How to Make Random Teams Fairly From a List of Names

How do you make random teams?

To make random teams, paste one name per line into a random team generator, choose the number of teams or the team size, and generate once.

1. List the names. One per line, copied from a class list, a sign-up sheet or a spreadsheet column.
2. Paste them into the generator. Open the random team generator. Blank lines are ignored, and duplicate names are removed by default.
3. Choose teams or team size. “4 teams” or “teams of 5”, whichever you know.
4. Generate once. Share the result on screen or copy it into your group chat.

Should you set the number of teams or the team size?

Set the number of teams when the space or format is fixed, and set the team size when the game or task needs a specific number of people.

What happens when the numbers don't divide evenly?

The leftover people are dealt out one per team, so the biggest team is never more than one person larger than the smallest. For example, 23 people in 4 teams gives teams of 6, 6, 6 and 5.

Is it fair to reshuffle?

Generating again gives a new random split, which is useful when someone joins late or leaves. But reshuffling until the teams look the way you wanted is choosing, not randomising. If fairness matters, say before generating that the first result stands, or agree on a rule such as “reshuffle only if the list changes”.

How do you keep certain people apart or together?

A random generator treats everyone the same, so it can't honour pairings. Two common workarounds keep the rest of the draw random:

• Keep a pair together: enter them as one line, such as “Ana + Ben”, and accept that their team may be one larger.
• Seed captains: put one captain in each team by hand first, then randomise everyone else into those teams.

What if you need one winner, not teams?

Use the random name picker for a single name or a few winners from the same kind of list. Our guide on running a raffle online covers that.

How do you run a random tournament draw?

For a tournament, generate the teams first, then use the order the teams appear in as the draw order for the bracket or the first round. If the players are already in fixed teams, list the team names instead of the players and split them into groups the same way.

Frequently asked questions