A decision matrix is a simple tool for making choices when you have multiple options and multiple factors to consider. Instead of picking based on mood, pressure, or whatever stands out first, you score each option against the same criteria, apply importance weights, and let the numbers show you what fits best.
It does not replace judgment. It organizes judgment, makes tradeoffs visible, and helps you defend the decision to yourself or other people.
What a Decision Matrix Is
A decision matrix is a table where:
- Rows = your options
- Columns = your criteria (what matters)
- Each criterion has a weight (how important it is)
- Each option gets a score for each criterion
- Weighted scores are added up to produce a total per option
The option with the highest total is usually the best match for your priorities.
When a Decision Matrix Works Best
Use it when:
- You have 2 to 10 realistic options
- The decision has real consequences (money, time, risk, reputation)
- You keep going in circles because each option has pros and cons
- You need to explain your choice to someone else
Avoid it when:
- There is a single non-negotiable constraint (then it is just a filter)
- You have almost no information and cannot estimate anything
- You are really deciding based on values, not outcomes (still usable, but the criteria must be value-based)
Step-by-Step: How to Build One
1) Write the decision in one sentence
Example: “Choose the best vehicle to buy for the next 3 years.”
If you cannot write it clearly, your criteria will be messy.
2) List 3 to 8 criteria that actually matter
Good criteria are measurable or at least comparable.
Examples:
- Total cost
- Reliability
- Time to implement
- Customer impact
- Risk
- Flexibility
- Stress level
- Learning value
Tip: if you have 12 criteria, you probably have duplicates or vague ones.
3) Assign weights to each criterion
Pick a weight system and stick with it.
Two easy options:
- Weights 1 to 5 (5 = most important)
- Weights that sum to 100 (more precise)
4) Score each option consistently
Common score scales:
- 1 to 5
- 1 to 10
Define what “10” means for each criterion so you do not cheat mid-way.
Example:
- Reliability: 10 = “very unlikely to break, strong track record”
- Cost: 10 = “lowest total cost of ownership”
5) Multiply score × weight and total it
Highest total wins, but also check the next step.
6) Do a quick sanity check
Ask:
- “Does the winner still feel right?”
- “Is any criterion a dealbreaker that I failed to treat as a filter?”
- “If I changed the top weight slightly, does the winner flip?” (If yes, you are in a tight decision, so gather more info.)
Example 1: Choosing Between Job Offers
Decision: Pick the best job offer for the next 18 months.
Options:
- Offer A: Higher pay, longer commute, bigger company
- Offer B: Slightly lower pay, remote, smaller team
Criteria and weights (1–5):
- Pay (5)
- Growth/learning (4)
- Work-life balance (4)
- Stability (3)
- Commute/time cost (3)
Scores (1–10):
| Criteria | Weight | A Score | A Weighted | B Score | B Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | 5 | 9 | 45 | 7 | 35 |
| Growth/learning | 4 | 7 | 28 | 8 | 32 |
| Work-life balance | 4 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 36 |
| Stability | 3 | 8 | 24 | 6 | 18 |
| Commute/time cost | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 30 |
| Total | 126 | 151 |
Result: Offer B wins by a lot because time and balance are weighted heavily, and B dominates those.
What this prevents: choosing Offer A only because the salary number is loud, then resenting the commute later.
Example 2: Picking a Business Marketing Channel
Decision: Where to spend the next month of marketing effort.
Options:
- A: Facebook Marketplace posts + boosts
- B: Google Business Profile updates + reviews push
- C: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok)
- D: Cold outreach to local fleets
Criteria and weights (1–5):
- Speed to results (5)
- Cost (4)
- Quality of leads (5)
- Repeatability/systemization (4)
- Effort per week (3)
You can score based on your reality and bandwidth.
A quick example scoring (1–10) might look like:
- Marketplace: fast but mixed lead quality
- Google reviews: slower but high trust
- Short video: compounding but time-heavy
- Fleet outreach: high quality but slower and effortful
You might get totals like:
- A: 150
- B: 162
- C: 138
- D: 170
Result: D wins if lead quality is weighted high and you can tolerate slower payoff. If you desperately need fast sales this week, you would increase “speed to results” weight and the winner may flip to A.
What this does well: it forces you to admit what matters right now: speed vs quality vs compounding.
Example 3: Buying Equipment
Decision: Choose which tool to buy first.
Options:
- A: Buy premium brand-new unit
- B: Buy mid-range unit new
- C: Buy used unit
Criteria and weights:
- Reliability (5)
- Warranty/support (4)
- Upfront cost (4)
- Operating cost/maintenance (3)
- Availability now (2)
Often, “used” scores high on cost but low on reliability and warranty. The matrix makes it obvious whether you are actually saving money or just shifting the cost into downtime and stress.
Common insight: Used is only “cheap” if downtime risk is acceptable.
Example 4: Personal Decision (Health Routine)
Decision: Choose a workout plan you will actually follow.
Options:
- A: Gym 5 days/week
- B: Home strength 3 days + walks
- C: Yoga/mobility daily + 2 strength days
Criteria and weights:
- Consistency likelihood (5)
- Injury risk (4)
- Results for your goal (5)
- Time required (4)
- Enjoyment (3)
People often pick A because it is “best on paper,” then quit. A decision matrix usually rewards B or C because consistency is weighted highest and is the real multiplier.
What this prevents: picking the plan that sounds impressive instead of the plan that will run for months.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Decision Matrices
- Too many criteria so everything averages out
- Vague criteria like “good” or “better”
- Double-counting the same idea twice (example: “cost” and “budget”)
- Scoring based on hope instead of evidence
- Ignoring dealbreakers (make dealbreakers filters first)
A Simple Template You Can Copy
- Decision:
- Options (A, B, C…):
- Criteria (3–8):
- Weight each criterion (1–5):
- Score each option (1–10):
- Multiply score × weight:
- Total:
- Sanity check: what would need to be true for the runner-up to win?
If you tell me the decision you are trying to make and the options you are considering, I will build a decision matrix for it with clear criteria, weights, and scoring you can adjust.
