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Random Order Picker

Shuffle a list of names to decide who goes first, second and so on.

Writing the same name twice counts as two people. If two people share a name, add A, B or a number after it to tell them apart.

    The names you enter are saved only in your browser on this device, so they are still there next time. They are never sent to a server.

    How to use

    1. Enter the participants' names, one per line. You can also paste them all at once, separated by commas.
    2. If two people share a name, add A, B or a number after it to tell them apart. The same name entered twice counts as two people.
    3. Click "Pick the order". The names are shuffled and shown as a numbered list starting from 1.
    4. A message above the result says how many people were put in order. Check that the number is right. Click again and it is shuffled from scratch.
    5. Click "Copy" and each line is copied with its number, in a format like "1. Name". Paste it into a chat or a note and share it as is.

    About Random Order Picker

    This tool is for when it is unclear who goes first: presentation order, interview or consultation order, cleaning duty order, or who starts a board game. When there are too many people for rock-paper-scissors or a ladder, or it is hard to get everyone together, you can just type the names and line them up in one go.

    All the names you entered are shuffled with your browser's random number generator (crypto based) and numbered from 1 exactly as they come out. There is no rule that deliberately favors any name or position. The shuffle changes every time, though, so it is best for your group to agree in advance whether you will follow the first result or press again. If you keep pressing until you like the result, the point of deciding fairly is lost.

    The names you put in the order picker are saved in this browser, and the wheel, the team splitter, the order picker and the name picker all load the same list. If you enter names here and open another tool's page later, the same list is already in it. Other tabs that were already open need a refresh to show the changed list. A line with a weight from the wheel, like "Pizza:3", is shuffled as a name with the number attached, so remove ":3" before picking the order.

    Names can contain personal information, such as students or employees, so on a shared computer empty the box after you use it. If a name next to a number looks wrongly entered, fix the box and press the button again. The copied result is in the order number, dot, name, like "1. Alex", so it becomes a ready-made order list when you paste it into a chat.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is it really random?

    The shuffle uses your browser's built-in random number generator, so no particular order is deliberately favored. It is not a certified drawing device, though, so for anything with a lot at stake, do it in front of the participants.

    Can I fix part of the order and shuffle only the rest?

    There is no such feature. For example, if you want the host first, shuffle the names without the host and then type the host at the top of the copied result.

    How do I share the result?

    Click the copy button and the numbered list is copied; the button text briefly changes to "Copied". In an environment where copying does not work, it shows "Copy failed", so select the list on the screen and copy it yourself.

    Can I use more than 50 names?

    There is no limit on the number of people, and they all come out in one list. The screen gets long, though, so it is easier to copy the result and read it elsewhere.

    Can I use it for a rotating duty order?

    Yes, it suits anything that goes around once, like weekly cleaning or presentations. The tool does not save the result, so copy the order, and when the round is over, shuffle again or keep using the same order.

    Names are saved and I want to delete them.

    If you clear all the names in the box, the saved list becomes an empty list. After that the wheel opens with its twelve example items but does not save them until you edit, and the team splitter and name picker open with an empty box.