Random Letter Generator
Pick a starting letter for a game or writing prompt
Generate one letter, then name an animal, place, or object beginning with it. For a classroom round, agree on the category and allowed letters first. A custom set such as ABCDEF can keep an early alphabet exercise focused; excluding Q, X, or Z can make a word game easier.
See exactly which letters can be drawn
All letters starts with the 26 English letters. Vowels uses A, E, I, O, and U; Consonants uses the other 21 letters, including Y. Custom letters uses your unique A–Z letters. Exclusions are applied last, and the eligible pool shows the final choices before you draw.
For example, choose Vowels and exclude A and E. The remaining pool is I, O, U, with a 1 in 3 chance for each letter. Entering AAAIOU as a custom list does not give A extra weight: duplicate letters count once. Changing a setting clears the previous result so it cannot be mistaken for a draw from the new pool.
How the wheel and random selection work
The browser generates a random unsigned 32-bit value through Web Crypto. The picker discards any values in the incomplete remainder at the top of that range, then maps an accepted value to a letter index. This gives each eligible index the same number of possible source values.
The displayed letter is selected before the wheel moves. The pointer stops on that letter, and the animation never changes the result. Turn off Animate the wheel for an instant visual update; reduced-motion preferences also disable the spin. Each new draw uses the full current pool, so repeated letters are expected occasionally.
JavaScript and Web Crypto are required. If secure randomness is unavailable, the picker reports an error and gives no result. Letter lists stay in this page and are cleared on reload.
Frequently asked questions
How do I generate a random letter?
Press Generate letter to pick one uppercase letter from A to Z. Choose Vowels, Consonants, or Custom letters to change the pool. The result appears immediately; the optional wheel animation follows that same selection.
Can I exclude letters or use my own list?
Yes. Open Choose or exclude letters and enter exclusions such as Q X Z. For a custom pool, select Custom letters and enter your letters. Spaces and commas are optional, lowercase becomes uppercase, and repeated letters count only once. Exclusions apply to every mode. An empty pool disables the draw until you change the settings.
Does Y count as a vowel?
This picker uses A, E, I, O, and U for Vowels and includes Y in Consonants. If your activity treats Y as a vowel, select Custom letters and enter AEIOUY.
Is every letter equally likely?
Every eligible letter has the same chance on each draw: 1 in 26 for the full alphabet, or 1 in 5 for the five vowels. The browser supplies a fresh Web Crypto random value, and rejection sampling removes the bias that a simple remainder operation could introduce. The visible pool and wheel use the same letters as the selection.
Can the same letter appear twice?
Yes. Each draw uses the current pool independently, so repeats and streaks are possible. The tool does not automatically remove previous results. To remove a letter from later draws, add it to Exclude letters.
Are my custom letters saved or uploaded?
The picker processes your letters in the current browser page and does not save or upload them. Reloading restores the defaults. Tool analytics record actions without your letter lists or results; normal site analytics and advertising may still load.