
It means the number of offset row(s) from the range.
#Random name picker with multiple entries per person how to#
Great, we know how to pick a random winner! But we need to see his name as well. This function returns a random number which we can use as the index of the selected winner. If the list of the names is in column A starting from A2, then you can write the following formula: =RANDBETWEEN(1, COUNTA(A2:A)) Therefore, we use it with a column reference that contains all the names we want to include in the calculation. It counts the number of cells in a selected range. This is why the COUNTA function is useful. However, it is highly possible that you either don’t know the exact number of names or it changes. For instance, if there are always 12 names in our list, we can write this function in the following way: =RANDBETWEEN(1, 12) We can write the exact number of participants if it is always the same. high is the high end (the biggest number) of the random range.įor example, we need a random number between 1 and the total number of names to pick a random winner.low means the low end (the smallest number) of the random range.= the equal sign is just how we start any function in Google Sheets.The syntax of the RANDBETWEEN function is as follows: =RANDBETWEEN(low, high) The RANDBETWEEN function is a random number generating function. The Anatomy of the RANDBETWEEN and INDEX Functions The Anatomy of the RANDBETWEEN Function Let’s dive right into real examples to see how to pick a random name from a long list in Google Sheets. INDEX finally to match the randomly selected number with the corresponding name in the list.

RANDBETWEEN to pick a random number between 1 and the total number of participants,.COUNTA to count the number of participants in the draw,.I will show you a solution using the combination of three Google Sheets functions: Say you have a competition for your website, school, or workplace, and you need to pick a random winner from a long list. It is useful if you have a list of names in one column and want to draw between them. How to Pick a Random Name from a Long List in Google Sheets.A Real Example of Using RANDBETWEEN and INDEX Functions.The Anatomy of the RANDBETWEEN and INDEX Functions.
