About the Decision Matrix Calculator
A weighted decision matrix turns a messy choice into a clear, comparable score. List the options you are choosing between, then add the criteria that matter to you, how important each criterion is, and how well each option performs on it. The calculator multiplies every score by its weight, adds them up and ranks the options from best to worst.
It works for everyday and big-life decisions alike: choosing between apartments, job offers, cars, colleges, vendors, software tools or holiday destinations. Teams use the same method (sometimes called a Pugh matrix or weighted scoring model) to compare project options objectively and document why a choice was made.
Scores are normalised by the total weight, so the result stays on the same scale you rated on (for example 1–10), no matter how many criteria you add. If two options finish close together, treat it as a tie and look at the criteria where they differ most.
How to use the decision matrix calculator
- 1List the options you are choosing between, separated by commas.
- 2Add one line per criterion: its name and a weight for how important it is.
- 3After the weight, rate each option on that criterion in the same order.
- 4Pick the rating scale you used.
- 5Review the winner, the ranking and which criteria drove the result.
Formula and method
Each criterion i gets an importance weight wᵢ, and each option gets a rating sᵢ on that criterion. The option’s weighted score is the sum of weight × rating across all criteria, divided by the total weight. Dividing by the total weight keeps the answer on your rating scale, so a perfect option on a 1–10 scale scores 10.
The option with the highest weighted score wins. The table shows each criterion’s contribution, which reveals why an option won — for example, a strong score on a heavily weighted criterion can outweigh several weak minor ones.
- wᵢ
- Weight (importance) of criterion i
- sᵢ
- Option’s rating on criterion i
Worked examples
Choosing between three apartments
Total weight is 15. Apartment A scores (5×7 + 4×8 + 3×6 + 2×9 + 1×5) ÷ 15 = 108 ÷ 15 = 7.2. Apartment B scores 106 ÷ 15 ≈ 7.07 and C scores 97 ÷ 15 ≈ 6.47, so A wins narrowly thanks to its commute.
Two job offers
Job X scores (30 + 27 + 14) ÷ 10 = 7.1 and Job Y (40 + 15 + 14) ÷ 10 = 6.9. Job Y pays more, but Job X’s growth prospects push it ahead.
Picking a laptop on a 1–5 scale
With weights 3 and 1, Laptop 3 scores (15 + 2) ÷ 4 = 4.25, Laptop 1 scores 3.25 and Laptop 2 scores 2.75. Laptop 3 wins with 85% of the maximum possible score.
Frequently asked questions
What is a weighted decision matrix?+
It is a table that scores each option against several criteria, with each criterion weighted by importance. Multiplying scores by weights and adding them gives an overall score, so the choice is based on what matters most to you.
How do I choose weights for my criteria?+
Give the most important criterion the highest number, for example on a 1–5 scale, and rate the rest relative to it. You can also assign percentages that add to 100%; the calculator normalises the weights either way.
What is the difference between a decision matrix and a pros and cons list?+
A pros and cons list treats every point as equal. A decision matrix weights each factor by importance and rates how well each option performs, which makes trade-offs between several options much easier to compare.
What if two options score almost the same?+
A gap of only a few percent is within the uncertainty of your ratings. Look at the criteria where the options differ most, test different weights, or add a criterion you had overlooked.
Is a decision matrix the same as a Pugh matrix?+
They are closely related. A Pugh matrix scores options relative to a baseline (better, same or worse), while a weighted decision matrix rates each option on an absolute scale. Both use weighted criteria.