Random Group Generator
Type one name per line, choose the number of groups, and draw random, evenly split groups — for team splitting, group work, or quizzes.
How to use the random group generator
- Type one name per line in the text field.
- Choose how many groups the names should be split into.
- Press "Generate groups" to distribute the names randomly and as evenly as possible.
How are the names distributed?
The name list is shuffled randomly, then dealt out into groups in turn — so the groups end up as evenly sized as possible (at most one name's difference between the largest and smallest group). The shuffle uses the Fisher-Yates algorithm, a well-known method that guarantees all possible orderings are equally likely.
Practical uses: splitting a class or team into groups for group work, forming teams for a quiz or activity, or randomly distributing tasks among several people.
When the numbers do not divide evenly
Seventeen people into four groups does not divide evenly. The question is what to do with the remainder, and there are two common answers: either you make groups of unequal size — here three groups of four and one of five — or you accept one group smaller than the rest. The first is nearly always preferable, since a group of five works better than a group of one.
For activities where group size is critical, it is often better to specify the desired group size than the number of groups. Seventeen people in groups of four gives four groups plus one left over, while seventeen in groups of five or six divides far more gracefully. The calculator distributes as evenly as possible automatically, but it is worth considering whether the number of groups or the group size is what actually matters for your activity.
Frequently asked questions
Will the groups always be the same size?
As evenly as possible — if the number of names isn't divisible by the number of groups, some groups will have one more name than others, but never more than that.
Is the split truly random?
Yes, the names are shuffled using the Fisher-Yates algorithm, which gives a mathematically proven uniform random distribution — every possible ordering is equally likely.
Are the names I type stored anywhere?
No, everything happens in your own browser and isn't sent or stored anywhere.