How to make random groups
- Put the names into the list, one per line.
- Choose Number of groups (for example 4 groups) or People per group (for example 3 per group).
- Tick the team leader option if every group needs someone to lead.
- Press Make groups. The names fly from the list into their cards. Press the button again for a new split.
Teachers can paste the class list, set the size to 2 for a random pair generator, or choose four groups for stations. The same tool works as a team generator for clubs and game nights.
Copy the groups as text for a chat message, or print them for the classroom wall. The printout is always light, with the group cards and nothing else.
Groups of equal size
Twenty-three students in groups of four do not divide evenly. This generator never leaves one person alone in a group of one: it spreads the remainder, so group sizes differ by at most one. For 23 people in groups of four you get six groups: five with four people and one with three. With the number of groups set to five, you get three groups of five and two groups of four. You always see the count on each card.
If you ask for more groups than you have names, you simply get one person per group.
Is the split fair?
First the whole list is shuffled with the Fisher-Yates method, using the random generator of your browser (crypto.getRandomValues) and a rejection step that removes modulo bias. Then the shuffled list is cut into consecutive groups. Every possible split is equally likely, and no name is more likely to end up with any other name. The team leader is simply the first person in the shuffled group, so leaders are random too.
If you need certain people apart or together, make the split again until it suits you, or split twice with two different lists. Pressing the button again always produces a fresh, independent shuffle.
Where it helps
Teachers use it for group work and lab partners. Coaches use it to build fair teams for a training match. Event organisers use it for table plans and workshop breakouts, and friends use it to split into two teams for a quiz night. Because the names stay on your device, it is fine for class lists, too.
FAQ
How do I split a list into teams of two?
Choose People per group and enter 2. With an odd number of names, one group will have three people.
Can I get groups with exactly equal sizes?
When the names do not divide evenly, sizes differ by one. That is the closest possible split.
Can I print the groups?
Yes. Press Print. The page switches to a clean, light layout with only the groups.
Is this a random group generator for teachers and classrooms?
Yes. Paste your class list, pick the group size or number, and print the result. Names stay on your device, which suits class lists.
Can I make random pairs?
Choose People per group and enter 2. With an odd class size, one group has three students.
Can the generator keep two people apart?
Not automatically. Press Make groups again until the split suits you; each press is a new random split.