What is the RICE scoring model?

RICE is a prioritization framework where each idea's score is (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort. Reach is people affected per quarter, Impact is a fixed multiplier (0.25–3), Confidence is a percentage (50/80/100%), and Effort is person-months. Higher scores rank first.

How is Effort handled if I leave it at zero?

Dividing by zero effort is undefined, so an item with zero effort scores 0 and is flagged rather than ranked first with an infinite score. Give every item a realistic effort estimate for a meaningful ranking.

Is the ranking deterministic?

Yes. The same inputs always produce the same scores and order — ties break by the order you entered items. Nothing is randomized, so you can share a list and reproduce the result exactly.

How does Planoda help with prioritization?

Planoda keeps Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort as first-class fields on every issue and project, so RICE scores live next to the work instead of in a throwaway spreadsheet — and an AI agent can draft estimates for review.

Free tool

Rank your backlog with RICE

Add the features or ideas you're weighing, score each on Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort, and watch them rank live by RICE score.

Your backlog

Idea 1
Reach (people / quarter)
Effort (person-months)
Impact
Confidence
Rank #1RICE 1,600
Idea 2
Reach (people / quarter)
Effort (person-months)
Impact
Confidence
Rank #2RICE 800
Idea 3
Reach (people / quarter)
Effort (person-months)
Impact
Confidence
Rank #3RICE 80

Ranked by RICE score

1AI agent on every board1,600
2Custom dashboards800
3Mobile offline mode80

Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort. Highest score is the top priority. Modeled estimate — not a guarantee.

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In short

RICE score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) ÷ Effort; the highest score is the top priority.
Impact is a fixed scale (0.25 / 0.5 / 1 / 2 / 3) and Confidence a percentage (50 / 80 / 100%); Reach and Effort are your numbers.
Zero effort can't divide cleanly, so it scores 0 and is flagged — every item needs a real effort estimate.
Planoda keeps Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort on every issue so RICE lives next to the work.

FAQ

RICE questions

More about RICE prioritization.

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Bring RICE into the work itself.

Planoda keeps Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort as first-class fields on every issue — so your priority ranking lives next to the work, not in a spreadsheet.

Start free See the product