What a random group generator does
A random group generator takes a list of names and splits it into groups by chance, so nobody picks the teams and nobody is picked last. This one is built for classes. Paste the names from your gradebook, choose how many groups you want or how big each one should be, and press Make groups. Group sizes stay balanced, never more than one student apart. The shuffle runs on your browser's cryptographic random numbers through a Fisher-Yates shuffle, so with no rules set, every possible grouping is equally likely.
How to make random groups in three steps
- 1Paste your list. Copy the name column from your gradebook or a spreadsheet and paste it in, one name per line. A name that appears twice counts as two students.
- 2Choose the split. Pick a number of groups, a largest group size, or pairs. In group size mode no group is bigger than the number you choose.
- 3Shuffle and share. Press Make groups, move anyone you need to, then show the groups full screen, copy them, download a CSV or print them.
Random team generator for games and projects
The same shuffle works as a random team generator. Set the number of groups to the number of teams you need, two for a review game or five for a project, and the tool deals students out evenly. Rename each group to a team name and give it a colour, and full screen shows every team in large type on the projector. Shuffle again between rounds to mix the teams; the names and colours stay.
Random pair generator for partner work
Choose Pairs to use it as a random pair generator for think-pair-share, peer review or lab partners. With an odd number of students you decide what happens to the one left over: join a pair to make a group of three, or work alone. A trio is the usual choice for discussion. A solo suits a task with a job for one person, such as timekeeper or checker.
Keep students apart or together
Some pairings you already know about. Add a keep-apart rule for two students who set each other off, or a keep-together rule for a student who needs a buddy who shares a home language. Rules chain: if Ava stays with Ben and Ben stays with Chloe, all three land in the same group. The tool redraws until every rule holds, so the groups are still random within your rules. When the rules can't all be met, it says so and names the conflict, such as a keep-together chain bigger than your groups, instead of quietly breaking one. Moving a student by hand afterwards warns you if the move breaks a rule.
From groups to seats
Groups are half the job; the room has to match them. Press Seat these groups in the designer and SeatPlan.io opens with one pod of desks per group, each student already at a desk in their group's pod and the front of the room marked. A pod holds up to twelve students, and up to twelve groups go across in one step. Then drag the pods to where your furniture really is, and the groups become a classroom seating chart. Not sure pods suit the lesson? See classroom seating arrangements compared.
Random groups or teacher-chosen groups?
Random groups are fair and fast. Students tend to accept them because nobody chose them, they mix friendship circles, and they suit warm-ups, short tasks and any work that every group can do. Teacher-chosen groups are better when the task depends on who is in the group: differentiated work, a student who needs a particular peer, or a project that runs for weeks. Many teachers use both, with random groups most days, chosen groups for the big tasks, and rules for the few pairings that matter in between. For the longer view, read our seating chart strategies guide. If your room runs on choice, the flexible seating guide shows how groups fit into zones.
Where the names go
The list you paste stays in this browser. It is kept in local storage so it is still there next lesson, and Clear names removes it. No names are sent to SeatPlan.io while you make, move, copy, download or print groups. They leave the browser only when you press Seat these groups in the designer, which adds them to a chart like any other roster. First names or initials work just as well. Our student data privacy page explains how rosters in the designer are handled.
Random group generator FAQs
Is the random group generator free?
Yes. It needs no account or signup, and you can shuffle as often as you like.
How random are the groups?
Each shuffle draws from crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's cryptographic random source, through a Fisher-Yates shuffle with rejection sampling, so no position is favoured. Without rules, every grouping is equally likely. With rules, the tool redraws until the rules hold.
What happens with an odd number of students?
In pairs mode you choose: one group of three, or one student on their own. In the other modes the groups are balanced, so their sizes differ by one student at most.
Can I move a student to a different group?
Yes. Drag the name to another group, or use the Move to menu next to it, which also works with a keyboard and on a touch screen. The tool warns you when a move breaks one of your rules.
Can I show the groups on a projector?
Yes. Full screen shows each group as a large coloured card. Shuffle again works from full screen too, and Escape takes you back to the page.
How many students can it handle?
Up to 500 names in one list. Sending groups to the designer works for up to 12 groups of up to 12 students. For more, copy the groups or download the CSV.
Does it save my class?
It remembers your last list in this browser only. There is no account behind it, so another browser or device starts empty.