Need to put a list into a random order? Whether you’re assigning presentation order, choosing winners, creating randomized practice groups, or shuffling a list of names, Excel makes it easy—even though there isn’t a built-in “Randomize” button.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to randomize a list in Microsoft Excel using the RANDBETWEEN function and Excel’s Sort feature. This simple technique works with names, text, numbers, and many other types of data.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to randomize a list in Excel
  • How to generate random numbers with the RANDBETWEEN function
  • How to sort a list based on random values
  • How to reshuffle the list again if needed
  • Why the random numbers change automatically
  • An alternative method using the RAND function

Common Uses

  • Randomly selecting winners
  • Assigning presentation order
  • Creating random groups or teams
  • Randomizing survey responses
  • Choosing names at random
  • Mixing up practice questions
  • Shuffling lists before analysis
  • Creating randomized examples

Requirements / Compatibility

This tutorial was originally recorded in 2020, and the method continues to work in current versions of Microsoft Excel, including:

  • Microsoft 365
  • Excel 2024
  • Excel 2021
  • Excel 2019
  • Excel 2016
  • Excel for Mac
  • Excel for the web

Both the RANDBETWEEN function and Excel’s Sort feature remain available in modern versions of Excel.

Practice & Resources

No downloadable workbook is required for this tutorial.

Simply create a list of names or other values in a worksheet, then follow the steps below to generate random numbers and sort the list into a random order.

Video Tutorial

Breaking Down the Formula

Excel doesn’t include a command to randomly shuffle a list. Instead, the trick is to assign a random number to each row, then sort the list by those numbers.

The RANDBETWEEN Function

=RANDBETWEEN(1,1000)

This formula generates a random whole number between 1 and 1000 each time the worksheet recalculates.

Once every row has a random number, simply sort the list by that column to create a randomized order.

Why do the numbers keep changing?

Functions like RANDBETWEEN are volatile, meaning they recalculate whenever the worksheet changes. That’s normal behavior.

After you’ve sorted your list, the order won’t change unless you sort it again using the newly generated numbers.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Enter your list in a worksheet.
  2. In the next column, enter:
=RANDBETWEEN(1,1000)
  1. Copy the formula down alongside every item in your list.
  2. Select both columns.
  3. Go to Data → Sort.
  4. If your data has headers, check My data has headers.
  5. Sort by the random number column.
  6. Click OK.

Your list is now in a random order.

To randomize it again, simply sort using the updated random numbers.

Additional Tips

  • If you only need random decimal values, you can use RAND() instead of RANDBETWEEN(). Because it generates decimal numbers between 0 and 1, duplicate values are less likely.
  • If you want your randomized order to stay the same, copy the random number column and Paste Values before sorting or saving.
  • Be sure to select all related columns when sorting so your data stays together.
  • If your worksheet contains headers, remember to check My data has headers in the Sort dialog.

Related Features

  • SORT
  • RAND
  • Data Sorting
  • Flash Fill
  • Data Validation
  • Filtering Data

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