Simple choices. Random order.
List Randomizer
Put names, tasks or any list in random order. Paste your items, choose how to randomize them, and copy or save the result.
Your list 0 items
One item per line. Blank entries are ignored.
Every entry appears once. Only the order changes.
Repeated entries are kept unless you choose to remove them.
Your random order
A fresh order starts here
Add your list on the left, then shuffle, pick a few items or create groups.
Copy and downloads include every result, even when the preview spans several pages.
Ready when you are. Free to use, with up to 100,000 items.
What is a list randomizer?
A list randomizer rearranges the items you provide into a random order. It keeps every entry and changes its position, making it useful for presentation orders, draft picks, task lists and playlists. This free list shuffler runs entirely in your browser, including when you open a text file.
How to use the list randomizer
- 1
Enter or open your list
Paste your names or items, one per line, or choose Open File to read a local text file. For separated text, choose commas, semicolons or tabs. Check the entry count before continuing.
- 2
Choose what to randomize
Use Shuffle all for a complete random order, Pick items for a random subset, or Create groups to distribute every entry across balanced groups. Set the number of picks or groups where needed.
- 3
Review duplicate entries
Blank entries and surrounding whitespace are removed. Repeated entries stay by default. Enable Remove duplicates if you want one entry per distinct name, and optionally ignore letter case.
- 4
Randomize and save the result
Press the main button, then copy the result or save TXT or CSV. Numbering can be switched off for plain-text exports. Undo restores the previous result from the same list and settings.
Create a random presentation or draft order
Paste one participant per line and choose Shuffle all. The numbered result is your running order, from first to last. Copy it into your agenda or save it as a text file. The original input stays available, and Undo restores the previous result if you accidentally shuffle again.
- Keep one item per line when names or tasks contain commas.
- Give people with the same name a last initial so their entries stay distinguishable.
- A random shuffle may leave an item in its original position. That is a valid result.
A private, practical way to randomize a list
Your list stays in your browser
Files are read locally and lists are held only for this page session. There is no account, remote randomization service or automatic list storage.
One workspace, three useful results
Create a full random order, take a random sample or form teams. Large shuffles run in a background worker so you can keep using the page.
Make duplicate handling explicit
See repeated-entry counts before randomizing. Keep intentional entries or remove duplicates, with optional case-insensitive matching.
Results you can use elsewhere
Copy a numbered or plain list, save a text file, or export group and position columns as CSV. Undo can recover the previous shuffle without changing your input.
Common uses for randomized lists
- Classroom speaking order
- Shuffle a roster once and follow it from top to bottom so each entry gets a turn.
- Workshops and game teams
- Divide attendees into random groups with sizes that differ by no more than one.
- Tasks and study prompts
- Reorder practice questions, chores or brainstorming ideas to vary your routine.
- Random samples and shortlists
- Select several entries without selecting the same entry twice within that draw.
How the random order is generated
The tool uses the Fisher–Yates algorithm: starting at the end of the list, it swaps each entry with a randomly chosen entry from the remaining positions. Random indices come from the browser’s Web Crypto API. Values that would introduce a modulo bias are rejected and sampled again.
A fair shuffle gives each entry an equal chance at every position. With 10 entries, any particular entry has a 1 in 10 chance of coming first. If one name appears twice, it owns two entries and has a 2 in 10 chance. Removing duplicates changes those odds by changing the input list.
Random order does not mean every entry must move. Repeating a result is possible, especially with short lists. Groups are balanced by size only. This tool provides local randomization; it does not certify a draw or publish an independently verifiable record.
Working with text files and spreadsheet lists
Choose Open File for a plain-text .txt, .list, .csv or .tsv file. New lines keep each row together. Commas, semicolons and tabs split entries on that separator and on line breaks. Quoted CSV fields are not parsed as spreadsheet columns, so use one name per line for names containing commas.
The CSV export includes Group, Position and Item columns. Entries that could be interpreted as spreadsheet formulas are prefixed with an apostrophe. TXT exports preserve the entry text, with optional numbering. Copying and exporting always use the complete result.
5 frequently asked questions about list randomization
How do I randomize a list of names?
Paste one name per line, leave the mode on Shuffle all, and press Shuffle list. Every entry is returned in random order. Use Pick items if you only want one or a few names, or Create groups to split everyone into teams.
How does the list randomizer work, and is it fair?
It uses the Fisher–Yates shuffle with cryptographically strong random values from your browser. Rejection sampling avoids bias when converting random values to list positions. Each input entry has the same chance at each position. An unchanged position, or even the same complete order, can occur by chance.
Can I pick names without duplicates or repeats?
Each entry is picked at most once within a draw. Identical names on separate lines are separate entries unless you enable Remove duplicates. A new draw starts with the full list again. For a sequence with no repeats across turns, shuffle once and work through the resulting order.
Is my list sent to a server or saved automatically?
No. Opening files, preparing entries, shuffling and exporting happen in your browser. This tool does not send your list to a server or save it in browser storage. After the page loads, randomizing works without a connection. Save your result before refreshing or leaving. The surrounding website may load ads and other network resources.
How many items and groups can I randomize?
You can randomize up to 100,000 nonempty entries, within a limit of 1 million text characters. Open File accepts plain-text files up to 1 MB. Groups are limited to 100 and cannot outnumber entries. Large results appear in pages of 100; copying and downloading still include the complete result.