Guide · Workshops & classrooms
Random Group Generator
Updated: June 2026
Group work goes better when nobody picks their own clique. A random group generator takes a list of people and sorts them into fresh, mixed groups in seconds — the same students don't end up together every week, and quieter people get spread around instead of clustering. This guide walks through making groups by count or by size, mixing things up each session, and keeping it fair.
Free · No upload · Instant in the browser
Sorting a list into groups
Paste the names one per line and switch the mode to Make teams — groups and teams use the same fair engine. The generator shuffles the full list with a Fisher–Yates pass, then deals people out so each group ends up balanced. When the headcount doesn't divide evenly, group sizes differ by at most one person, which is the closest to equal you can get without dropping anyone.
Because it reads plain lines, you can paste from a class register, a workshop sign-up, or a column copied out of a spreadsheet. Blank lines are skipped and stray spaces trimmed, and the live counter tells you the headcount it detected so you can catch any merged names before sorting.
Number of groups vs. size per group
Pick whichever constraint actually matters for the activity. If you have six tables and want everyone spread across them, set Number of teams to six. If each station needs exactly three people, set Players per team to three and let the number of groups fall out of the maths. In size mode, a leftover person or two lands in a smaller final group rather than overloading the others.
| Need | Mode | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Spread 24 people over 6 tables | Number of groups | 6 |
| Stations of 3 | Size per group | 3 |
| Pairs for discussion | Size per group | 2 |
A new mix every time
The real value of randomising groups is variety. Run it at the start of each session and you'll get a different arrangement every time, which breaks up the habitual pairings and gets people working with classmates or colleagues they'd otherwise avoid. Each press is an independent shuffle, so there's no hidden pattern carrying over from last week — the only thing the tool remembers between draws is the recent-draws note, and that clears when you close the tab.
Handling absences and late arrivals
Group lists are never static. If someone's away, delete their line and re-generate. If two people show up late, add them and run it again — the whole arrangement reshuffles, which is fairer than wedging latecomers into whichever group has a gap. Since the entire list is re-dealt each time, you never have to manually rebalance; the generator does it for you in one press.
Private and offline-friendly
Names of students or colleagues stay on your machine. The sort runs in your browser with nothing uploaded and no account required, so a list of real people never touches a server. Once the page has loaded it works offline, which is handy in a classroom or meeting room where the connection is unreliable — and when you're done, closing the tab wipes everything.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sort people into random groups?
Paste names one per line, switch to Make teams, and choose the number of groups or the size of each. The list is shuffled and dealt out fairly.
Groups or teams — what's the difference?
Mechanically none; the same fair shuffle builds both. Use number of groups when the count is fixed, size per group when each group needs a set number.
Can I get a different mix each time?
Yes. Each generation is an independent shuffle, so pressing again gives a brand-new arrangement.
What about absences?
Delete or add lines and re-generate; the whole list reshuffles so the groups stay balanced.