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Eisenhower matrix template: sort tasks by urgent and important

Use this Eisenhower matrix template online, with no sign-up: type your tasks one per line, rate importance and urgency from 1 to 5, and the matrix sorts them into four boxes – do now, schedule, delegate or drop. Save the finished chart as a PNG to print or share.

Source: Wikipedia – Time management (Eisenhower Method). Updated: .

Optional, shown above the chart.
One task per line: task; importance 1–5; urgency 1–5. Cells pasted from Excel work too.
The default is 3 out of 5. Higher is stricter.
My ToolboxYour inputs are saved in this browser only.

My weekTask (importance/urgency, 1 to 5) – sorted by important and urgentDo nowurgent• File tax return (5/5)• Finish the Monday presentation (5/4)• Go to the gym on Tuesday (4/3)Schedulenot urgent• Plan a training course (5/2)• Book a dentist appointment (4/2)Delegateurgent• Answer sales calls (2/4)• Approve a colleague’s leave request (2/4)Dropnot urgent• Sort through email newsletters (1/2)• Scroll social media for hours (1/1)IMPORTANTNOT IMPORTANT

The matrix updates as you type. Each box shows up to eight tasks, each with “importance/urgency”.

Result

Overview
9 tasks: 3 to do now, 2 to schedule, 2 to delegate, 2 to drop
What it means
  • Start here: “File tax return” is both important and urgent.
  • 56% of your tasks are important (3 of them also urgent, 2 not urgent).
  • 2 task(s) are neither important nor urgent – check whether you can drop them altogether.
The four boxes at a glance
BoxTasksTop tasksWhat to do
Do now3File tax return, Finish the Monday presentation, Go to the gym on TuesdayDo it yourself today.
Schedule2Plan a training course, Book a dentist appointmentBlock time in your calendar before it becomes urgent.
Delegate2Answer sales calls, Approve a colleague’s leave requestHand it to someone else or keep it short.
Drop2Sort through email newsletters, Scroll social media for hoursLeave it out or postpone it.

How it is calculated

The Eisenhower matrix sorts tasks with two questions: is it important, and is it urgent? The answers give four boxes – do now, schedule, delegate, drop. The idea is attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower and is a classic of time management.

How the matrix works

How to use the tool

Write each task on its own line, separated by semicolons: task; importance; urgency, both from 1 (low) to 5 (very high). A task counts as important or urgent from the threshold you choose – 3 by default. Within a box, tasks with the highest total score come first. More than eight tasks per box are summarised in the picture as “… and n more”; the table below shows all counts.

A practical tip: if almost everything lands in the first box, you may be rating too generously – or planning too little ahead. All entries stay in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make an Eisenhower matrix?

Enter your tasks, rate importance and urgency from 1 to 5 for each, and the tool sorts them into the four boxes and draws the matrix, which you can save as a PNG.

What do the four boxes of the Eisenhower matrix mean?

Important and urgent: do now. Important, not urgent: schedule. Urgent, not important: delegate. Neither: drop.

What is the difference between important and urgent?

Important means it contributes to your goals. Urgent means it demands a quick reaction. A task can be urgent without being useful to you – for example a request someone else could handle.

Is there a printable Eisenhower matrix template?

Yes. The finished matrix can be saved as PNG or SVG and printed on A4. Leave the task box empty to get a blank template.

Can I paste my tasks from Excel?

Yes. Copied cells (task, importance, urgency) work, because tabs, semicolons and vertical bars are recognised as separators.

Are my tasks saved or uploaded?

No. The matrix is calculated in your browser and your entries stay on your device.

Sources and legal basis

As of: · Editorial policy

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