How do I generate test data in Excel?

You can combine RANDBETWEEN and CHOOSE for numbers and short lists, but realistic names, emails and UUIDs are painful. Tellsheet's Generate Test Data builds a table of names, emails, companies, dates, numbers, booleans and UUIDs from the columns and row count you specify — on a new sheet, seeded for reproducibility.

Can I get the same data every time?

Yes — Generate Test Data is seeded, so the same seed always produces the same rows. Change the seed for a different set. Formula-based RANDBETWEEN reshuffles on every recalculation unless you paste as values.

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How to Generate Test / Sample Data in Excel

Building a template, testing a formula, or filling a demo needs realistic sample rows — names, emails, dates, numbers. Typing them is tedious and formulas only get you so far. Here's how to generate a table instantly.

Last updated: August 2026

ID	Name	Email	Date
1	Ana Silva	[email protected]	2024-06-14
2	Liam Khan	[email protected]	2023-11-02

Method 1 — RANDBETWEEN & CHOOSE

Numbers: =RANDBETWEEN(1,1000). Pick from a list: =CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1,3),"Ana","Bo","Cy").
Emails/UUIDs need long nested formulas built from those pieces.
Copy and Paste Special > Values so the data stops reshuffling on every edit.

Workable for a couple of numeric columns, but realistic names, companies, and UUIDs are a slog, and everything recalculates until you freeze it.

The 1-click way — Tellsheet

Generate Test Data builds a realistic table on a new sheet from a simple spec: list the columns you want — id, name, email, company, city, country, phone, date, integer, decimal, boolean, uuid — and a row count. It's seeded, so the same seed reproduces the same data (great for repeatable test fixtures); change the seed for a fresh set. Pairs with Add Serial Numbers and Date Table.

Frequently asked questions

How do I generate test data?

RANDBETWEEN/CHOOSE for simple cases, or Tellsheet's Generate Test Data for a full table in one click.

Can I reproduce the same data?

Yes — it's seeded; the same seed always gives the same rows.

Which column types are available?

id, name, first/last name, email, company, city, country, phone, date, integer, decimal, boolean, uuid.

Where does it write?

To a new sheet, so it never touches your existing data.

Related Excel guides

Fill a sheet with realistic data

Generate Test Data builds names, emails, dates, and more — seeded and reproducible — inside Excel.

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