📎 This article includes 1 downloadable practice file ↓
In this article
RANDBETWEEN returns a random integer between two numbers. It recalculates on every change — convert to values when you want it fixed.
Syntax
=RANDBETWEEN(bottom, top)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
bottom, top |
Smallest and largest allowed value. |
Examples
Example 1
=RANDBETWEEN(1000, 50000)Random sales amounts for practice data.
Example 2
=DATE(2024,1,1)+RANDBETWEEN(0,365)Random dates in 2024.
RANDBETWEEN in practice
Where you will use it
- Generate test data quickly
- Random dates between two dates
- Pick a random winner number
Worked example
| Bottom | Top | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | =RANDBETWEEN(A2,B2) | (changes every recalculation) |
| 1000 | 5000 | =RANDBETWEEN(A3,B3) | (changes every recalculation) |
Results calculated in Excel. New random numbers appear on every recalculation.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Values change on every edit | Paste as values to freeze |
| Duplicates when you need unique picks | Use SORTBY(range, RANDARRAY(...)) and take the top N |
Related functions
RAND · RANDARRAY · INDEX
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📎 Practice files for this article
- 📗Practice workbook: Math & rounding24 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.⬇ XLSX · 35 KB
Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.
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