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Weighted decision matrix calculator
Give each of three criteria a weight, score both options from 1 to 10 on each, and see which option wins once the weights are applied.
Name the criteria for yourself first, for example cost, quality and speed, and set the weights before you score, so the scores cannot bend the weights.
How a weighted decision matrix works
A weighted decision matrix, also called a weighted scoring model or Pugh-style matrix, turns a judgement into arithmetic. Each criterion gets a weight that reflects how much it matters. Each option is scored on each criterion, here from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent). The weighted total of an option is the sum of score × weight ÷ total weight, so the result stays on the same 1–10 scale as the scores.
Example: you are choosing between two suppliers on cost (weight 50%), quality (30%) and delivery speed (20%). Supplier A scores 8, 5 and 7: 8 × 0.5 + 5 × 0.3 + 7 × 0.2 = 4.0 + 1.5 + 1.4 = 6.9. Supplier B scores 6, 9 and 8: 3.0 + 2.7 + 1.6 = 7.3. B wins by 0.4 points, about 5.8%, even though A is clearly cheaper, because B's lead on quality is worth more than A's lead on cost.
| Weights (cost / quality / speed) | A total | B total | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 / 30 / 20 | 6.9 | 7.3 | B |
| 70 / 20 / 10 | 7.3 | 6.8 | A |
| 34 / 33 / 33 | 6.68 | 7.65 | B |
| 60 / 20 / 20 | 7.2 | 7.0 | A |
| 40 / 40 / 20 | 6.6 | 7.6 | B |
The table uses the same scores with different weights. The winner flips between 50% and 60% on cost, which tells you exactly which question the decision really depends on.
Getting a decision you can trust
Set the weights before scoring and, if a group is deciding, agree on them together. Weighting afterwards makes it too easy to nudge the numbers toward the option someone already prefers. Define what a 2, a 5 and a 9 mean for each criterion, for instance price bands for cost, so that two people scoring the same option land close to each other.
Treat small margins as a tie. One-point differences in a single score are within normal disagreement, so a gap of a few tenths of a point is not a strong signal. When the totals are close, the deciding criterion shown in the result is where to spend effort: get a firmer quote, run a trial or ask for references on that point alone.
A matrix cannot rescue a missing criterion. If one option fails a hard requirement, such as a legal standard or a budget ceiling, remove it before scoring rather than giving it a low score that the other criteria can outweigh.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted score?
Multiply each criterion score by its weight, add the results and divide by the total of the weights. Scores of 8, 5 and 7 with weights 50, 30 and 20 give (400 + 150 + 140) ÷ 100 = 6.9.
Do the weights have to add up to 100%?
It is clearer if they do, but it is not required. The calculator divides by the sum of the weights, so weights of 5, 3 and 2 give the same result as 50%, 30% and 20%.
What should I do if the two options score almost the same?
Treat it as a tie. Check the criterion that separates them most, gather better information on that one point, and test whether a reasonable change in the weights changes the winner.