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Random Sample Rows from a CSV File

Extract a random sample of N rows from a large CSV. Perfect for testing, ML datasets, and audit sampling.

What this tool does

Working with a 500,000-row CSV but only need a representative sample? Tabular's row sampler uses a random shuffle to extract exactly N rows, giving you an unbiased subset of your data. Unlike truncating (which always takes the first N rows), sampling gives you a representative slice of the whole file. Useful for ML training sets, QA spot-checks, and sharing examples without exposing the full dataset.

Problems it solves

  • Creating a test dataset from a large production file
  • Spot-checking data quality across a large export
  • Building a representative training set for machine learning
  • Sharing a sample of data without exposing the full file
  • Quickly validating an import template with real data

Example

10,000-row file randomly sampled down to 100 representative rows.

Before

IDCustomerAmount
1Alice$120
2Bob$45
... (10,000 rows total)

After

IDCustomerAmount
8234Carol$67
1102Dave$310
... (100 random rows)

Frequently asked questions

Is the sample truly random?

Yes. Tabular uses a Fisher-Yates shuffle to randomly select rows with no bias toward the start or end of the file.

What if I ask for more rows than exist in the file?

You'll get back the full file — Tabular can't sample more rows than exist.

Is this free or a paid feature?

Sample Rows is free for all users, including anonymous users without an account.

Related tools

Truncate Rows

Keep only the first or last N rows of your CSV or Excel file. Ideal for sampling large datasets or taking the most recent records.

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Filter Rows

Pro

Keep only the rows that match your criteria — filter by column value, text match, or emptiness. No formulas needed.

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Sort Rows

Sort your CSV or Excel file by any column — alphabetically or numerically, ascending or descending.

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