How to Shuffle Rows in Google Sheets (Easiest Way in 2024)

How to Shuffle Rows in Google Sheets

Follow the steps below to shuffle rows in Google Sheets. 

1. Add a New Column for Random Numbers

Next to your data (to the right of the "Favorite Color" column), add a new column. This column will be used for generating random values.

2. Populate the New Column with Random Values Using =RAND()

Click on the first cell of your new column (if your dataset starts from the first row, this would be cell C1). Type ‘=RAND()’ and press Enter.

Then, drag the fill handle down through the column to apply this formula to all rows associated with your dataset which assigns a random number to each person.

3. Shuffle Rows by Sorting Based on Random Numbers

Highlight the entire dataset including the new column of random numbers. Go to the Data menu, select "Sort range," and choose "Advanced range sorting options".

Tick the box next to "Data has header row" and select sort by Column C (or your new column), either in ascending or descending order. This will shuffle your rows based on the random numbers.

4. Remove the Column with Random Numbers After Shuffling

Now that your data is shuffled, you don't need the column with random numbers anymore. Right-click the header of the new column (Column C) and choose "Delete column".

5. Verify the Data to Ensure Rows Have Been Successfully Shuffled

Take a moment to review your data. The names and their favorite colors should now be in a randomized order.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to shuffle rows in Google Sheets. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to change margins on Google Sheets or our article on coefficient of variation in Google Sheets.