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Random Group Generator
Split a class, a team or a party into fair random groups with this free random group generator. Paste the names, choose how many groups you want — or how many people per group — and the tool shuffles everyone and deals them out evenly. No favourites, no arguments.
How to use this group generator
- Type or paste the names into the box, one name on each line. Blank lines are ignored.
- Choose "Number of groups" to fix how many groups there will be, or "People per group" to fix the group size.
- Type the number you want and press Generate groups.
- Read the groups in the cards below. Press Generate again for a completely new mix.
- Use Copy all groups to paste the finished list into a document, a message or a classroom slide.
How it works
The generator first shuffles the whole list of names using your device's cryptographic random number generator — the same quality of randomness used for passwords, not a simple predictable pattern. Shuffling works like mixing a pack of cards: every name is swapped into a random position, so every order is equally likely and nobody's place can be predicted or rigged.
Then the shuffled names are dealt out. In "number of groups" mode they are dealt one at a time into each group in turn, like dealing cards around a table, which is why group sizes can never differ by more than one person. In "people per group" mode the shuffled list is simply cut into chunks of your chosen size; if the names do not divide exactly, the last group is smaller, and the tool tells you its size honestly in the group heading. Because the shuffle is fresh every time, pressing Generate twice never has to give the same groups — keep pressing until a mix looks good, or accept the first one for a truly blind draw.
Worked example
Press "Load sample names" to fill the box with 12 names: Aarav, Diya, Kabir, Meera, Arjun, Ananya, Vihaan, Isha, Advait, Sara, Rohan and Priya. Keep "Number of groups" selected, set it to 4, and press Generate.
You will get exactly 4 groups of 3 — 12 names dealt evenly, 3 + 3 + 3 + 3. The names inside will differ every time, because of the shuffle, but the sizes cannot: dealing one-by-one guarantees it. Now switch to "People per group" and set 5: the same 12 names come out as 5, 5 and 2. That last short group is the honest remainder — 12 does not divide by 5 — and the heading of the third card says "2 members" so nothing is hidden.
Ideas for fair groups
Teachers use random groups to mix reading levels and stop friendship cliques from forming in project work. Sports coaches use them for practice teams that change every session. Party hosts use them for quiz teams and seating plans, and office teams use them for brainstorming groups and lunch bunches. The common thread is trust: when a machine deals the names and anyone can watch it happen, nobody can claim the groups were fixed.
If your situation needs the opposite — keeping certain people together or apart, like siblings in different groups or a leader in each group — do that part by hand after the draw: make the random groups first, then swap the few names that need swapping. Starting from a fair random base keeps the manual changes small and explainable.
FAQ
How does the random group generator work?
Paste your names, one per line, then choose whether to fix the number of groups or the number of people per group, and press Generate. The tool shuffles all the names using cryptographic randomness and deals them into groups one at a time, so sizes differ by at most one person in group-count mode. Every press of Generate produces a fresh, unpredictable mix.
Are the groups really random and fair?
Yes. The shuffle uses the cryptographic random number generator built into your browser (the same source used for secure passwords), and every name is equally likely to land in any position. Groups are then dealt like cards, one name to each group in turn, so no group can be loaded with more people than another by more than one. Nobody — including the person pressing the button — can steer the result.
What happens when the names do not divide evenly?
In "number of groups" mode, the extra names are dealt one each to the first groups, so sizes differ by at most one: 10 names in 3 groups gives 4, 3 and 3. In "people per group" mode, the last group takes the remainder: 10 names at 3 per group gives 3, 3, 3 and 1. Each group card shows its member count in its heading, so the sizes are always plain to see.
Can I keep certain people together or apart?
Not as a setting — this generator deliberately keeps things simple and fully random, so pairs or rivals are not tracked. The practical approach is to generate the groups first and then swap the few names that need moving by hand. Because the starting point is a fair random draw, one or two explainable swaps keep the result honest.
How many names can I put in?
There is no fixed limit in the tool — it handles a full classroom, a sports league or an office floor as easily as a handful of names. Each name goes on its own line, and blank lines are ignored. You need at least 2 names to generate, and in group-count mode you cannot ask for more groups than you have names.
Can I copy or save the groups?
Yes. The Copy all groups button copies the complete list — group headings with their members — ready to paste into WhatsApp, an email, a slide or a document. If your browser blocks clipboard access, you can still select the group cards with your mouse and copy them the ordinary way. Nothing you paste into the tool is sent to a server or stored.