Random Picker
Pick N items at random from a list, or shuffle the whole list. Crypto-strong randomness, great for draws and team picks.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.
About this tool
Pick N items at random from a list, or shuffle the whole list into a random order. Useful for contest draws, deciding who goes first, randomly assigning teams, picking a restaurant from your shortlist, or any time you need an unbiased pick.
How "random" is this?
The tool uses your browser's
crypto.getRandomValues() for cryptographically-strong random
numbers, applied through a Fisher-Yates shuffle. That's the gold-standard
algorithm for unbiased shuffling — every possible ordering is equally
likely.
For a casual contest draw, this is more than enough. For a formal legally-required draw (lottery, regulated giveaway), use a certified draw system or do it with witnesses.
Two modes
- Pick N at random: chooses N items from your list and shows just those.
- Shuffle all: reorders the entire list. Useful when you need a sequence (running order, team assignment) rather than a selection.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use this for a regulated contest draw?
- Probably not for legal purposes. Provincial gaming and contest regulations vary; some require certified random number generation with audit trails. This tool is fine for casual contests, internal team draws, and informal picks. For regulated draws, consult your provincial gaming authority.
- Is the result reproducible?
- No — every click uses fresh random data. If you need a reproducible "seeded" shuffle for testing purposes, you'd need a separate seeded random tool. The non-reproducibility is a feature for fairness.
- How many items can I shuffle?
- Tested with lists up to 100,000 lines. Larger than that, the textarea itself may slow the browser. For real big-data shuffling, use a script.
- Empty lines and duplicates?
- Empty lines are ignored. Duplicates are kept — if "Alice" appears twice in your list, she counts as two separate items (so she has twice the chance of being picked).
Last updated: May 17, 2026