Paste your class or guest list, choose rows and columns or tables and seats, and press Shuffle seats for a fair random seating chart. Keep chatty pairs apart, lock seats for students who need them, swap anyone by hand, then print or download the chart.
Last updated:
Layout
×
Rules (optional)
Grid: Name = row,column (row 1 is the front). Tables: Name = table or table,seat.
Seating chart
Front of the room
Tip: click one seat, then another, to swap two people by hand.
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How to use the Random Seating Chart Generator
Paste the names of your students or guests, one per line or separated by commas.
Choose a layout. Rows × columns for classrooms or Tables × seats for events, and set the size, or press Fit to names.
Add rules (optional). Enter keep-apart pairs like "Alex - Sam" and fixed seats like "Mia = 1,3" (row 1 is the front).
Press Shuffle seats for a new random chart. Shuffle again as often as you like.
Fine-tune and share. Click two seats to swap them, then print the chart, download a CSV or copy the list.
Rule formats
Rule
Format
Example
Meaning
Keep apart
Name - Name
Jack - Finn
Not neighbors (grid) or not at the same table
Keep a group apart
Name, Name, Name
Ava, Ben, Kai
Every pair in the group is kept apart
Fixed seat (grid)
Name = row,seat
Isla = 1,1
Front row, first seat
Fixed table
Name = table
Grace = 2
Any free seat at table 2
Fixed table seat
Name = table,seat
Henry = 3,1
Table 3, seat 1
How the randomizer works
Fixed seats are placed first. Everyone else is shuffled with a Fisher-Yates shuffle driven by the browser's cryptographic random number generator, so every arrangement is equally likely. If a keep-apart pair ends up next to each other, the tool swaps one of them with a random seat and keeps the swap only if it does not create new conflicts. It repeats this up to 400 times and shows the best chart found.
Tips for classroom seating
Reshuffle regularly, for example every few weeks, so students work with different classmates.
Use fixed seats for students who need to sit near the front, the door or the teacher for learning or accessibility reasons.
Leave a buffer: one or two spare seats make keep-apart rules much easier to satisfy.
Print the chart for substitute teachers; the printout shows only the chart and the date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a random seating chart?
Paste your list of names, set the number of rows and columns (or tables and seats per table) and press Shuffle seats. Every person gets a random seat using your browser's secure random number generator.
How do keep-apart pairs work?
In a classroom grid two people in a pair are never placed in neighboring seats, including front, back, sides and diagonals. With tables they are placed at different tables. If the room is too full to separate everyone, the chart highlights the remaining pairs in red so you can swap them by hand.
How do I give a student a fixed seat?
Add a line like "Mia = 1,3" in Fixed seats for row 1, seat 3 (row 1 is the front of the room). For tables, write "Mia = 2" for any seat at table 2 or "Mia = 2,3" for seat 3 at table 2.
What happens if there are more names than seats?
Everyone who fits is seated and the tool lists the people who did not fit. Press Fit to names to resize the layout automatically, or add rows or tables.
Can I use it for weddings and events?
Yes. Choose Tables × seats, enter the number of tables and seats per table, and use keep-apart pairs for guests who should sit at different tables. Fixed seats work for the head table or family tables.
Is my class list saved or uploaded?
Your list and rules are saved only in this browser's local storage so they are there next time. Nothing is sent to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.