neighbors game: spin a state and list every state that touches its border.
    • Postcard writing: imagine a trip to the state you land on and write a postcard home.

    Fun at home and on the road

    Families use random states for quiz nights, travel dreams and car games. Spot license plates and tick off states as you see them, or generate five states and try to name a famous food from each one. Planning a long trip? Spin for the next state to visit, then decide together if you really want to go.

    About the list

    The list has the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., which is a federal district, not a state. It is plain facts. Where the list comes from is shown under the wheel. Each state has the same chance, no matter how big it is or how many people live there, so Rhode Island is just as likely as Texas.

    The picks use your browser's secure random numbers, and nothing you choose is sent to us. For the rest of the world, try the random country generator.

    Questions people ask

    Does the generator include all 50 states?

    Yes. All 50 states are on the list, and each one has the same chance of being picked.

    Is Washington, D.C. included?

    Only if you choose it. Washington, D.C. is not a state, so it is left out at first. Choose "50 states and Washington, D.C." under "Include" to add it, or use the "States and Washington, D.C." quick list on the wheel.

    Can I get several states with no repeats?

    Yes. Type how many you want, from 1 to 51, and press Generate. No state appears twice in the same list.

    Can I pick states that start with a certain letter?

    Yes. Choose a letter under "Starts with". For example, M gives you states like Maine, Michigan and Montana.

    Can I add territories such as Puerto Rico?

    Yes, on the wheel. Type any places you like into the entry box, one per line, and spin. The list generator always uses the states list.

    Can I use it to plan a road trip?

    Yes, for fun. Spin for a state, then look up places to visit there. Always check travel times and costs before you set off.

    More wheels and generators

    See every wheel and generator