How are students distributed across groups?

Names are shuffled randomly and then assigned round-robin to each group. This guarantees groups differ by at most one member.

Can I exclude certain students?

Yes — simply remove them from the name list before generating. You can also save multiple lists (e.g. one per class) and load the right one each time.

Can I set a group size instead of a group count?

The tool currently asks for the number of groups. To get groups of a specific size, divide your total students by the desired size and enter that number.

Completely free, no sign-up required. Names are stored only in your browser.

Random Group Generator

Split your class into random, balanced groups for projects, activities, or lab work. Free and instant.

Student names

Press Enter to add. Paste comma-separated or one-per-line lists.

Number of groups

Manage groups inside GapFiller

Create class rosters, assign groups, and track progress — all in one place.

How to create random student groups

Group work is a cornerstone of active learning, but forming groups by hand often leads to unbalanced teams or the same cliques working together. A random group generator solves this by shuffling the roster and distributing students evenly.

Enter your class list, choose how many groups you need, and the tool does the rest. Groups are balanced — if 25 students need to form 4 groups, you get three groups of 6 and one of 7. Hit Reshuffle for a different arrangement, then copy or print the result.

Quick example

You have 28 students and need 4 groups for a science lab. Paste the names, set groups to 4, and generate. The tool creates four groups of 7 students each. Not happy with the mix? Press Reshuffle to try again.

Use the Copy button to paste groups into a document or message, or Print for a classroom-ready handout.

Frequently asked questions

Related classroom tools

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