Paste your class or attendee list, choose how many groups you want or how big each one should be, and get random groups in one click.
This random group generator turns a list of names into small groups for learning and meetings. Paste a class roster, a workshop sign-up list, or the people in a video call, one name per line. Then choose either the number of groups or the number of people in each group. The tool shuffles the list and deals it out so group sizes stay within one person of each other.
Random groups help a room mix. Students who always sit together end up working with someone new, and quiet people are not left waiting to be invited. For a teacher or facilitator, it also removes the question of favoritism, because nobody chose who went where. If your list lives in a spreadsheet, you can import it from Excel, CSV, or a text file instead of retyping it.
How to make random groups
- Paste names into the box, one per line, or import a list from an Excel, CSV, or text file.
- Choose a mode: number of groups, or people per group.
- Press Generate to see the groups.
- Press Copy and paste the groups into your slides, chat, or learning platform.
- Not happy with the mix? Generate again for a fresh shuffle.
Classrooms, workshops, and breakout rooms
In a classroom, set people per group to 3 or 4 for discussion tasks, since larger groups tend to leave someone out. Paste the roster once at the start of the lesson and generate a new mix for each activity. Copy the result onto the board so students can find their group without a crowd forming at your desk.
For online breakout rooms, set the number of groups to the number of rooms you plan to open, then copy the list into the chat so people know where to go. At a workshop, generate groups after everyone has arrived, so no-shows do not leave a group short.
Study groups and fair mixing
The list is shuffled with crypto-grade random numbers from your browser, so every arrangement is equally likely. The shuffle runs on your device, and names are not uploaded.
- For study groups that meet all term, generate once, copy the result, and keep it, since a new shuffle gives a new set.
- Separate two people by hand after generating if they should not share a group.
- To call on one person from each group, use the student picker wheel.
- For sports or game nights, the team generator does the same job with a team focus.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split a class into random groups?
Paste the class list with one name per line, choose people per group or number of groups, and press Generate. The groups appear right away, and you can copy them to show on a screen or share in a chat.
Can I import names from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Use the import option to load an Excel, CSV, or text file. The names go into the box one per line, where you can check or edit them before you generate the groups.
What if the class does not divide evenly?
Names are dealt across the groups one at a time, so sizes never differ by more than one. With 26 students and groups of 4, you get seven groups: five of 4 and two of 3, never one group of 2.
Does the random group generator save my class list?
The list is remembered in this browser, so it is still in the box next time you open the page. It is not sent to a server unless you choose to save it to an optional free account.