Decision Matrix Calculator

How to use the decision matrix calculator

1. List your criteria, the things that matter, and give each a weight. A criterion with weight 5 counts five times as much as one with weight 1.
2. List the options you are choosing between, from two to eight.
3. Score every option on every criterion in the Scores table, from 0 to 10. Decimals such as 7.5 are fine. Use 0 when an option does not meet a criterion at all.
4. Read the ranking and the top choice. The score shown for each option is its weighted average on the 0 to 10 scale.
5. Press Print, Download PDF or Download CSV to keep the matrix, or Copy results for a short summary.

How the weighted average is calculated

For each option, the tool multiplies the score on every criterion by that criterion's weight, adds the products, and divides by the total of the weights. The result is the weighted average, on the same 0 to 10 scale as the scores. A weight of 5 with a score of 7 contributes 35 to the sum.

Take three criteria with weights 5, 4 and 2.5, which total 11.5. Option A scores 7, 9 and 8, so its sum is 5 x 7 + 4 x 9 + 2.5 x 8 = 91, and 91 / 11.5 = 7.91. Option B scores 9, 6 and 5 for a sum of 81.5 and an average of 7.09. Option C scores 6, 8 and 9.5 for a sum of 85.75 and an average of 7.46. Option A ranks first, then C, then B.

The sums are calculated exactly with integers, and only the displayed average is rounded, half up to two decimals. Ranking uses the exact totals, not the rounded averages, so two options only tie when their totals are really equal. A tie is reported as a tie instead of picking one for you. Multiplying every weight by the same number changes nothing, so weights can be written as 1 to 5, as percentages or as points.

Choosing criteria and weights well

A weighted matrix is only as good as its inputs. Pick criteria that are independent of each other, because counting the same advantage twice under two names inflates it. Keep the list short, usually five to eight items, and write each so that a higher score is better. For a cost criterion, score a cheaper option higher.

Set the weights before you score the options, so you are not tempted to adjust them until your favorite wins. If the result surprises you, that is useful: either the weights do not match what you care about, or your favorite has a weakness you were ignoring. Try changing the weights a little and see whether the ranking is stable.

Limits and privacy

The matrix ranks options by the numbers you give it. It does not know the facts, cannot judge whether your scores are fair, and is a thinking aid and not a substitute for professional advice on a medical, legal or financial decision. Up to 12 criteria and 8 options are supported. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. For a quick sort of tasks rather than options, use the Eisenhower matrix.

Assumptions and limits

• Scores run from 0 to 10 with up to two decimals, and every option must have a score on every criterion.
• Weights can be any positive numbers with up to two decimals. Only their proportions matter.
• The weighted average is the weighted sum divided by the total of the weights. It is shown rounded half up to two decimals, while ranking uses the exact totals.
• The result reflects your inputs. The tool does not verify the scores, and it is not professional advice on important decisions.

Formulas reviewed October 10, 2026. See the calculation methodology for how SumPanda rounds, tests and sources its formulas.

Frequently asked questions