Random Team Generator & Team Maker
Split lists into random teams with cryptographically secure randomization
Our random team generator (also called a team maker) automatically divides your list into balanced random teams using cryptographically secure randomization. Generate random teams by specifying the number of teams or members per team. Perfect for sports team selection, classroom groups, project assignments, or any scenario requiring fair team distribution. Supports multiple separators (newlines, commas, semicolons, pipes, tabs, spaces), duplicate removal, and works seamlessly with Excel and CSV data. Export teams as text, CSV, or JSON. Completely free with no signup required.
Related Random Generators
Shuffle entire lists randomly. Reorder all items without grouping into teams.
Pick random winners or selections from your list. Single or multiple picks with no repeats.
Random coin flip for quick binary decisions. Heads or tails with 50/50 probability.
Generate random lottery numbers for Powerball, Mega Millions, and other games worldwide.
What is a Team Generator?
A team generator (also called a team maker or random team picker) automatically divides a list of names or items into balanced random teams. Unlike a list shuffler that simply reorders items, a team generator groups items into separate teams based on your specifications.
Our tool uses cryptographically secure randomization (PHP's random_int()) combined with the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm to ensure perfectly fair team distribution. You can specify either the number of teams you want or how many members each team should have.
Team Generator Configuration Options
Division Methods
- Number of Teams: Specify how many teams to create (e.g., 4 teams). Members are distributed evenly across teams.
- Members per Team: Specify team size (e.g., 5 members per team). Creates as many full teams as possible.
Multiple Separator Support
- Newlines: One name per line (default, best for Excel copy-paste)
- Commas: CSV format (Name1, Name2, Name3)
- Semicolons: European CSV format
- Pipes, Tabs, Spaces: Various data formats
Duplicate Removal
Cryptographically Secure Randomization
How to Generate Random Teams
[STEP 1] Enter Your List
Paste your list of names into the text area. Each name on a new line, or use commas/semicolons to separate. Works perfectly with Excel copy-paste.
[STEP 1] Choose Division Method
Select whether you want to specify the number of teams (e.g., "divide into 4 teams") or members per team (e.g., "5 members per team").
[STEP 1] Set Team Count or Size
Enter the number of teams or members per team. The tool will automatically calculate the distribution and handle any remaining members.
[STEP 1] Generate & Export
Click "Generate Teams" to create random teams instantly. Copy individual teams, all teams at once, or export as TXT, CSV, or JSON.
Common Use Cases for Team Generation
- › Sports Team Selection: Create balanced teams for basketball, soccer, volleyball, or any sport
- › Classroom Group Work: Divide students into random project groups or study teams
- › Workshop Breakout Groups: Organize conference or training participants into discussion groups
- › Gaming Tournaments: Create balanced teams for esports, board games, or party games
- › Work Project Assignment: Randomly assign employees to project teams or task forces
- › Secret Santa Groups: Organize participants into gift exchange groups
Team Generator Best Practices
- _ Use "Remove Duplicates" to ensure each person appears in only one team
- _ For sports, "Number of Teams" works best (e.g., 2 teams for a match)
- _ For classroom groups, "Members per Team" ensures consistent group sizes
- _ If members don't divide evenly, some teams will have one extra member
- _ Generate teams multiple times if you want different random arrangements
Technical Implementation
Combines Fisher-Yates shuffle with cryptographically secure random_int() for fair randomization, then distributes members across teams using round-robin allocation for perfect balance.
// Fisher-Yates shuffle for randomization
for ($i = count($members) - 1; $i > 0; $i--) {
$j = random_int(0, $i);
[$members[$i], $members[$j]] = [$members[$j], $members[$i]];
}
// Distribute to teams (round-robin)
$teams = array_fill(0, $teamCount, []);
foreach ($members as $index => $member) {
$teams[$index % $teamCount][] = $member;
}