Random Group & Team Generator
Paste names and split them into random balanced teams or groups.
100% in your browser — nothing uploadedMake random groups of 3, 4 or 5 — or a set number of teams
About this random group generator
Paste a list of names — one per line — and split them into random groups. You choose either the group size (e.g. "groups of 4") or the number of groups (e.g. "5 teams"), and the tool shuffles the list and deals the names out as evenly as possible, so group sizes never differ by more than one. By size, the number you enter is the maximum: 30 names in groups of 4 make 8 groups — six of 4 and two of 3 — rather than seven of 4 and a leftover pair.
The shuffle uses a Fisher-Yates algorithm powered by the Web Crypto API (crypto.getRandomValues) for cryptographically secure randomness. Every permutation of the list is exactly equally likely, so no person is more likely to end up in any particular group — or with any particular classmate.
Teachers use this to form project teams, workshop facilitators to create breakout groups, coaches to divide players for drills, and managers to assign sprint or on-call rotations. The two modes cover the two most common asks: "I want groups of exactly 4" versus "I want exactly 5 teams".
Results display in a responsive grid of numbered group cards, and the line under the button says how the split came out — "8 groups (6 of 4 and 2 of 3)". One click copies them in a compact format (Group 1: Alice, Bob, Charlie) for Classroom, Teams or a group chat, and the share button makes a link that reopens exactly these groups. Everything runs in your browser — no names are sent to a server.
How to make random groups for a class
- Paste your class list, one name per line. From Excel, Google Sheets or a Classroom roster you can copy a whole column and paste it as-is.
- Pick "By group size" for groups of 3, 4 or 5, or "By number of groups" when you have a fixed number of tables, stations or project topics.
- Press Generate groups and put the result on the projector. The line under the button says how the split came out, such as 8 groups (6 of 4 and 2 of 3).
- Press Copy all to paste the teams into Classroom, Teams or a group chat, or Share these groups to keep a link that reopens exactly these teams.
How many groups will I get?
By group size, the number you enter is the maximum, and the names are dealt out so no two groups differ by more than one person. These are the results for common class sizes:
| Students | Groups of 3 | Groups of 4 | Groups of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 7 groups: 6 of 3 and 1 of 2 | 5 groups of 4 | 4 groups of 5 |
| 24 | 8 groups of 3 | 6 groups of 4 | 5 groups: 4 of 5 and 1 of 4 |
| 25 | 9 groups: 7 of 3 and 2 of 2 | 7 groups: 4 of 4 and 3 of 3 | 5 groups of 5 |
| 28 | 10 groups: 8 of 3 and 2 of 2 | 7 groups of 4 | 6 groups: 4 of 5 and 2 of 4 |
| 30 | 10 groups of 3 | 8 groups: 6 of 4 and 2 of 3 | 6 groups of 5 |
| 32 | 11 groups: 10 of 3 and 1 of 2 | 8 groups of 4 | 7 groups: 4 of 5 and 3 of 4 |
| 35 | 12 groups: 11 of 3 and 1 of 2 | 9 groups: 8 of 4 and 1 of 3 | 7 groups of 5 |
| 40 | 14 groups: 12 of 3 and 2 of 2 | 10 groups of 4 | 8 groups of 5 |
Prefer a few groups one bigger instead of one smaller? Switch to "By number of groups" and enter one group fewer: 30 students in 7 groups gives five groups of 4 and two of 5.
Is the split fair?
The list is shuffled with the Fisher–Yates algorithm, driven by the browser's cryptographic random generator (crypto.getRandomValues), with the few raw values that would tilt the odds thrown away. Every possible arrangement of the list is exactly equally likely, and the order you typed the names in makes no difference. The groups are then cut from the shuffled list, so nobody is more likely to land in group 1, or next to any particular classmate, than anyone else.
FAQ
What happens when names don't divide evenly?
The names are dealt out as evenly as possible, so sizes never differ by more than one. By number of groups, the extra members go to the first groups: 11 names into 3 groups gives 4, 4 and 3. By group size, the size is a maximum: 11 names in groups of 4 also gives 4, 4 and 3, and 30 names in groups of 4 gives six groups of 4 and two of 3 — never a leftover group of one or two.
How do I make groups of 4 with 30 students?
Choose "By group size" and enter 4: you get 8 groups, six of 4 and two of 3. If you would rather have a couple of groups of 5 than groups of 3, choose "By number of groups" and enter 7 instead: that gives five groups of 4 and two of 5. The table above works out the most common class sizes.
Is the grouping truly random?
Yes. The list is shuffled using a Fisher-Yates algorithm with crypto.getRandomValues — every arrangement is equally probable. No person is more likely to be in any particular group.
Are my names sent to a server?
No. The shuffle and grouping happen entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Can I save or share the groups?
Yes, two ways. "Copy all" puts one line per group on your clipboard (Group 1: Alice, Bob, Charlie), ready to paste into Google Classroom, Teams, an email or a group chat. "Share these groups" makes a link that reopens exactly these groups, not a new shuffle; the names travel inside the link after the # sign, which is never sent to any server.
Can I reshuffle if the groups don't work?
Press Generate groups again: every press is a fresh, independent shuffle of the whole list. If two people must not end up together, the quickest fix is to reshuffle, or swap them by hand after copying — the tool deliberately has no hidden rules, so every result stays a genuinely random one.