How To Randomize a List in Google Sheets (3 Easy Ways)

A random list can be incredibly useful when ensuring there’s no bias in the order or selection of items. There are multiple reasons why you might want to randomize or shuffle a list. For instance, you may need to randomly choose participants for an event or sort people or items in a random order.

Luckily, Google Sheets has introduced a new feature called ‘Randomize range’ that makes it easier than ever to create a randomized list in Google Sheets. In this article, we’ll walk you through three different ways to accomplish this:

The New Way: Using the Randomize Range Feature

The quickest and most straightforward method to randomize a list is by using the new ‘Randomize range’ feature in Google Sheets. It only takes a few clicks to complete.

Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Select the list of items you want to randomize.

Step 2: Right-click on the selected range and choose ‘Randomize range’ from the context menu that appears.

That’s it! Your list should now be randomly sorted. This method utilizes the built-in randomizer in Google Sheets.

The Traditional Way: Using a Filter and Sort

In Google Sheets, the traditional method to randomize lists has been to utilize the RAND function to generate a list of random numbers between 0 and 1. These numbers are then combined with the original data using the Filter and Sort functions.

This method is not limited to Google Sheets and can also be applied to other spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel. Additionally, it allows you to create a random order by using a helper column.

Here’s how you can apply this method to sort the items in your list:

Step 1: In a blank column next to your list, enter the formula: =RAND() and press the return key.

Step 2: Drag down or double click the fill handle of the cell to copy the formula to the rest of the cells in the column.

Step 3: You should now see a list of random numbers between 0 and 1. Select any cell in this column.

Step 4: From the Data menu, choose the option ‘Sort Sheet by Column B A→Z’.

Step 5: Select the column containing the random numbers (column B in our example) and delete it.

Your list of items should now be sorted in a random order.

Please note that the entire sheet gets sorted with this method, meaning that if you have other rows you don’t want to randomize, it could cause issues. To avoid this problem, you can use the following alternative method:

Step 1: In a blank column next to your list, enter the formula: =RAND() and press the return key.

Step 2: Drag down or double click the fill handle of the cell to copy the formula to the rest of the cells in the column.

Step 3: Select the range of items in your list, along with their corresponding cells of random numbers.

Step 4: Right-click on your selection and click on ‘Sort Range’.

Step 5: In the ‘Sort Range’ dialog box, choose ‘Column B’ from the dropdown menu next to ‘Sort by’.

Step 6: Click the Sort button.

Step 7: Select the column containing the random numbers (column B in our example) and delete it.

Now, only your selected cells will be randomly sorted.

Please note that since the RAND function is volatile, your list will be resorted every time there’s a change in the sheet. To prevent this, delete the list of random numbers before making further changes.

Using a Formula

If you prefer using a formula instead of clicking through menus, here’s another method that allows you to achieve the same result. With this approach, you’ll perform the randomize and sort process using a single formula.

The formula we’ll use is:

=SORT(A2:A10, ArrayFormula(RANDBETWEEN(SIGN(ROW(A2:10)), 1000000)), True)

Simply copy this formula into a blank cell in a new column, replacing the ranges A2:A10 with references to the range of cells in your list. When you press the return key, you’ll get a new list of the same items arranged in a random order.

This method is particularly useful if you don’t want to alter the original list of items, as it allows you to randomize the list in a separate column. Just ensure that the column containing your formula is blank, as any existing data will cause the formula to return a #REF! error.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored three different methods for randomizing a list in Google Sheets. While the traditional methods involve using functions like RAND and RANDBETWEEN, Google Sheets now provides a convenient ‘Randomize range’ feature.

By following these simple steps, you can easily shuffle your lists and avoid any bias in the sequencing or selection of items.

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Remember, randomizing a list can be incredibly helpful in various scenarios, including event participant selection or sorting people and items together in a random order.

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