2026.10.4
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Choose a random value: random

The random filter chooses a random item from a list. This is Home Assistant’s override of the built-in random filter, with one important difference: it produces a new random value every time the template is evaluated, rather than caching the result.

This is useful when you want to add variety to your automationsAutomations in Home Assistant allow you to automatically respond to things that happen in and around your home. [Learn more]. For example, you might want to pick a random color for a light, choose a random greeting message for a notificationYou can use notifications to send messages, pictures, and more, to devices. [Learn more], or select a random playlist to play on a media player. Because the value changes with each evaluation, you get a genuinely different result each time the template runs.

Usage

Here’s how to use this template function. Copy any example and adjust it to your setup.

As a filter 
{{ ["red", "green", "blue"] | random }}
Result (stringA piece of text, like a name, message, or entity ID. In templates, wrap strings in quotes, like "living_room" or "lights are on".) 
green

Function signature

The signature is a technical summary of this template function. It shows the name of the function, the values (called parameters) it accepts, and what type of data each parameter expects (for example, a piece of text or a number).

Function parameters that have a = with a value after them are optional. If you leave them out, the default value shown is used automatically.

Function parameters without a = are usually required. A few optional parameters have no default value, so the signature shows them without a = as well. To check whether a parameter is required, look at the parameter list below the signature. Each parameter is marked as Required or Optional.

The most common optional parameter without a default value is default. The default parameter sets the value a function returns when the function can’t produce a result, for example, when float gets text that isn’t a number. If you leave out default, there is no fallback value, so most functions raise an error and the template fails. The parameter list of each function says what happens. If you set default, the function returns your value instead.

How to read a signature

Here is the signature of the round filter as an example:

round(
    value: Any,
    precision: int = 0,
    method: str = "common",
    default: Any,
) -> float | int | Any
  • round is the name of the function.
  • Between the parentheses are the parameters. Each parameter has a name, followed by a colon and the type of value the parameter expects. The type only tells you what kind of value to pass. For default: Any, you pass a value of any type, such as 0 or "unknown", not the word Any.
  • = 0 and = "common" are default values. You can leave out precision and method, and round uses these default values.
  • default has no =, but the parameter list marks default as optional. If you leave out default and round gets a value that isn’t a number, round raises an error.
  • -> shows the type of value the function returns.
  • Inside a signature, | means “or”. This function returns a decimal number, a whole number, or the value you passed as default.

round is a filter, so the first parameter, value, is the value before the |. For example, {{ 3.14159 | round(2) }} returns 3.14.

The types you’ll see most often:

  • str: text, such as "hello"
  • int: a whole number, such as 5
  • float: a decimal number, such as 3.14
  • bool: true or false
  • list: a list of values, such as [1, 2, 3]. list[str] is a list of texts.
  • dict: a set of keys and values, such as {"name": "Kitchen"}
  • datetime and timedelta: a date and time, and a duration. For details, refer to Dates and times.
  • None: no value
  • Any: any type of value

Some signatures use special forms:

  • *args means you can pass any number of values, separated by commas. For example, average(1, 2, 3).
  • value | name(...) means the function is a filter. The value before the | is passed to the filter as its first parameter. Some filter signatures, like the round example, show this value as the first parameter between the parentheses instead.
random(
    values: list,
) -> Any

Function parameters

The following parameters can be provided to this function.

values list Required

The list of values to randomly choose from. Must contain at least one item.

Context-dependent evaluation

Unlike many other template functions, random is context-dependent. This means the result is not cached between evaluations. Each time the template is rendered, a new random choice is made.

TemplateA template is an automation definition that can include variables for the action or data from the trigger values. This allows automations to generate dynamic actions. [Learn more]: Random greeting period 
{{ ["morning", "afternoon", "evening"] | random }}
Result (stringA piece of text, like a name, message, or entity ID. In templates, wrap strings in quotes, like "living_room" or "lights are on".) 
afternoon

Good to know

  • A new random value is picked every time the template is rendered, so template entities using random re-evaluate and change often.
  • Calling random twice in a single template returns two independent picks, which can surprise you if you expect the same value.
  • An empty list raises an error.

Try it yourself

Ready to test this? Open Settings > Tools > Template, paste the example into the Template editor, and watch the result update on the right. Edit the values to see how the function adapts to your own entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more].

More examples

Real scenarios where this function comes up in automations and templates. Copy any example and adapt it to your setup.

Random light color

Pick a random color for a light from a predefined list.

ActionAn action makes Home Assistant do something, for example, turn on a light, send a notification, or activate a scene. Automations and scripts run a list of actions. [Learn more] 
action:
  - action: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.living_room
    data:
      color_name: >
        {{ ["red", "blue", "green", "purple", "orange"] | random }}

Random notification message

Send a different motivational message each time an automation triggers.

ActionAn action makes Home Assistant do something, for example, turn on a light, send a notification, or activate a scene. Automations and scripts run a list of actions. [Learn more] 
action:
  - action: notify.mobile
    data:
      message: >
        {{
          [
            "Have a great day!",
            "Remember to stay hydrated!",
            "You're doing awesome!",
            "Time to stretch!"
          ] | random
        }}

Still stuck?

The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with your template and expected result, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.

Tip

AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude can also explain or fix templates when you describe what you want in plain language.

Related template functions

These functions work well alongside this one: