Shuffle any list into a truly random order
The List Randomizer takes any list — names, tasks, songs, exam questions, raffle entries, presentation order — and shuffles it into a fair random order in one click. Paste your items one per line, press Shuffle, and copy the result or download it as a text file.
It is handy for teachers choosing who presents first, managers rotating on-call duty, DJs mixing a set, quiz hosts ordering rounds, and anyone who needs a random draw that nobody can argue with. Optional clean-up removes blank lines and duplicates before shuffling, you can keep only the top N items to pick winners, and you can number the output for a ready-made running order.
The shuffle uses the Fisher–Yates algorithm fed by your browser’s cryptographic random number generator, so every possible order is exactly as likely as any other. Your list never leaves your device; a copy is kept in this browser so it is still there if you come back.
How to use the List Randomizer
- Paste or type your list into Your list, one item per line. The item count updates as you type.
- Tick Remove blank lines, Remove duplicates and Trim spaces to clean the list first (duplicates are matched ignoring case).
- Press Shuffle (or Ctrl + Enter in the box). Press it again for a fresh order.
- Tick Number the output for a 1, 2, 3… running order, or Keep only the first to draw N winners from the shuffled list.
- Use Copy result, Download .txt, or Use result as input to shuffle the shuffled list again.
List Randomizer features
Fair Fisher–Yates shuffle
The standard unbiased shuffle, with each swap position drawn from crypto.getRandomValues using rejection sampling — no modulo bias, no Math.random().
Clean-up options
Strip blank lines, trim leading and trailing spaces, and drop duplicate entries (case-insensitive) so each entry gets exactly one chance.
Pick the top N
Keep only the first N shuffled items to draw winners, choose a sample or form a short-list — the counter shows “3 of 40”.
Numbered output
Optional padded numbering turns the result into a presentation or playing order you can paste straight into a document.
Re-shuffle and chain
Shuffle again as often as you like, or move the result back into the input to build multi-round draws.
Large lists
Thousands of lines shuffle instantly; the draft is kept on this device so a long list is not lost on refresh.
Why a proper shuffle matters
The obvious way to shuffle — sorting with a random comparison function — is biased: some orders come up far more often than others. The Fisher–Yates shuffle (also called the Knuth shuffle) avoids this by walking the list from the end and swapping each item with a randomly chosen item at or before it. Every one of the n! possible orders has exactly the same probability.
The second ingredient is the random source. This tool uses the Web Crypto API, the same generator used for encryption keys, and rejects any value that would skew the result when reduced to the range needed. A list of 10 items has 3,628,800 possible orders, and each is equally likely here.
Common uses for a list randomizer
- Classrooms: random presentation order, seating, reading turns or question order for a fair test.
- Giveaways and raffles: paste every entry, tick “Remove duplicates”, shuffle, and keep the first N as winners.
- Work: stand-up speaking order, code-review assignments, rota for weekend cover.
- Music and media: shuffle a playlist, a reading list or a backlog of films to decide what comes next.
- Research: randomise the order of survey questions or stimuli to avoid order effects.
Related ways to choose at random
To pick just one name with a bit of drama, try the Random Name Picker or the Spin the Wheel. To split a shuffled list into groups, the Team Generator does it in one step. If you need the list in alphabetical order instead, the Sort Lines tool is the reverse of this one.
List Randomizer FAQ
Is the list randomizer really random?
Yes. It uses the Fisher–Yates algorithm with values from the browser’s cryptographic random number generator, so every possible order of your list is equally likely. It does not use a seed or any pattern.
How do I pick random winners from a list?
Paste all entries, tick “Remove duplicates” if each person should have one chance, press Shuffle, then tick “Keep only the first” and enter the number of winners. The first N items of the shuffled list are your winners.
Does it handle duplicates and blank lines?
Yes. “Remove blank lines” drops empty lines and “Remove duplicates” keeps only the first copy of each entry, ignoring case and surrounding spaces. Untick them if duplicates are intentional, for example to give someone extra entries.
Can I shuffle a list with thousands of items?
Yes. The shuffle is linear in the number of items, so even 10,000 lines reorder instantly. Very large drafts (over about 20,000 characters) are not saved between visits.
Is my list uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens in your browser. The list is stored only in your browser’s local storage so it survives a page refresh, and “Clear” removes it.
Can I shuffle the same list again?
Press Shuffle as many times as you like for a new order each time. “Use result as input” moves the shuffled list into the input box if you want to edit it or shuffle a trimmed version.