Statistics

Random Sample Generator

Draw a simple random sample from a numbered population of any size — a foundational tool for surveys, audits, and quantitative research.

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How the Random Sample Generator works

A simple random sample is the statistical gold standard for drawing conclusions about a larger population: every unit has an identical, independent probability of selection, which is what makes standard confidence intervals and hypothesis tests valid. This tool implements exactly that — label your population 1 through N, and it draws n unique IDs from that range using a cryptographically secure shuffle.

In practice, you'd map the drawn ID numbers back to your actual list — row 47 of a spreadsheet, customer record 812, survey respondent 3 — giving you a reproducible, defensible sampling method for research, audits, and quality control.

How to use it

1
Enter your population sizeThis is the total number of units you could sample from, labelled 1 through N.
2
Choose your sample sizeDecide how many units you need to sample, based on your study's statistical requirements.
3
Draw the sampleXrandom selects unit ID numbers without repeats, giving every member of the population an equal chance of selection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a sample with or without replacement?

Without replacement — no ID number is drawn twice, matching how most survey and audit sampling is actually conducted.

How large a sample do I need?

That depends on your desired confidence level and margin of error; use a sample size calculator specific to your study design to determine n before drawing.

Can I use this to sample rows from a spreadsheet?

Yes — set N to your total row count, draw your sample of row numbers, then look up those specific rows in your data.