Compare competing choices with a structured weighted decision matrix instead of relying on an unranked list of pros and cons. The workbook turns criteria, importance weights, and option ratings into comparable weighted scores so you can see which alternative ranks highest.
The template is built for decisions where several alternatives need to be assessed against the same factors. You define the criteria, rate each option from 0 to 5, assign each criterion an importance weight from 0 to 5, and then review the calculated totals and dashboard summary.
Compare options consistently
Score every alternative against the same criteria so the evaluation follows one visible framework.
Reflect what matters most
Use criterion weights to give more influence to the factors that are more important to the decision.
See the ranking clearly
Review weighted totals together with a dashboard that identifies the best, median, and worst result in the example view.
What does the weighted decision matrix help you analyze?
The workbook separates the judgment inputs from the resulting ranking. That makes it easier to explain why one alternative scores above another and to revisit the assumptions when priorities change.
Define the alternatives. Place the choices you want to compare in the option columns of the matrix.
Set the decision criteria. Add the factors that should influence the choice, such as cost, fit, capacity, timing, or another decision-specific measure.
Rate each option. Score how well each alternative performs against each criterion on the workbook's 0-to-5 rating scale.
Weight the criteria. Assign a 0-to-5 importance value so critical factors contribute more heavily than lower-priority factors.
Review weighted results. The template multiplies ratings by the corresponding weights, totals the weighted scores by option, and presents the resulting comparison in the dashboard.
What is inside the workbook?
The visible workbook structure includes a decision-matrix input sheet, a results dashboard, a settings page, and a built-in How To page. The core matrix is where criteria, weights, and option ratings are entered; the calculated totals feed the summary view used to compare the alternatives.
Decision Matrix inputs
Rows hold the criteria and their weights, while option columns hold the 0-to-5 ratings used in the comparison.
Weighted totals
Calculated option totals combine the entered ratings with the criterion importance values to create a comparable score.
Dashboard and guidance
A dashboard summarizes the result, while the How To sheet documents the workbook's basic input-to-output workflow.
The Decision Matrix sheet shows criteria and weights at left, option ratings across columns, and calculated totals along the bottom for direct comparison.
Enter the criteria, weights, and ratings in one grid
The input table keeps the evaluation logic visible. Each criterion has an importance weight, and each option receives a rating for that criterion. Because every alternative is scored against the same rows, the final comparison remains tied to the assumptions you entered.
The dashboard displays best, median, and worst decision summaries alongside a bar chart of option scores, making the relative ranking easy to scan.
Review the decision ranking on the dashboard
After the weighted totals are calculated, the dashboard provides a compact visual comparison. The example view highlights the best, median, and worst option and plots the option scores in a bar chart, helping you see both the leading choice and the spread between alternatives.
The How It Works sheet outlines the sequence from optional settings, to decision-matrix inputs, to the dashboard result.
Follow the built-in workbook workflow
The How To view shows the intended sequence: enter the optional company name in Settings, add the criteria and option ratings in the Decision Matrix, and then review the Dashboard. It also distinguishes the cells intended for user entries from cells that should generally be left unchanged.
How do you use the template?
List the choices and criteria
Replace the example labels with the alternatives you are considering and the factors that should drive the decision.
Score each alternative
Work across the matrix and rate each option from 0 for poor performance to 5 for very good performance against each criterion.
Assign criterion weights
Use the 0-to-5 importance scale to indicate which factors should carry more or less influence in the final result.
Review the calculated ranking
Compare the weighted totals and dashboard summary, then revisit ratings or weights if the assumptions need to be refined.
Who is this template for?
This decision matrix template is appropriate for founders comparing strategic alternatives, managers choosing between vendors or projects, consultants documenting recommendation logic, and project teams prioritizing options with multiple decision criteria. It is most useful when the alternatives can be scored on a common scale and the relative importance of the criteria can be stated explicitly.
Related planning tools
For a broader strategic assessment before scoring options, use the SWOT Analysis Template to organize strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. After selecting a priority, the OKR Template Excel can help translate that choice into objectives and measurable key results, while the Excel Timeline Template can support execution planning when the selected initiative needs a scheduled sequence of work.
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