Weighted Scoring Calculator
A decision matrix — score up to four options against up to six weighted criteria, and see which wins, by how much, and whether changing one weight would flip it.
Each option's score is its rating on each criterion times that criterion's weight, summed.
How the weighted scoring calculator works
Each option's score is its rating on each criterion times that criterion's weight, summed. The weights are scaled to 100 so the totals are comparable.
The robustness check is the honest part. If the winner only wins because of one criterion's weight, the decision is really about that weight — and the page says which one.
Formula: score = Σ (rating × weight) / Σ weight
Worked examples
| Inputs | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Three vendors, four criteria | Vendor C | A wins on cost weighting |
| Quality weighted higher | Vendor B | the winner changes |
| Equal weights | Vendor C | the unweighted answer |
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is a weighted decision matrix?
Options rated against criteria, each criterion carrying a weight. The option with the highest weighted total wins. It makes the trade-offs explicit.
What does "decisive criterion" mean?
The criterion that contributes most to the winner's lead. If removing its weight flips the result, the decision is really an argument about that weight.
How should I set the weights?
Relative importance — they are scaled to 100 so the absolute numbers do not matter. If two people disagree on a weight, run it both ways.
What rating scale should I use?
Any consistent one. One to ten is common. Mixing scales between criteria distorts the result, so pick one and hold it.
Is the winner always the right choice?
It is the right choice given those ratings and weights. The value of the exercise is usually in discovering which weight you were arguing about.
Where these figures come from
- Hubbard (2014) — How to Measure Anything — the case for ranges over point estimates
- Vose (2008) — Risk Analysis: A Quantitative Guide — Monte Carlo and the triangular distribution
- Saltelli et al. (2008) — Global Sensitivity Analysis: The Primer — one-at-a-time sensitivity and its limits
- Standards Australia — AS ISO 31000 Risk management — the Australian standards body
Last checked: September 2026. The methods are textbook decision analysis: triangular distributions for three-point estimates, tornado ranking for sensitivity, and simple additive weighting for decision matrices.