Pick a random item from a list
Choose a random name or row, for giveaways or sampling.
The formula
Excel and Google Sheets
=INDEX(A2:A100, RANDBETWEEN(1, COUNTA(A2:A100)))How it works
COUNTA(A2:A100)How many entries the list has (no gaps allowed).
RANDBETWEEN(1, …)A random position in the list.
INDEX(A2:A100, …)The entry at that position.
Example
| A: Name | Result |
|---|---|
| Ana | Cleo (changes on every edit) |
| Ben | |
| Cleo |
Tips
- The pick changes every time the sheet recalculates. Copy and paste it as a value to keep it.