Paste names, set seats per row and get a random seating chart. Keep chosen people in the front row.
The names are shuffled and seated into rows of the size you choose, from 1 to 12 seats per row. Row 1 is the front. The chart is a grid with one box per seat, each showing the name and its place, such as Row 2, seat 3. Under the grid is the same plan as text, one line per row, with names separated by a vertical bar, ready to copy. Lines are trimmed, blank lines are skipped, and names that match once case is ignored count once, with a note. Up to 200 names are accepted. The page opens with 10 sample names already seated.
Row by row reads every row from seat 1 to the last seat. Snake reverses every second row, so rows 2, 4 and so on run right to left, as if the line of people zigzags through the room. Because the names are shuffled first, both orders are equally random; the choice matters when you read the text out in order. When the names do not fill the last row, Show empty seats at the end adds boxes marked Empty so the grid stays a full rectangle and you can see how many seats are free. Turn it off and the last row simply ends after the last name.
The second box takes names that must sit in row 1, one per line. They are matched to your list without regard to case and are placed at random seats in the front row, with other people filling any seats left in that row. If you list more names than the front row has seats, the extra ones are seated in later rows and a note says how many. Front-row lines that are not in your names list are ignored, and the note gives only how many. This is useful for students who need to be near the board, or for guests of honour at a table.
The shuffle uses your browser's secure random source when available, with the browser's ordinary random function as a fallback. Names stay in this tab. They are not stored, not sent and not part of any analytics event. Only your seats per row, fill order and empty-seat choice are remembered in this browser. This tool seats people at random and does not separate friends, balance groups or know about your room: it assumes a simple grid with the same number of seats in every row.
Up to 200 names and 1 to 12 seats per row. With 200 names and 12 seats per row you get 17 rows, and the last row has 8 names plus 4 empty seats if empty seats are shown.
Yes. Type the name in the Front row box. It is placed in row 1 at a random seat. If more names are listed than the front row has seats, the extra ones sit in row 2 or later and a note tells you how many.
It reverses every second row, so row 1 reads left to right, row 2 right to left, row 3 left to right again. Names are shuffled before seating, so the seats are just as random in either order.
Your names do not fill the last row and Show empty seats at the end is on. With 10 names and 4 seats per row, row 3 has 2 names and 2 Empty boxes. Turn the option off to hide them.
No. They stay in this tab and are gone when you close it. Only the seats per row, fill order and empty-seat choice are saved in this browser. The page counts visits with Google Analytics, and that never includes a name.