Random team generator

A random team generator for any list of names

This random team generator takes a list of people and splits it into teams drawn by chance. Paste the names, say how many teams you want or how many people each team should have, and the draw is done in one click. Nobody is picked last: chance decides.

It is free, needs no account, and your list stays on your device.

How to use the team maker

1. Paste or type your list in the "Participants, one per line" box. Empty lines are ignored; the limit is 500 participants.
2. Under "Split by", choose "Number of teams" or "Team size", then enter the figure in the "Number" field.
3. Click "Make teams". Each team appears on a numbered card with its headcount. Click again for a fresh draw.
4. "Copy the teams" puts the result on your clipboard as plain text, ready to paste into a message.

When to split names into teams at random

Sport and friendly tournaments

For five-a-side, a training session, a PE lesson or a rounders game in the park, you usually know how many sides you need. Choose "Number of teams": two for a match, four for a small tournament. Tip: run the draw on your phone in front of everyone.

In the classroom

For group work, presentations or lab partners, the size of each group matters more. Choose "Team size" and enter 2 for pairs or 4 for table groups. Tip: leave your class list in the box. It will still be there on your next visit.

At work

For workshops, away days and breakout discussions, a random draw mixes departments. Tip: copy the teams and paste them into the meeting invite beforehand.

Game nights, quizzes, birthday parties and camps

Three or four teams are often enough for a pub-style quiz or a treasure hunt. Tip: draw again for each round.

Balanced teams, drawn at random

The list is shuffled first, then people are dealt out one at a time, team after team, like cards. Two teams therefore never differ by more than one person. With "Team size", the figure you enter is a maximum: this random group generator creates enough teams for nobody to be left out.

With an odd headcount, one person ends up alone: add them to a pair.

Frequently asked questions

Is the draw really random?

Yes. The shuffle uses the browser's cryptographic random number generator. The order of your list has no effect on the outcome.

Can it balance skill levels or keep two people apart?

No. The tool does not handle skill levels, seeded players, a boy/girl balance or rules such as "never put these two together". A workaround: run two separate draws with the same number of teams, for example one for experienced players and one for beginners, then merge the teams that share a number.

Is my list sent anywhere?

No. Everything happens in your browser. The list and your settings are kept on your device for your next visit.

What if I ask for more teams than there are people?

The tool creates one team per person at most. You also need at least two participants to run a draw.