Random group generator for classrooms, with topics

With this random group generator, splitting a class takes ten seconds and nobody complains about the same old cliques: paste the names, set the number of groups (or the people per group) and draw. If there are topics for the project or presentation, the tool also draws which topic each group gets.

Source: W3C Recommendation, W3C Web Cryptography API – getRandomValues(). Updated: 6 October 2026.

How it is calculated

The random group generator shuffles your list and deals the names out like cards, so the groups are as even as possible and nobody picks their own team. A second, independent draw can hand each group a topic.

How to make random groups

Paste the names of the class, one per line; you can copy them from a spreadsheet or a chat group.
Choose how to split: by number of groups (say, 4 groups) or by people per group (say, groups of 5).
If you like, type the topics, one per line.
Press Make groups. The table shows each group, its topic and its members.
Post it to the class chat with Send via WhatsApp: the link opens the same result for everyone.

How the groups are formed

First the names are shuffled. Then they are dealt out in turn: the first name drawn goes to Group 1, the second to Group 2, and so on, starting again at Group 1 after each round. That keeps the groups balanced: the largest and the smallest never differ by more than one person.

Class	Request	Result
12 people	4 groups	4 groups of 3
14 people	4 groups	2 groups of 4 and 2 groups of 3
30 people	groups of 4 people	8 groups: 6 of 4 and 2 of 3
35 people	groups of 5 people	7 groups of 5

With “people per group”, the number you enter is the maximum: 30 people in groups of 4 do not divide evenly, so 8 groups are formed and nobody ends up alone in a leftover group.

Random groups with topics

If you fill in the topic list, a second draw is made, independent of the first: the topics are shuffled and Group 1 receives the first, Group 2 the second, and so on. Nobody gets to choose the “easy” topic.

As many topics as groups: every group gets a different topic.
More topics than groups: the unused topics are listed on a separate line.
Fewer topics than groups: the page tells you how many groups have no topic; no topic is repeated on its own.

A “topic” can be anything: chapters of the set text, countries for the culture fair, presentation dates, lab stations or stops on a scavenger hunt.

A clean draw everyone sees the same way

The shuffle uses the browser’s secure random number generator and the Fisher–Yates algorithm: every possible order is equally likely. The names are not sent to a server. The result travels in the link; if someone changes the list afterwards, the page asks for a new draw instead of showing different groups to different people.

For sides balanced by skill use the random team generator; for pairs, the random partner generator; for the order of presentations, randomize a list; and to choose a single person, the random name picker.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make random groups?

Paste the names, one per line, enter how many groups you want (or how many people per group) and press “Make groups”. The names are shuffled and dealt out evenly.

What if the class does not divide evenly?

The groups differ by at most one person. 14 people in 4 groups give two groups of 4 and two groups of 3.

Can I set the group size instead of the number of groups?

Yes. Choose “By people per group”. The number is the maximum per group: 30 people in groups of 4 become 8 groups, six of 4 and two of 3.

Can the generator assign topics to the groups?

Yes. Type the topics one per line. They are shuffled separately and handed to the groups in order.

Are the groups really random?

Yes. The order is produced by a Fisher–Yates shuffle with the browser’s cryptographic random number generator, so every order is equally likely.

How do I share the groups with the class?

“Send via WhatsApp” or “Copy result” creates a message with the groups and a link that opens exactly this draw.

How many names can I enter?

Up to 200, one per line or separated by commas.

Can I keep certain students apart?

Not automatically. Draw again, or move a name by hand after the draw – and tell the class if you do.

Sources and legal basis

As of: 6 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Result