Decision Matrix Template (Excel + Google Sheets, Free)
What's inside the decision matrix template
The template is a single weighted matrix sheet with six pre-filled criteria — cost, quality, time to implement, risk, team fit, and scalability — and room for up to 5 options across the top. You can rename any criterion or option to fit your own decision, whether that's choosing a vendor, a software platform, a candidate, or a project to prioritize.
Each criterion gets a weight, and each option gets a score from 1 to 5 against every criterion. Because the weights and scores sit in their own labeled rows, you're not hunting for the right cell to edit — the layout makes it obvious where your inputs go and where the results come out.
What calculates automatically: weighted score and best option
Once your weights sum to 100% and you've scored every option, the weighted score row multiplies each score by its criterion's weight and totals the result per option — you never write or touch a formula. The Best option cell then picks out the highest-scoring option for you, so the decision doesn't come down to eyeballing a table of raw numbers.
If you change a weight or a score later, every downstream total recalculates immediately, which makes the template useful for revisiting a decision as new information comes in rather than a one-time worksheet you fill out once and discard.
Why this beats a blank spreadsheet
A blank spreadsheet forces you to build the weighting formula, the scoring scale, and the summary row yourself before you can even start comparing options — and it's easy to get the weighted-average formula wrong on the first try. This template skips that setup entirely: the structure, the formulas, and the validation are already in place.
It also forces discipline that a gut-feel decision doesn't get: assigning weights up front means you're deciding what actually matters before you see how each option scores, which is the main reason weighted matrices produce more defensible decisions than an unweighted pros-and-cons list.
How to use it
- List your criteria and give each a weight (weights should sum to 100%).
- Name each option on the Name row.
- Score every option 1-5 against every criterion.
- Check the weighted score row and the Best option cell — both update automatically as you enter scores.
Download the free Decision Matrix Template (Excel + Google Sheets, Free)
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Frequently asked questions
Does this decision matrix template work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive, then open it and choose File > Save as Google Sheets. The weighted scoring formulas carry over and calculate the same way.
Is the template really free?
Yes. You provide your email to receive the download link, and the file itself has no cost.
Can I add more than 5 options or change the criteria?
Yes. The 6 criteria and 5 options are pre-filled as a starting point, but every label is a regular cell — rename them or add rows and columns to fit your decision.
Do I need to know how to build formulas to use this?
No. The weighted score and Best option calculations are already built in. You only enter weights, option names, and scores.
What license comes with the free template?
It's licensed for personal use or use within one business. Reselling or redistributing the file itself isn't covered.