How to make random teams
- Paste or type the names, one per line.
- Choose "Number of teams" (e.g. 4 teams) or "People per team" (e.g. groups of 3).
- Press Make teams. Not happy? Shuffle again as many times as you like.
- Copy the teams and paste them into your class chat, email or slides.
A random group generator too
Teams and groups are the same job, so this tool works as a random group generator as well. Choose "People per team" to set the group size instead of the number of groups. It is the quickest way to split a class into groups of 4, pair people up for a task, or break a workshop into small discussion groups.
For pairs, set People per team to 2. With an odd number of names, one group gets three people, so nobody is left on their own.
Always balanced
The team generator shuffles everyone with a secure random shuffle (Fisher–Yates), then deals names out like cards. That way team sizes never differ by more than one person, even when the numbers don't divide evenly.
How many teams should you make?
- 6–10 people: 2 teams, or pairs for a partner task.
- 11–20 people: 3 or 4 teams of about 4–5.
- 20–35 people (a typical class): groups of 4, which gives 5 to 9 groups.
- Sports: set the number of teams to 2 and let the generator pick sides.
- Quiz nights: teams of 4–6 so everyone gets a say.
Ideas for random groups
- Teachers: group projects, reading groups, lab partners, seating plans.
- Sports: five-a-side football, basketball pick-up games, PE lessons.
- Work: breakout rooms, hackathon teams, secret Santa groups, lunch roulette.
- Games night: quiz teams, Pictionary, charades.
- Then give each team a colour with the Random Color Wheel!
Team name ideas
- Animals: The Tigers, The Owls, The Sharks, The Foxes, The Pandas.
- Colours: Red Rockets, Blue Thunder, Green Machine, Orange Crush.
- Space: The Comets, The Astronauts, Rocket Squad, Galaxy Crew.
- Quiz nights: Quizteama Aguilera, Let's Get Quizzical, The Know-It-Owls.
- Work: The Deadline Dodgers, Ctrl Alt Elite, The Brainstormers.
Want a team wheel instead?
If you would rather spin than shuffle, put the names on the Random Name Picker and use Elimination mode: spin once per pick and deal each winner to the next team in turn. It is slower, but great fun on a big screen when choosing captains or picking sides live.
Frequently asked questions
Are the random teams fair?
Yes. Names are shuffled with a cryptographically secure random shuffle, and team sizes are balanced so they differ by at most one person.
Can I split a class into groups of 4?
Yes. Select "People per team", enter 4, and press Make teams.
Can I use this as a random pair generator?
Yes. Select "People per team" and enter 2. If there is an odd number of names, one group will have three people.
How many names can I add?
As many as you like. It handles a class list, a whole year group or a conference attendee list instantly.
Is my list of names saved?
Your names are saved only in your own browser so they are there next time. Nothing is uploaded to a server.