How-to guide Group generator

How to Create Random Groups with a Maximum Group Size

Here’s how to create random groups with a maximum group size: enter the roster and set a maximum size that nobody’s group may exceed. The number of groups is calculated from that ceiling.

How to Create Random Groups with a Maximum Group Size

Fourteen people use a maximum of five. Three groups are needed because two groups would not have enough capacity. Select Load example to populate the supplied list, or replace it with your own entries. Nothing is generated until you select Make groups.

Input

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Result

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Runs in your browser. Your input is not uploaded.Group size: 2–100 · up to 10,000 people

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Prepare the participant list

    Enter everyone once using unique labels. Confirm the final attendance before assigning groups.

  2. Choose the maximum size

    Enter the largest acceptable group size. The tool calculates how many groups are needed and spreads people across them.

  3. Generate the groups

    Select Make groups, check the resulting headcounts, and share the list with a meeting point or activity instruction.

Worked example

Fourteen people use a maximum of five. Three groups are needed because two groups would not have enough capacity.

One valid result is shown below. Your generated outcome will vary.

Example input

Alex
Jamie
Morgan
Taylor
Sam
Jordan
Casey
Riley
Drew
Avery
Robin
Cameron
Blair
Devon

Example result

Group 1
1. Alex
2. Taylor
3. Jamie
4. Avery
5. Casey

Group 2
1. Riley
2. Devon
3. Jordan
4. Cameron
5. Robin

Group 3
1. Drew
2. Sam
3. Morgan
4. Blair

The resulting sizes are five, five, and four. Every person fits within the stated maximum.

Calculate capacity before generating

The group count is the participant count divided by the maximum size, rounded upward. Once that count is set, people are balanced across those groups. If venue capacity varies between groups, one shared maximum cannot represent all those capacities. Use a separate plan for unequal rooms or tables rather than assuming the tool checks each location.

Settings and limits to check

The example has 14 retained entries. The maximum is a ceiling, not a promise that every group will reach that size. The tool uses enough groups to respect the ceiling and balances their headcounts. For example, nine people with a maximum of four form three groups of three rather than two groups of four and one single person. Choose a maximum from 2 to 100.

Settings used in this example
Maximum group size: 5
Remove duplicate entries: On

Keep a usable copy of the result

Use Copy to place the current result in your own notes, or Download to keep a text file. Keep the eligible input list with the result when you need to explain which entries took part. A new generation replaces the displayed result rather than adding to a saved history.

The tool runs in your browser and does not upload your input. Save the result before refreshing or leaving the page. If other people need to use the same outcome, share your saved copy rather than asking them to generate another independent result.

Frequently asked questions

Can different groups have different maximum sizes?

No. One maximum applies to the entire generation.

Can groups be smaller than my chosen maximum?

Yes. They are balanced while staying at or below the maximum. A maximum of four does not force every group to have four people.

How do I request an exact number of groups?

Use Team Generator, which takes a team count and balances the participant list across that many teams.

What should I check in the worked example?

The resulting sizes are five, five, and four. Every person fits within the stated maximum.