🏆 Tier List Maker: Build and Rank S to F Tier Lists Online
By ToolNimba Editorial Team · Updated 2026-06-22
Drag chips between rows, or tap a chip then tap a tier on touch screens.
This tier list maker lets you rank anything into the classic S, A, B, C, D, and F tiers using simple drag and drop, right in your browser. Add your own items as text chips, rename the tier labels to fit your subject, then move chips between rows until the ranking feels right. Everything runs client-side with no sign-up, no upload, and a tap-to-move fallback so it works on phones as well as on a laptop.
What is the Tier List Maker?
A tier list is a ranked grid that sorts a set of items into named bands, usually labeled S at the top down through A, B, C, D, and F at the bottom. The S tier (short for "Superb" or "Special") sits above A on purpose: it is reserved for the standout few that clearly beat everything else. The point of the format is not mathematical precision but fast, visual comparison. By forcing every item into a small number of buckets, a tier list turns a fuzzy "what is best" debate into a clear picture you can share and argue about.
This tool keeps the workflow deliberately light. You start with a pool of unranked chips, then drag each one into the tier where it belongs. Because the rows are color coded, from a warm orange S band down to a neutral grey F band, the finished list reads at a glance. You can rename any tier label, so the same grid works whether you are ranking video game characters, pizza toppings, job candidates, or marketing channels. Nothing is locked in: drag a chip back to the pool or into a different tier whenever your opinion changes.
The ranking logic is intentionally simple and transparent. There is no hidden scoring engine deciding placement for you. Each item lives in exactly one zone at a time, either the unranked pool or one of the six tiers, and the order within a row reflects the order you dropped items in. When you click "Copy as text" the tool walks the tiers from S to F and lists the items in each, giving you a plain-text summary you can paste into a document, a chat message, or a forum post.
Unlike heavier tier list sites that depend on image uploads and screenshots, this maker is text first, which makes it fast, accessible, and easy to revise. If you need an image version later you can screenshot the finished board, but for most planning, voting, and brainstorming the text export is quicker to share and easier to edit. The whole thing stays in your browser memory, so closing the tab clears the board and nothing is sent anywhere.
When to use it
- Rank video game characters, weapons, or decks into S to F tiers to settle a "best of" debate with friends or a community.
- Prioritize a backlog by dragging features, bugs, or content ideas into tiers that map to must-do, nice-to-have, and skip.
- Compare options in a decision, such as job offers, vendors, or apartments, by ranking them on a shared visual scale.
- Run a quick group activity in a meeting or class where everyone agrees on what belongs in the top tier and why.
How to use the Tier List Maker
- Type an item name in the "Add an item" box and press Enter or click "Add item"; the chip drops into the unranked pool at the bottom.
- Drag any chip from the pool onto a tier row, or on a phone tap the chip to select it and then tap the target tier.
- Rename a tier by clicking its colored label and typing a new heading, so the grid matches whatever you are ranking.
- Click "Copy as text" to copy a plain-text summary of every tier, or "Reset" to send all chips back to the pool and start over.
Formula & method
Worked examples
You want to rank five streaming services for a blog post: Service A, Service B, Service C, Service D, and Service E.
- Add each service name so all five chips appear in the pool.
- Drag Service C, your clear favorite, into the S tier.
- Drop Service A and Service E into A, since both are strong but not top.
- Place Service B in C tier and leave Service D in F because you rarely use it.
Result: The board reads S: Service C, A: Service A, Service E, C: Service B, F: Service D, which you copy as text straight into your draft.
Your team has eight feature ideas and needs to agree on priorities in a 15-minute standup.
- Rename the tiers to Now, Next, Later, Backlog, Maybe, and No to fit a roadmap.
- Add all eight feature names so they sit in the pool.
- As the team discusses, drag each feature into the tier everyone agrees on.
- Click Copy as text and paste the result into the sprint notes.
Result: A shared, color coded roadmap appears in seconds and the copied summary becomes the action list, for example Now: Login fix, Next: Dark mode.
What each tier usually means
| Tier | Common label | Typical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| S | Superb | The best of the best, clearly above everything else |
| A | Great | Excellent picks you would happily recommend |
| B | Good | Solid and reliable, a safe middle choice |
| C | Average | Fine but unremarkable, take it or leave it |
| D | Below average | Weak options you would usually avoid |
| F | Fail | Bottom of the barrel, not worth using |
When a tier list beats other ranking formats
| Format | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Tier list | Grouping many items into a few clear bands | No exact order inside a tier |
| Numbered ranking | A strict 1 to N order | Forced precision feels arbitrary near the middle |
| Star rating | Rating items independently | Hard to compare items side by side |
| Pros and cons | Deep dive on a few options | Slow and cluttered for large sets |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overloading the S tier. If half your items end up in S, the ranking stops meaning anything. Keep the top tier scarce so it actually signals "the best." When in doubt, push borderline picks down to A.
- Treating tiers as exact order. Items inside one tier are considered roughly equal. Do not agonize over whether the second or third chip in a row is "higher." If you need a strict order, a numbered list is the better format.
- Forgetting to define what you are ranking. A tier list of "best value" looks very different from one of "most fun." Decide the single criterion first, and rename the tiers if a clearer label helps everyone judge by the same standard.
- Expecting the board to save itself. This tool keeps everything in browser memory, so closing or refreshing the tab clears it. Use Copy as text to save your work before you leave, then paste it back or screenshot the board for a permanent record.
Glossary
- Tier
- A single named band in the list, such as S or C, that groups items judged to be of similar quality.
- S tier
- The top band, placed above A on purpose, reserved for the standout few that clearly outclass everything else.
- Pool
- The unranked holding area at the bottom where new items start and where chips return when you reset or are still undecided.
- Chip
- A draggable text label representing one item you are ranking, for example a character, product, or idea.
- Ordinal ranking
- A ranking that only records order or grouping, not a precise numeric score, which is exactly what a tier list produces.
- Drag and drop
- The interaction of picking up a chip with the mouse and releasing it on a target row, used here to place items into tiers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tier list maker free and does it need an account?
Yes, it is completely free with no sign-up. The tool runs entirely in your browser, so there is nothing to install and no account to create. Just add items and start dragging.
Can I use it on my phone without a mouse?
Yes. Alongside drag and drop, there is a tap fallback: tap a chip to select it, then tap the tier you want to move it to. The whole layout is responsive and avoids sideways scrolling on small screens.
How do I save or share my tier list?
Click "Copy as text" to copy a clean plain-text summary of every tier, then paste it into a document, chat, or post. For a visual version, take a screenshot of the finished board, since the layout itself is not stored on any server.
Can I rename the tiers or use my own categories?
Yes. Click any colored tier label and type a new heading. Many people relabel them to things like Must Have, Nice to Have, and Skip, which lets the same grid work for roadmaps, decisions, or votes.
Does it matter what order items are in within a single tier?
Not really. A tier list groups items into bands of similar quality, so two chips in the same row are treated as roughly equal. If you need a strict one-by-one order, a numbered ranking is a better fit than a tier list.
Will my tier list still be here if I refresh the page?
No. The board lives in your browser memory only, so refreshing or closing the tab clears it back to the default. Use Copy as text first if you want to keep your ranking.