How to use the list randomizer
- Paste your list into the box, one item per line. For comma separated text, choose Commas and lines.
- Pick the options you want: trim spaces, skip blank lines, remove duplicates, number the result, or keep only the first few items.
- Press Randomize. The shuffled list appears below. Press it again for a completely new order.
- Use Copy result or Download .txt. Use Use result as the list if you want to shuffle again or continue from the new order.
A fair shuffle
The list is mixed with the Fisher-Yates method, which walks from the end of the list to the start and swaps each item with a randomly chosen item at or before it. Done correctly, every possible order is exactly equally likely. The random numbers come from the secure generator built into your browser, and the picker rejects any draw that would favor small numbers (a flaw called modulo bias), so no position is more likely than another.
A common shortcut, sorting a list by a random comparison, is known to produce uneven results. This tool does not use it. Because it uses your device's secure source rather than a seed you can set, a shuffle cannot be reproduced afterward. If you need a record, copy or download the result.
Options that help
Keep only the first picks that many items from the shuffled list. That makes the tool a quick way to choose, say, 5 names from 40 without repeats. Remove duplicates ignores case, so Ann and ann count once. Number the result adds 1., 2., 3. in front of each line, which is handy for a batting order or a presentation schedule.
You can paste up to 100,000 items. If you only need winners or teams from a list of names, the random name picker is built for that, while this tool is for reordering the whole list.
Privacy
Your list is shuffled in this tab, is not uploaded and is not stored. Close the page and it is gone, so copy or download the result first.
Assumptions and limits
- Each non-blank line is one item. Lines are compared exactly for duplicates apart from ignoring case.
- Results cannot be reproduced later because the shuffle uses secure, unseeded randomness.
- Limit: 100,000 items.
- Keep only the first must be a whole number of 1 or more. Leave it blank to keep everything.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put a list in random order?
Paste the list with one item per line, press Randomize, and copy the result. Press Randomize again whenever you want a new random order.
Is the shuffle really random and fair?
It uses a Fisher-Yates shuffle with your browser's secure random generator and no modulo bias, so every possible ordering is equally likely. It is suitable for games, raffles and classroom use, though not for regulated drawings.
Can I pick a few random items from a long list?
Yes. Type a number in Keep only the first, and the result shows that many items from the shuffled list. No item can appear twice unless it appears twice in your original list.
How do I remove duplicates before shuffling?
Tick Remove duplicates. Items that match when case is ignored are kept once, in the position of their first appearance before shuffling.
What happens to blank lines and extra spaces?
By default blank lines are skipped and spaces at both ends of each item are trimmed. Untick those options if blank lines or spacing carry meaning in your list.