Free Online Decision Matrix Calculator
Score options against weighted criteria and rank them.
Decision matrix
Weight the criteria, score each option from 0 to 10, and compare the weighted totals.
Ranking
Weighted totals use normalised weights, so a score of 10 in every criterion gives 10.00. Scores and weights are clamped to the allowed range for calculation. The matrix reflects the numbers you enter; it does not know about constraints, risk, or information you have not included.
About the Decision Matrix Calculator
A decision matrix turns a fuzzy comparison into an explicit one. You list the criteria that matter, give each criterion a weight, then score every option against every criterion. The weighted total combines those scores, and the ranking shows which option comes out ahead. This is useful for choosing between software tools, suppliers, apartments, job offers, or feature priorities when several factors pull in different directions and a simple pros-and-cons list is not enough.
The weights are normalised, so you can use any positive numbers that reflect relative importance. A weight of five is twice as important as a weight of two and a half. Each score is entered from zero to ten, where zero means the option performs poorly and ten means it performs excellently. The weighted total is the sum of each score multiplied by its normalised weight, which keeps the result on the same zero-to-ten scale. That makes it easy to read and compare across criteria.
Getting useful answers
- Define criteria before scoring: choose what matters, then score. Scoring first and inventing criteria later tends to rationalise a preferred answer.
- Use a consistent scale: write down what a 2, a 5, and an 8 mean for each criterion so different options are judged the same way.
- Keep weights honest: if every criterion has the same weight, the matrix is effectively an unweighted average. That may be fine, but make it a choice.
- Test sensitivity: change a weight or a score and see whether the winner changes. A fragile result is a signal to gather more evidence.
What the ranking does not decide
The highest weighted total is a recommendation, not an obligation. A matrix cannot capture everything: regulatory risk, a gut feeling about a team, a hidden cost, a relationship, or a value that is hard to score. It also assumes the criteria are independent, which is rarely perfectly true. Cost and quality, for example, often interact. Use the ranking to structure the conversation, then discuss the assumptions and any non-negotiables before committing.
The calculator runs in your browser and does not save the matrix. Copy the results into your notes if you need a record. Scores are clamped to the zero-to-ten range and weights to a positive range for calculation, so an accidental typo does not produce a meaningless total. This is an informational decision aid, not financial, legal, or professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is the weighted total calculated?
Each weight is divided by the sum of all weights, then multiplied by the option's score. The results are added together. A perfect score of 10 in every criterion therefore produces 10.00.
What if two options tie?
They receive the same weighted total and appear next to each other in the ranking. Use a tie-breaker criterion, adjust a weight, or accept that the decision needs a different kind of judgment.
Can I use negative scores?
The calculator clamps scores to 0–10, so negative values are treated as zero. If a criterion can be negative, shift the scale or model it as a separate penalty in your notes.