How does the ladder lottery work?
It’s amidakuji, a Japanese way to pair two lists: names go at the top and tasks at the bottom, hidden. Between them there’s one line per person and rungs placed at random. Each name goes down its line and, every time it meets a rung, crosses over to the next line, all the way to the bottom, where its task is revealed.
Two paths never end in the same place, so everyone gets a different task. On top of that, the hidden tasks are placed in an order drawn with the browser’s cryptographic generator: everyone has the same chance of every task, and the ladder just shows the path.
How to split household chores
- Add who lives at home (or who’s in the group). Names are saved and work in the other games too.
- Add the tasks, or tap the ideas: wash up, take out the trash, do the laundry, walk the dog…
- Press “Assign” and watch everyone go down the ladder.
- Share the result on WhatsApp or copy it and stick it on the fridge. Next week? Another draw.
It works just as well in class (who cleans the board, who hands out materials), at the office (coffee duty, who takes the minutes) or on a trip (who drives, who cooks, who washes up).
More tasks than people (or the other way round)
You don’t need the same number of tasks and people:
- More tasks than people: some people get two (or more). It stays fair: nobody gets more than one task more than anyone else, and who gets the extra is drawn too.
- More people than tasks: whoever doesn’t get a task is free this time.
Up to 12 people and 12 tasks fit. If there are more of you, make groups with the team picker and assign tasks by team.
Task ideas
- At home: wash up, set the table, take out the trash, do and hang the laundry, vacuum, clean the bathroom, grocery shopping.
- In class: clean the board, hand out materials, open the windows, water the plants, line leader.
- At work: make the coffee, take the minutes, present at the meeting, check the shared inbox.
- On a trip or in a holiday rental: drive, cook, wash up, do the shopping, tidy up in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
How do I assign tasks at random?
Add the people and the tasks in the panel and press “Assign”. Each name goes down the ladder to its task and, at the end, you see the full assignment, ready to copy or send on WhatsApp.
Is it fair?
Yes. The hidden tasks are placed in an order drawn with the browser’s cryptographic generator, so everyone has the same chance of every task. The rungs only draw the path.
What if there are more tasks than people?
Some people get two (or more), but nobody gets more than one task more than anyone else. Who gets the extra is decided at random too.
And if there are more people than tasks?
Whoever doesn’t get a task is free this time: the ladder shows “Free” in their place.
What is amidakuji?
It’s a Japanese lottery for pairing two lists using a ladder of lines and rungs. In Korea it’s called sadari tagi and it’s a popular way to decide who pays or who does what.
How many people and tasks fit?
Up to 12 people and 12 tasks. On a phone, with many of them, names are written vertically so they fit.
Are my lists saved?
Yes, in your browser: names are shared with the site’s other games and tasks are kept for next time. Nothing is sent to any server.
Can I make a weekly chore rota?
Run a new draw every week or every day: each time you get a new one. If you don’t want anyone to repeat a task, note the result and remove the tasks each person has already done.
Related guides
- Who goes first? Who pays? — Randomness as the impartial referee of everyday standoffs: who washes up, who pays, who picks.
- How to do a fair random draw — Five steps that leave nobody room to complain about the result.