Random Seating Chart Generator

How to randomly assign seats

1. Choose your starting room. Try the example with 28 students in pairs, groups of four, round tables or a dinner for 12. Use this layout removes the example names and keeps the chairs; Start blank gives you an empty room.
2. Add your names. Paste one name per line, copy rows from Excel or Google Sheets, or import CSV or XLSX. Check the preview before adding everyone.
3. Set chairs and any rules. Match the number of chairs to your list. Lock anyone who needs to stay put, and add keep-apart or keep-together rules in Arrange if you need them.
4. Shuffle the seating. Press Shuffle for a random chart. In Arrange, Avoid last time’s neighbours uses the previous charts to try new neighbours. Review any warnings before using the result.
5. Save, print or share. Download a Letter or A4 PDF, spreadsheet or plan file, or create a read-only link. Your editable plan saves in this browser automatically.

The example has 28 students at 14 pairs of desks. Everyone has a seat, and no personal rules have been added. Press Shuffle to try another arrangement immediately, or choose Use this layout to remove the made-up names and paste your own list.

Random seating with the room you actually have

Choose pairs when each student needs a partner, groups of four for shared work, round tables for an event, or one long table for dinner. You can change the number of seats on any table or add desks from the Add menu. For 28 names in groups of four, seven groups provide exactly 28 seats. Leave an extra chair only if the room really has one: a free chair is a possible destination in a shuffle or seat draw.

Check the seated count after adding people. If you have 30 names and 28 chairs, add two seats before expecting a complete chart. Names that have not been seated stay in the unseated list. To build larger table layouts from a guest count, use the table planner.

Set the few rules you need

Open Arrange to add a keep-apart rule for two students or a keep-together rule for a group. A locked chair keeps its occupant during Shuffle; an empty locked chair stays empty. For table seating, check Keep households together when the Group column represents families. Turn it off if those groups should mix.

Shuffle starts a new arrangement, then works on your rules. It is not a promise that every possible seating plan has equal odds. A room with a single valid arrangement cannot produce a different valid result. Review the warnings, adjust a rule or chair count, and shuffle again when needed.

Try new neighbours next time

The pairs example starts with Avoid last time’s neighbours on. Each Shuffle remembers the chart it replaces. The next shuffle tries to avoid those adjacent pairs; in Arrange, choose a look-back of one to five charts. This is useful when you want students to work with a new partner.

Neighbour history describes nearby seats, not everyone who has ever shared a table. It also does not require a different seat number for every person. If you move desks far apart, they may no longer count as neighbours. Clear history in Arrange when you want to start the rotation over; export a plan file to keep the current chart, room, rules and history together. For more classroom layouts, open the classroom tool.

Draw a seat for one person

Open Seat draw from Add or Arrange. Choose an unseated person and press Draw a seat. The wheel points to the selected chair and the result gives its table and seat number in text. That person is seated immediately, leaving the remaining chairs for the next draw.

If everyone is seated already, Clear unlocked seats starts a new draw while leaving locked positions in place. Each draw checks must-rules involving that person and the current chart. Earlier draws can leave no eligible chair for a later person: undo the last draw, revise the rules, or use Shuffle to arrange the whole list together. The dialog includes Undo, and the wheel respects reduced-motion preferences.

Keep the result you want

Use Undo to return to the previous arrangement. Autosave keeps the current plan in this browser, and My plans lets you keep separate rooms or groups. Save a plan file before switching devices. A read-only link shares a snapshot, so create a fresh link after changing the seating.

Print the room and lists together, or open the CSV/XLSX assignments in your spreadsheet. See the example as a Letter PDF or an A4 PDF. For a reception with families and a head table, the wedding tool has that starting room ready.

Frequently asked questions