What happens to your list when you shuffle
Shuffling returns every item you entered, once, in a new random order. Nothing is added, nothing is dropped, and no item is more likely to land near the top than any other.
That makes it the right tool for a running order: who presents first, which task you tackle next, what sequence a playlist follows. If you only need one name out of many, a draw is a better fit than a shuffle.
The same list can also come back split into groups, which is how most people use it for teams. Enter twelve names, ask for three groups, and you get four names in each without deciding who goes where.
Shuffle a list in three steps
Paste first and adjust after: the settings all apply to whatever is in the box.
Paste your items and pick the separator that matches them, or leave it on automatic detection.
Choose how many groups you want — one group means a straight running order.
Generate the shuffle, then compare it against your original list to see how far each item moved.
Separators, duplicates and pinned positions
Most of these exist because real lists arrive messy, copied out of a chat or a spreadsheet.
- Automatic separator detection, plus explicit line-break, comma and semicolon modes
- Group splitting into as many as 20 groups from a single list
- Pinned positions, which hold chosen slots in place while everything else moves
- Duplicate removal, applied to the input before the shuffle runs
- Numbered output, so a running order reads as 1, 2, 3 rather than a bare list
- A side-by-side comparison with the original order and a count of how many items actually moved
- Lists of up to 200 items in a single shuffle
Where a shuffled order settles an argument
A shuffle is most useful when the order itself is the contested part.
A workshop facilitator splits twenty participants into four groups without anyone picking teammates.
A conference chair sets the speaking order for eight lightning talks and shows the numbered result on screen.
A team randomizes its code review rota so the same person does not always go first.
A teacher rearranges a seating list weekly, pinning the two pupils who must stay at the front.
A tournament organiser shuffles entrants into first-round pairings using two-item groups.
A household rotates chores by shuffling the task list every Sunday.
Split a shuffled list into teams
Group splitting runs after the shuffle, not before. The list is randomized first, then dealt out across the number of groups you asked for, so an uneven total spreads the remainder across the earliest groups rather than stacking it at the end.
Pinned positions are honoured before anything else. A pinned slot keeps whatever you placed there and only the unpinned items are shuffled around it, which is how you keep a fixed opener while randomizing the rest of the running order.
What shuffling cannot do
Duplicate removal changes your input list, so the output can be shorter than what you pasted. Check the item count before you split into groups, or a group will come up short.
Groups are balanced by count only. The tool knows nothing about skill, seniority or who works well together, so it cannot produce fair teams in any sense beyond equal size.
A shuffle returns an order, not a winner. If you need one name, or several winners with prizes, use a draw instead.
Getting a shuffle people trust
- Turn on the comparison view when you shuffle in front of a group: a moved-item count answers the accusation that nothing changed.
- Deduplicate before splitting into teams, or a repeated name will occupy two slots.
- Use two-item groups to generate pairings instead of shuffling and reading the list two at a time.
- Pin the first position when someone genuinely has to open, rather than reshuffling until they do.
Shuffle and grouping questions
How do I split a list into random teams?
Paste the names, set the group count to the number of teams you want, and generate. The list is shuffled first and then dealt across the groups, up to a maximum of 20 groups.
How do I divide 12 people into 3 groups?
Enter all twelve names and set the group count to three. Each group receives four names. If your total does not divide evenly, the extra items go to the earliest groups.
Which separators can I paste?
Line breaks, commas and semicolons all work, and automatic detection picks the right one for most pasted lists. Set the separator explicitly when your items themselves contain commas.
Can I keep one name in first place?
Yes. Pin that position and it stays fixed while every unpinned item is shuffled around it. You can pin more than one slot.
How many items can I shuffle at once?
Between 2 and 200 items in a single shuffle. Longer lists need to be split before you paste them.
Does it remove duplicate names?
Only when you turn duplicate removal on. It runs against the input before shuffling, so the output can be shorter than the list you pasted.
How do I know the order really changed?
Turn on the comparison with the original list. It shows both orders together and counts how many items moved position, which is the quickest way to prove a shuffle happened.
Should I shuffle a list or draw lots?
Shuffle when you need the whole list in a new order. Draw lots when you need a subset — one winner, three winners, or names matched to prizes.