Free Traceability Matrix Template (Excel)
What Is a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)
A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is the document that answers one question for every requirement in a project: is this actually being tested? Each requirement gets an ID, and each test case that verifies it references that ID back, so nothing gets built and shipped without a corresponding check.
Government agencies, QA teams, and compliance-driven projects have used flat spreadsheet RTMs for decades - a single grid of requirement rows with columns for who owns it, its status, and (in the better versions) a reference to which test proves it works. The idea is simple; keeping it accurate by hand across a growing test suite is the hard part.
This template keeps the familiar row-per-requirement format but automates the one column that's easiest to let go stale: whether a test case exists for that requirement at all.
Free Traceability Matrix Excel Template: What's Inside
Two tabs. Requirements lists each requirement with an ID, description, priority (High/Medium/Low), status (Open, In Progress, Verified, Rejected) and owner - up to 100 rows. Test Cases lists each test with an ID, the Requirement ID it verifies, a description, and a result (Pass/Fail/Not run) - up to 150 rows.
The Has Test Case column on Requirements checks the Test Cases tab automatically: type a Requirement ID into a test case row, and every requirement with a matching ID flips to Yes. A dashboard below each table counts requirements by status and priority, and test cases by result, so you get an instant coverage picture without scrolling the full list.
How to Fill In and Update Your RTM
Start on Requirements: log every requirement with a unique ID (REQ-1, REQ-2, and so on), a plain-language description, its priority and owner. Leave status as Open until work begins.
As test cases get written, add them to the Test Cases tab and type the matching Requirement ID exactly as it appears on the Requirements tab - the coverage check is a text match, not a dropdown, so consistent IDs matter. Update each requirement's status as it moves through review, and mark test results Pass, Fail, or Not run as testing happens.
RTM vs. RACI vs. Test Case Matrix: What's the Difference
A traceability matrix links requirements to the tests that verify them - its whole purpose is coverage: has every requirement been checked? A RACI matrix is a different tool entirely; it maps who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for tasks or deliverables, with no concept of test coverage at all.
A standalone test case matrix (just the Test Cases tab here) tracks execution and results but doesn't tell you which requirements still have zero coverage. This template's advantage is having both halves in one file, connected by a simple ID match, so you see coverage gaps and test results in the same place.
How to use it
- List every requirement once on the Requirements sheet with its priority, status and owner.
- Log every test case on the Test Cases sheet, typing the matching Requirement ID in the Req ID column.
- Watch the Has Test Case column flip to Yes automatically once a matching test case exists.
- Check the dashboard below each table for counts by status, priority and coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
How does the Has Test Case column know a requirement is covered?
It checks whether the Requirement ID appears anywhere in the Test Cases sheet's Req ID column using COUNTIF - if it appears at least once, the requirement reads Yes. It confirms a test case exists, not that the test passed.
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive, then open it and choose File > Save as Google Sheets. The coverage check and dashboard formulas keep working.
How many requirements and test cases can I track?
The Requirements sheet holds up to 100 rows and the Test Cases sheet up to 150 rows. Both are standard tables, so you can insert more rows and copy the formulas down.
Do I need to type Requirement IDs exactly the same on both sheets?
Yes - the coverage check is a text match (via COUNTIF), not a dropdown-linked lookup, so REQ-1 and req-1 or REQ 1 would be treated as different values. Keep your ID format consistent.
What's the usage license?
Personal use or use within one business. It's not meant to be resold or redistributed as a template product.