Decision Matrix Online: Weigh Your Options
A weighted decision matrix scores each option against the criteria that matter to you, multiplied by how much each one matters. List your options, weight your criteria, score them, and see which option wins and why. Free, no signup, and nothing leaves your browser.
Weighted decision matrix
1. What are you choosing between?
Two to 6 options.
2. What matters, and how much?
Weight each criterion from 1 (nice to have) to 5 (deal-breaker).
3. Score each option
1 = poor, 5 = excellent. Score honestly, not toward the answer you want.
| Criterion | Stay at current job | Take the new offer |
|---|---|---|
| Salary×4 | ||
| Growth×5 | ||
| Work-life balance×3 | ||
| Commute×2 |
Result
- 1. Take the new offer77.1%
- 2. Stay at current job60%
Take the new offer comes out ahead by 17.1 points, mostly because of Growth. If that criterion’s weight feels wrong now that you see the result, change it. That reaction tells you something too.
Step 4: Gut check
Imagine you’ve just committed to Take the new offer. Relief or disappointment? If it’s disappointment, a criterion is missing from your list or a weight is off. Two quick ways to test it:
How to use a decision matrix well
Pick criteria before scoring. If you score first, you will unconsciously choose criteria that favour the option you already like. Write the list, set the weights, then score.
Keep it to the criteria that matter. Four to six is usually enough. Adding twelve small criteria dilutes the two that actually decide the outcome.
Read the margin, not just the winner. A 25-point lead is a clear answer. A 3-point lead means either option is defensible, and the matrix has done its job by ruling out the weak ones.
Notice your reaction. The matrix is a way to make your values explicit, not an oracle. If the winner disappoints you, you have learned that something you care about is missing from the list. Add it.
Top two finished close?
Coin Flip: let your gut break the tie
Stuck overthinking?
How to beat analysis paralysis
How careful should you be?
Reversible vs. irreversible decisions
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a decision matrix?
A decision matrix is a table that compares options against the criteria that matter to you. Each criterion gets a weight for how important it is, each option gets a score on each criterion, and the option with the highest weighted total ranks first. It is also called a weighted scoring model, a Pugh matrix or a prioritization matrix.
How do you calculate a weighted decision matrix?
Multiply each score by its criterion weight, then add up the results for each option. For example, with Salary weighted 4 and Commute weighted 2, an option scoring 5 on salary and 2 on commute totals 4×5 + 2×2 = 24. This tool also shows each total as a percentage of the best possible score so options are easy to compare.
Is a decision matrix better than a pros and cons list?
For decisions with more than two options or more than a few factors, usually yes. A pros and cons list treats every point as equally important, so ten small cons can outweigh one big pro. A weighted matrix makes you say how much each factor matters before you see the answer.
What if the result feels wrong?
Treat that as information. A result that disappoints you usually means a criterion is missing from the list or a weight is off. Adjust it and see whether the ranking changes. If two options finish within about five points of each other, the matrix is telling you both are reasonable, and a gut check such as a coin flip or the 10-10-10 rule is a fair tiebreaker.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
No. The matrix runs entirely in your browser. Your last matrix is kept in this browser’s local storage so it is still there if you come back, and nothing is uploaded.