Weighted Decision Maker
Stuck between options? List your choices, set how much each criterion matters, score each option, and this tool calculates a weighted total so the best choice is obvious — no spreadsheet needed.
| Criterion | Weight 1–5 | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|
How to use the Weighted Decision Maker
Edit the criterion names — cost, quality, location, whatever matters.
Give the things that matter most a higher weight.
Rate Option A, B and C against every criterion.
Get the weighted winner and each option's score.
Why a decision matrix beats a gut call
When a choice has several moving parts — price, quality, location, time — our brains quietly over-weight whichever factor we thought about most recently. A weighted decision matrix (sometimes called a Pugh matrix, after design engineer Stuart Pugh) fixes that by forcing two separate judgements: first how much each factor matters (the weight), then how each option performs on it (the score). Multiplying and summing turns a fuzzy feeling into a number you can defend. It's the same technique used in engineering trade-off studies and procurement scoring.
A worked example: choosing a flat
Say you're deciding between three flats. You weight rent as 5 (most important), commute as 4, and natural light as 2. Flat A is cheap (rent score 9) but a long commute (3); Flat B is pricey (rent 4) with a great commute (9). Enter the scores and the tool does the arithmetic: A scores 5×9 + 4×3 + 2×7 = 71, B scores 5×4 + 4×9 + 2×8 = 72 — almost a dead heat, which tells you the choice is genuinely close and you can pick on a gut tie-breaker without regret. That clarity is the real output: not just a winner, but how decisive the win is.
For the psychology behind hard choices, see how to make a decision and the psychology of decision making.
Frequently asked questions
How does the score work?
Each option's score for a criterion is multiplied by that criterion's weight, then summed. The option with the highest weighted total wins, and the percentages show how close it was.
What if two options tie?
A tie means they're genuinely balanced on your criteria — try adding a tie-breaking criterion you hadn't considered, or trust your gut on the final call.
Can I use more than three options?
This version compares three at a time, which suits most real decisions. For a head-to-head, just leave Option C scored equally and ignore it.
Is my data saved?
No — everything is calculated locally in your browser and nothing is stored or sent anywhere.