How to use the pros and cons list maker
- Type the decision in the title, such as "Take the new job?".
- Write each pro and each con on its own line, followed by a bar and a weight from 1 to 10, for example `Better pay | 5`. A line with no weight counts as 1.
- Read the net score and the sentence under the list that says which side counts for more.
- Change a weight if a point matters more or less than you first thought, then print the list or save it as a PDF.
A job decision
The pros are a shorter commute (4), better pay (5), more room to grow (3) and a friendly team (2), which add up to 14. The cons are fewer vacation days (3), harder to work from home (2) and starting over with new people (1), which add up to 6.
The net score is 14 - 6 = +8, so the pros outweigh the cons by 8. If the weight on better pay dropped from 5 to 1, the pros would total 10 and the net score would be +4. If a con of weight 10 was added, the net score would be -2, and the cons would win.
Why add weights
A plain list treats every point as equal, so three small pros can look like they beat one big con. Weights make you say how much each point matters. The act of choosing a number often shows what you really care about, and you can change a weight to see how sensitive the result is. If the answer flips after a small change, the choice is close, and the weights deserve more thought.
Using the score well
The score is a thinking aid and not a verdict. It adds up your own judgments, so it is only as good as they are. Missing points, points that are really the same thing counted twice and strong feelings that do not fit a number can all distort it. Read the list as a way to see the decision, then check it against your gut feeling and against advice from people you trust.
For other ways to look at a choice use the SWOT Analysis Maker, to sort the tasks that follow from it use the Eisenhower Matrix and to break a tie use the Wheel Spinner. For a job choice in numbers see the Job Offer Comparison Calculator.
Privacy and limits
The list is built in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, and the optional saved copy stays in this browser until you untick the box. Each side holds up to 18 items of up to 90 characters, and weights are whole numbers from 1 to 10.
Assumptions and limits
- Each weight is your own judgment of how much a point matters.
- The net score is the total of the pro weights minus the total of the con weights.
- A line with no weight counts as 1, and the last bar on a line separates the text from the weight.
- The example list is made up and is there to be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decide the weights?
Ask how much each point would matter a year from now, and give the largest points the highest numbers. Compare points with each other rather than judging each one alone. If two are equal, give them the same number.
What does a net score of zero mean?
It means the pros and cons weigh the same on your numbers. Look for a point you left out, or ask whether a weight is too high or too low. A tie can also mean the choice truly is close.
Can I use a bar inside the text?
Yes. The weight is whatever follows the last bar on the line, so `Plan A | Plan B | 3` is a pro called "Plan A | Plan B" with a weight of 3.
Should I trust the score?
Treat it as one input. It reflects your own judgments, and it cannot capture everything. Use it to see the choice more clearly and then decide.