MAC Address Generator
Random MAC addresses for testing and labs, in colon, dash, Cisco dotted or plain hex format.
Output · 0 MACs
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Random addresses set bit 1 of the first byte (locally-administered) and clear bit 0 (unicast) so they don't collide with vendor-assigned globally-unique MACs.
- Formats
- 4
- Vendor presets
- 8
Related tools
Guides
This MAC address generator makes random 48-bit hardware addresses for test data, labs and virtual machines. By default each one is a locally administered unicast address: the tool sets the second-lowest bit of the first byte and clears the lowest, so the first byte always ends in 2, 6, A or E. Manufacturers never burn addresses into hardware from that range, so these can't clash with a factory-assigned MAC.
Under More options you can pick a vendor prefix (OUI) instead: Apple, Cisco, Dell, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung or VMware. That fixes the first three bytes to the vendor's prefix and randomizes the last three. Those addresses look like real hardware, so keep them on test networks.
How to use the MAC address generator
- Set Count from 1 to 50.
- Pick a format: aa:bb (colons), aa-bb (dashes), aabb.cc (Cisco dotted) or AABBCC (no separators). Output is always uppercase hex.
- Open More options to choose a vendor OUI, or leave it on Random locally-administered.
- Click Generate or Regenerate, then click one address to copy it or use Copy all.
Where random MAC addresses help
- Giving virtual machines addresses in a lab. VMware's prefix, 00:50:56, is in the vendor list.
- Testing a form or API field that should accept all four common notations.
- Filling device tables in a mock network inventory.
- Learning to read the vendor prefix and the local and unicast bits.
Example MAC address outputs
Two locally administered addresses, one with the VMware prefix in dash format, and one in Cisco dotted format:
- 42:21:79:53:CF:19
- FA:0D:29:C3:67:86
- 00-50-56-80-6C-83
- 32E7.AF23.3A5C
Frequently asked questions
What does MAC stand for?
Media Access Control. A MAC address is the 48-bit address a network interface uses on its local network.
Are generated MAC addresses real?
No, they're random test values. The default locally administered ones can't match a factory-assigned address. Ones with a vendor prefix could match a real device by chance, so don't use them to impersonate hardware or get around network access controls.
What is a locally administered address?
One with bit 1 of the first byte set, which marks it as assigned by software or an admin rather than by the manufacturer. Phones that use a private Wi-Fi address draw from the same range.
Can I generate multiple MAC addresses?
Yes, up to 50 at a time.
Built and maintained by Bipul Kumar. Found a wrong number or a broken result? Tell me and I'll fix it.