List Randomizer: Shuffle, Pick and Dedupe

Your list (one item per line; commas also split)

0 items

Remove duplicates (ignores capital letters)

Pick this many random items

Everything runs in your browser using the Web Crypto API. Nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.

Results appear here

Paste a list, then shuffle it, pick a few items, or sort it.

How the randomness works

The tool shuffles with the Fisher-Yates algorithm. Each random number comes from your browser's Web Crypto generator (crypto.getRandomValues), not Math.random. Any value that would tilt the odds toward some spots is thrown away and redrawn (rejection sampling), so a plain shuffle gives every order the same chance. Options that avoid repeats or lock a spot change that on purpose. The draw runs on your device, and nothing about the result is decided by a server.

Four things people use a list randomizer for

A list randomizer does one job, but that job turns up everywhere. The common ones are below, and each maps to a button on this page.

Break a tie in priorities: shuffle the backlog and start from the top when everything feels equally urgent.
Draw a sample: pick 5 survey respondents, 3 code review candidates or 2 raffle winners from a longer list.
Remove bias from order: shuffle interview candidates, presentation slides to rehearse, or quiz questions so the sequence is not predictable.
Tidy a pasted list: remove duplicates and sort A to Z before you paste it somewhere else.

Why shuffling properly matters

A common shortcut is to sort a list with a random comparison, which produces visibly uneven results. This tool uses the Fisher-Yates shuffle with numbers from your browser's cryptographic generator, and it avoids the small bias that comes from naively taking a remainder. In practice that means every arrangement of your list is equally likely, which is what you want when the result decides something.

Picking N items works the same way: the list is shuffled and the first N entries are taken, so no item can be drawn twice in one pick.

What this tool does not do

It does not remember your list between visits, weight some items more than others, or spin a wheel. If you need a visible, shared draw that a room can watch, a live picker is a better fit than a private list in one browser tab.

Frequently asked questions

What can I put in the list?

Anything you can type on separate lines: names, tasks, song titles, restaurants, raffle entries, interview questions. Commas also split items, so you can paste a comma separated list directly.

How do I pick just a few random items?

Enter how many you want and press Pick. You get that many distinct items, so nothing is chosen twice in one draw. If you ask for more than the list holds, you get the whole list in random order.

Does it remove duplicates?

Yes, with the checkbox. Matching ignores capital letters, so Ana and ana count as the same entry, and the first spelling is kept. The page shows how many duplicates were ignored.

Can I get my original order back?

Yes. Reset order shows the list as you typed it, and Sort A to Z gives an alphabetical version. Shuffling never changes what is in the text box.

Is it fair and private?

The shuffle uses the Web Crypto random generator in your browser and a standard unbiased algorithm. Your list is not uploaded or stored.

Should I use this or the random order generator?

Use this for general lists where you might pick a few items or clean up duplicates. Use the random order generator when you need a numbered speaking order with someone locked in first or last.