Written and tested by the WheelShuffle editorial team · How we test our tools

A random team generator that splits any list fairly

Letting captains pick is slow, and someone is always picked last. This random team generator shuffles your whole list and deals it into teams, so nobody gets chosen last and nobody has to explain why the teams look the way they do. Paste your names, choose how many teams you want, and press Generate.

It works as a random group generator for a class, a team maker for five-a-side, or a group randomizer for breakout rooms. The setup is the same each time: one name per line, pasted from a class list, a spreadsheet column or a group chat.

How to split a list into random groups

1. Remove the eight sample names and add your own, typed or pasted one per line.
2. Pick the Number of Teams, anywhere from 1 to 10.
3. Optionally set Max Members per Team. Leave it on Equal to share everyone out, or choose a cap from 1 to 20.
4. Choose a Team Naming Style: numbers, letters, Greek letters, planets or metals (Team Gold, Team Silver…).
5. Press Generate and watch names drop into each team, then export the result.

Even teams, even when the numbers don't divide

The group maker always puts the next name into whichever team is smallest at that moment, picking at random between teams that are tied. So team sizes never differ by more than one, and the team that ends up one short is down to chance, not position in the list.

If a group has a hard size limit, like four to a lab bench or five a side, set the max per team. Anyone who doesn't fit is shown in the unassigned list, so you can add a team or make a substitutes' bench.

Random partner generator for pair work

For pairs, set Max Members per Team to 2 and pick enough teams to fit everyone. Ten teams pairs up to 20 people. With an odd number, one person is left unassigned. Most teachers add them to a pair to make a trio, and the tool makes that visible instead of hiding it. For a class bigger than 20, use groups of three or split the class into two halves and draw each one.

How to make random teams that are also balanced

A pure shuffle is fair to people but not to the game: by luck, all of your strongest players can land on one side. When skill matters, use a tiered draw. It stays random, but each team gets the same mix.

1. Split your list into tiers before drawing, for example your four strongest players and everyone else. Agree the tiers out loud so nobody feels judged later.
2. Enter only the first tier, set the number of teams, and press Generate. Note or export the result.
3. Clear the list, enter the next tier, keep the same number of teams, and generate again.
4. Combine the draws: Team 1 from every round becomes Team 1, and so on. Every team now has one player from each tier, and nobody chose who went where.

The same method balances other things, like year groups in a mixed class, new and experienced staff in a workshop, or a fair split of goalkeepers. Use one tier per group you want spread evenly.

How likely are two people to end up on the same team?

People often think the draw is rigged when best friends land together. Usually it's just the odds. With equal teams of size k from n people, the chance that two specific people share a team is (k − 1) ÷ (n − 1). Your friend has to fill one of the k − 1 other places on your team, out of n − 1 people who could.

With two teams, friends end up together almost half the time, so it's not a sign of a bad shuffle. For pair work the chance drops to about 1 in 19, which is why random partners do a good job of mixing a class over several lessons.

Random group maker for classrooms and PE

Teachers use a team randomizer mostly because it stops the arguing. When students pick their own groups, friends stick together and the same few voices do the talking. A random draw shown on the board mixes those groups up, and students accept it because they watched it happen.

• Group projects: draw at the start of the unit and export the PDF for your records.
• PE lessons: run the draw before students change, so nobody stands around waiting to be picked.
• Reading or lab groups: use a cap of 4 or 5 so every group fits at a table.

For calling on one student rather than making groups, the wheel of names can remove each name after it's called. Our classroom name picker guide covers routines that keep it fair over a whole term.

Team generator for work, sport and events

• Workshops and breakout rooms: one team per room, then paste the text export into the meeting chat.
• Hackathons: set a cap so squads stay a workable size, and keep any pre-formed pair together as a single entry.
• Pickup games and weekly leagues: a fresh shuffle every week keeps the same two teams from forming week after week.
• Quiz nights: name teams after planets or metals so the quizmaster has names ready.

Running a standup or rotating meeting roles? The team standup shuffler guide explains how to shuffle the speaking order without anyone feeling left out.

What "random" means in this group randomizer

Names are shuffled with a Fisher–Yates shuffle using your browser's crypto.getRandomValues(), so every possible order of the list is equally likely. The generator doesn't know who is strong, quiet or friends with whom. It only sees the text. That's what makes it fair, but it also means it can't balance skill. If you need to, keep one specific pair together by typing them as a single entry, or draw first and make one swap in front of everyone.

Without an account, the list stays in your browser. That matters when a school or HR team is entering real names into a website.

Random team generator FAQ

How do I make random teams from a list of names?

Clear the sample names, paste your list with one name per line, choose the number of teams, and press Generate. Everyone on the list is shuffled and dealt into the teams. Press it again for a completely new split.

Are the teams even when the numbers don't divide?

As even as the arithmetic allows. Each name goes to whichever team currently has the fewest members, so team sizes never differ by more than one. 23 people in 4 teams gives 6, 6, 6 and 5, and which team ends up one short is random.

Can I set a team size instead of a number of teams?

Yes. Set Max Members per Team (1 to 20) alongside the number of teams. Teams fill up to that cap, and anyone who doesn't fit stays in the unassigned list so you can see exactly who is left over.

Can I use it as a random partner or pair generator?

Yes. Set Max Members per Team to 2 and choose enough teams to cover everyone: 10 teams pairs up to 20 people. For a bigger class, run it in two halves, or use groups of three instead.

How random is the random group generator?

The list is shuffled with a Fisher–Yates shuffle driven by your browser's crypto.getRandomValues(), so every ordering of the names is equally likely. The tool knows nothing about the people, only the text you typed.

Can I keep two people together or apart?

To keep two people together, type them as one entry, for example "Sam & Priya". There is no rule to keep people apart, so the fairest method is to draw first and make one visible swap afterwards.

How do I make balanced teams by skill?

Use a tiered draw. Enter only your strongest players, generate with your number of teams, then do the same for the rest of the list. Combine Team 1 from each round, Team 2 from each round, and so on. Each team gets one player from every tier, and the draw is still random.

Can I save or share the teams?

Once teams are generated you can export them as a PDF, a CSV file for spreadsheets, or plain text to paste into a group chat, an email or a learning platform.

Is the team generator free, and do I need an account?

It is free with no sign-up. Without an account your list stays in your browser. Signing in is optional and only used if you want your list saved to your account.

After the teams are made

Settle which team goes first with a coin flip, or build any custom wheel on the spin the wheel page.