Randomize a List (Shuffle Data using Random Sort) in Excel

To shuffle a list, add a helper column with =RAND() beside your data, fill it down, then sort by that column (Data → Sort, or Alt → A → S → S). RAND produces a decimal between 0 and 1 for each row, so sorting on it puts the rows in a random order — ascending or descending makes no difference. Delete the helper column afterwards.

In Excel 365 there’s a one-formula version that needs no helper column or sorting at all: =SORTBY(A2:A11,RANDARRAY(ROWS(A2:A11))) returns the shuffled list in a new range.

Both RAND and RANDARRAY are volatile, so the order reshuffles on every recalculation — with the sort method the shuffle is already baked in, but with SORTBY you’ll want to copy the result and paste as values (Ctrl+Alt+V → V) once you’re happy.

To shuffle columns rather than rows, put the random numbers in a row above the data, select the range, then use Sort → Options → Sort left to right.

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Steps to Random Sort a List in Excel (Randomize a List)

Random Sort Columns

Get the Excel File

Related Formulas

To randomize the list of values in Excel means you can randomly sort data. And for this, you need to use Excel’s RAND function and along with that, you need to use the sort feature that you use to sort data. RAND gives random values that help to shuffle that data randomly.

In the following example, we have a list of names and now we need to sort this list using a random order.

Steps to Random Sort a List in Excel (Randomize a List)

First, enter RAND() in cell B1. This will give you a random number between 0 and 1.
Next, you need to drag the formula up to the last name that you have in the list.
From here you need to open the sort option from the DATA ➜ SORT. Or you can use the keyboard shortcut (Alt ➜ A ➜ S ➜ S).
In the “Sort by” select the name of the column where you have random values and select the order you want (this doesn’t make any difference because we are looking for random sorting).
In the end, click OK.

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And once you click OK, you have a randomized list of names (sorted by random order).

Now there’s one thing that we need to note down here. The RAND function is a volatile function and it changes every time you re-calculate in Excel. Either you can change those random values into actual values, or if you want to re-sort names you can leave it the way it is.

Random Sort Columns

You can also sort columns in a random order using the same method. In the following example, we have the same list of names in multiple columns and now we need to sort columns in random order.

First, you need to create a random number column the way we have done in the previous method.

After that, you need to select the data range from both rows.

Now the next thing that we do is to open the sort option. And in the sort option, click on the “OPTIONS” button and select the “SORT LEFT TO RIGHT” option, and then click OK.