How to use the random team generator
- Add the names: type or paste them, one per line. A comma-separated list works too, so you can paste straight from a spreadsheet row or a chat.
- Choose how to split: by number of teams (for example 4 teams for a tournament) or by people per team (for example groups of 3 for a class activity).
- Press Make teams. Not happy, or need a fresh mix for the next round? Press Shuffle again.
- Share the result: Full screen for the board, or Copy teams to paste the list anywhere.
Why the teams are fair
Picking teams by hand or by captains takes time and leaves the same people chosen last. This team generator shuffles the whole list with the browser's cryptographic random number generator, the same kind of randomness used for security keys, and a Fisher–Yates shuffle, which gives every possible order the same chance. Then it deals the names out like cards, so team sizes never differ by more than one person. Even the choice of which teams get the extra person is random.
| Names | Split | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 4 teams | 4 teams of 6 |
| 14 | 4 teams | 2 teams of 4, 2 teams of 3 |
| 25 | groups of 3 | 9 groups: 7 of 3 and 2 of 2 |
| 10 | 2 teams | 2 teams of 5 |
Tip: if a group of two is too small for your activity, use "Number of teams" instead and pick one team fewer; the leftover people are spread across the other teams.
Ideas for teachers, coaches and game nights
- Classroom group work: groups of 3–4 usually work well, since everyone has a role and nobody can hide. Shuffle again for each new activity so students work with different classmates.
- Sports and PE: two teams for a match, or several small teams for stations. Turn on captains to pick who leads the warm-up.
- Quiz and game nights: mix friends and new faces quickly, then copy the teams into the group chat.
- Work workshops: break a meeting into discussion groups in seconds.
Running the activity with a time limit? Put the classroom timer on the board, and use the classroom noise meter to keep group discussions at a sensible level.
Privacy
Everything happens in your browser. The names are never sent to a server; the list is kept only on this device so it's ready next time, and Clear removes it.
How we tested this tool
We ran the generator in Chrome on lists of different sizes and checked every case in the table above: each name appeared exactly once, team sizes never differed by more than one, groups-of-3 mode produced the right number of teams, and pasted comma-separated lists and blank lines were handled. We also generated 2,000 splits of the same 12 names into 3 teams and confirmed each person landed in each team roughly a third of the time, so no position in the list is favoured.
Frequently asked questions
Is the random team generator really random?
Yes. It shuffles the names with the browser's cryptographic random number generator and a standard Fisher-Yates shuffle, so every order of names is equally likely and nobody, including the person running it, can predict or steer the teams.
What happens if the names don't divide evenly?
Team sizes never differ by more than one. With 14 names and 4 teams you get two teams of 4 and two teams of 3, and which teams get the extra person is random too.
Are the names I enter stored anywhere?
The list is kept only in your own browser so it's still there next time. It is never uploaded. Press Clear to remove it.
Can I make teams by group size instead of number of teams?
Yes. Switch 'Split by' to 'People per team' and enter the size you want, for example 3. The team generator works out how many teams are needed and keeps them as even as possible.
How do I show the teams to a class?
Press Full screen to show only the team cards in large text on a projector or smart board. Copy teams puts the result on your clipboard as plain text for an email, chat or document.