Duck race questions, answered

A free random name picker presented as a rubber duck race. You paste names or choices, press Start, and a fair draw picks the finishing order while the ducks race it out on screen next to a live position board.

From 2 to 100. Up to 30 ducks get their own roped lanes with numbers on every duck. From 31 to 100, the lanes are packed and number tags follow the top five and your pinned duck. The position board always lists everyone.

Yes. Each entry gets its own race number, so two "Sam"s become duck 04 and duck 11. When you paste a list with repeats, you choose whether to keep them or merge them.

You choose: 20, 40, or 60 seconds, or any custom length from 10 to 120 seconds. Skip to result is there if you need the answer right away.

Yes. After a race, choose Remove winner and race again to draw the next place from the remaining entrants. Or read the final standings: the whole finishing order is random, so the top three of one race are a fair 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

Stopping cancels the run and records no winner. Starting again is a completely new draw.

Yes. When you press Start, your browser's cryptographic random generator (the Web Crypto API) and an unbiased shuffle decide the full finishing order. With 20 entrants, each has exactly a 1 in 20 chance to win. How fairness works covers the details.

No. All looks share the same silhouette and size, and looks are not part of the draw. A duck in a crown is purely decorative.

There is no control or hidden setting for it. Race files and setup links carry the lineup and settings, never a result. A local race can't stop someone from editing the page with developer tools, though, which is why hosted events will draw on the server.

Probably not. Streaks are normal in small random samples: with 5 entrants, a particular person winning three races in a row happens about once in 125 tries. If you want everyone to get a turn, use Remove winner and race again.

Not unless you choose to sync. Lineups are stored in your browser. They leave your device only if you save a race file, copy a setup link, or sign in to sync saved lineups between devices. Our usage counts and Google Analytics never include names or messages. See the privacy notice.

No. Racing never needs an account. If you use more than one computer, you can create a free account by signing in with Google or an email link, and your saved lineups sync between them. You can delete the account and its data at any time.

On the Save & share tab, use Save lineup to keep named lineups in this browser, or Save race file to download a .duckderby file you can open on any computer.

A small text file holding a race setup: the names, race numbers, duck looks, course, race length, winner message, and display settings. It never contains a result. Open it from the Save & share tab.

The link contains every name in the lineup, so anyone who gets it can read them. You will be asked to confirm before a link is made. For student rosters or private lists, send a race file instead.

Yes. Fullscreen fits the course and the position board on one screen with larger names, and never crops the finish line. Any modern browser works, including on a smart TV or a laptop connected to a projector.

Yes, in portrait or landscape. On narrow screens the board shows the leaders and your pinned duck, with a button for the full standings.

Sound starts off so the race never blasts through a classroom or a conference call. Turn it on with the speaker button; your choice is remembered.

Every control works by keyboard with visible focus. A low-motion mode (automatic when your device asks for reduced motion) removes bobbing, wakes, and confetti while keeping the same result. Screen readers hear the start, the winner, and the finish, and a text list of final standings follows every race.

After your first visit, the race page is saved by your browser so it can load without a connection, which helps on unreliable school or venue Wi-Fi.

Yes, with the public race today: put names or ticket numbers in the lineup and show it fullscreen. Hosted events, with a link for every audience phone, branding, heats, and a results page, are coming later.

No. Duck Race Derby does not handle tickets, payments, donations, or prize claims. If your race is a paid raffle or regulated prize draw, check the rules where you are.