A decision maker for random picks, weighted choices and serious decisions
Some decisions deserve a coin toss and some deserve a spreadsheet. This decision maker does both. For quick choices — where to eat, what to watch, who goes first — list the options and let a spinning reel pick one with honest randomness, or give some options more weight than others. For decisions that matter — a job offer, a laptop, a supplier, a city to move to — use the weighted decision matrix to score each option against the criteria you care about, or write a pros and cons list and see which side carries more weight.
Random picks use your browser’s cryptographic random generator with rejection sampling, so every option has exactly the chance it should. The matrix ranks your options and tells you how sensitive the result is to the weights you chose. Everything is saved in your own browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
How to use the Decision Maker
- Choose a mode: Random pick, Weighted pick, Decision matrix or Pros & cons.
- For a pick, type one option per line (or fill the weighted table) and press Decide for me. Tick “Remove the picked option” to draw several in turn.
- For the matrix, name your criteria, give each a weight from 0 to 10, then score every option from 1 to 10. The ranking and a sensitivity hint update as you type.
- For pros and cons, write each point and rate its importance from one to five stars; the balance bar shows which side wins.
- Come back any time — your lists, scores and recent picks are restored from this browser.
Decision Maker features
Provably fair picks
crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling avoids modulo bias; the winner is chosen before the reel starts spinning.
Weighted randomness
Give options weights such as 2, 3 and 1; the table shows each exact chance (33.3%, 50%, 16.7%), and 0 means never.
Weighted decision matrix
Weighted-sum scoring out of 10 with a ranked list, the winning margin and the smallest weight change that would change the winner.
Pros and cons with importance
Rate each point from one to five; totals, a balance bar and a clear verdict.
Saved locally
Everything is stored in your browser (localStorage), with Load example buttons to start again.
Worked example: a weighted decision matrix
Three job offers are compared on four criteria. Weights: Salary 9, Commute 6, Growth 8, Work-life balance 7 (total 30). Each option’s score is the sum of weight × rating divided by the total weight.
- Offer C wins by 0.90 points even though it pays the least, because it is strong on commute and balance.
- The sensitivity hint checks every criterion: only cutting Work-life balance from 7 to 0 would let Offer A overtake (171 vs 170). If you are sure balance matters, Offer C is a robust choice.
- This method is also known as a weighted scoring model or, in engineering, a Pugh-style matrix.
| Option | Salary (9) | Commute (6) | Growth (8) | Balance (7) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offer A | 7 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 206 ÷ 30 = 6.87 |
| Offer B | 9 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 195 ÷ 30 = 6.50 |
| Offer C | 6 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 233 ÷ 30 = 7.77 |
Which mode should you use?
For a single yes or no answer by pure chance, try Yes or No; to show a draw on a big screen, Spin the Wheel is more theatrical; to shuffle a whole list into an order, use the List Randomizer.
| Situation | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Options are equally good | Random pick | Ends the dithering instantly and fairly |
| Some options are favourites | Weighted pick | Keeps chance but respects preferences |
| Several options, several criteria | Decision matrix | Makes trade-offs explicit and comparable |
| A single yes/no choice | Pros & cons | Weighs the reasons on each side |
Tips for better decisions
- Choose criteria before scoring options, so you don’t bend the criteria towards a favourite.
- Keep criteria independent: “price” and “cost of ownership” double-count money.
- If the matrix winner feels wrong, ask which weight you would change — that reveals what you really value.
- Notice your reaction to a random pick: relief or disappointment shows which option you actually wanted.
- For money, health or legal decisions, use these results as a thinking aid, not professional advice.
Decision Maker FAQ
Is the random decision maker really fair?
Yes. It draws numbers from your browser’s cryptographically secure generator and uses rejection sampling, so with five options each has exactly a 20% chance. The winner is fixed before the reel animation starts, and in testing 4,000 picks passed a chi-square check for uniformity.
How does the weighted pick work?
Each option’s chance is its weight divided by the total weight. With weights 2, 3 and 1 the chances are 33.3%, 50% and 16.7%; a weight of 0 removes an option without deleting it.
What is a weighted decision matrix?
A table that scores each option on several criteria, multiplies each score by how important that criterion is, and adds them up. It turns a vague “it depends” into numbers you can compare and discuss.
What does the sensitivity hint mean?
It finds the smallest change to a single criterion’s weight that would make a different option win. A large change means a robust result; a change of one or two points means the decision hinges on that weight.
Are my options and scores saved?
Yes, in your browser’s local storage on this device only. Clearing site data removes them, and Load example restores the sample decision.
Should I let a random picker make important decisions?
No. Use random picks for low-stakes choices between options you would be happy with. For important decisions, use the matrix or pros and cons to think it through, and seek professional advice where money, health or legal matters are involved.