How to Create Ranked Choices in Google Forms?

Introduction

Learning how to rank choices in Google Forms can take your surveys from basic to insightful. In the digital era, collecting clear, actionable feedback is essential — and Google Forms is one of the best free tools available to do just that. Most users are familiar with basic question types, but fewer realize that Google Forms also supports more advanced features, such as ranked choice questions.

This guide will show you how to rank choices in Google Forms, step-by-step. Whether you’re designing a product survey, prioritizing features, or simply asking friends about their top 3 favorite desserts, using Google Forms ranked choice questions can help you collect more insightful and organized data.

What Is a Ranked Choice in Google Forms?

A ranked choice Google Forms question allows respondents to rank options by preference, such as first, second, and third choice. Unlike traditional multiple-choice questions, where only one answer is selected, ranking provides a more nuanced view of what people prefer and how strongly they prefer it.

When to Use Ranked Choices in Surveys

Knowing when to use ranked choices is key to effective data collection. Use ranked questions when:

• You need to prioritize options (e.g., "Rank your top 3 favorite project management tools").
• You want to analyze preferences beyond simple popularity.
• You aim to avoid ties or vague selections in decision-making surveys.
• You’re collecting feedback from a group with diverse opinions.

How to Create a Ranked Choice Question in Google Forms

Here’s how to create a ranked choice Google Forms question using the Multiple Choice Grid feature:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Open your Google Form and add a new question.

1. Select "Multiple choice grid" as the question type.
2. Type your main question, such as: “What are your favorite food in the Event?”
3. In the Rows, enter ranking positions — for example:
   • First Choice
   • Second Choice
   • Third Choice
4. In the Columns, enter the options users will rank — e.g.,
   • Pizzas
   • Tacos
   • Nachos
   • Burritos
   • Cakes
5. Turn on Require a response in each row. This ensures respondents won't miss choices, say the second choice.
6. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the bottom-right corner and select “Limit to one response per column”. This ensures no option is ranked more than once.

That’s it! Your ranked question is ready to collect insightful, structured feedback.

Google form with ranked multiple choice question

What Respondents Will See

Users will see a clean, table-like interface allowing them to choose one option per rank.

Google Form with Ranked multiple choices

If they accidentally select the same option twice (e.g., ranking “Tacos” as both first and third), Google Forms will block the duplication automatically.

No duplicated choice in ranked answers

This ensures accurate and fair ranking data. After respondents submit, the ranked questions will be shown in multiple columns in the linked spreadsheet. No duplicates guaranteed!

Form responses shows different columns for ranked answers

How Ranked Choices Affect Data in Google Sheets

When responses are submitted, each ranked row appears in its own column in the connected Google Sheet — making it easy to analyze trends. For example:

This ranked format allows for weighted analysis — a unique advantage over traditional single-select questions.

Pro Tip: You can apply scoring weights (like 3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd) in Google Sheets formulas to calculate total preference scores.

Conclusion

Creating ranked choice questions in Google Forms is a smart way to go beyond basic feedback. It helps you understand user preferences in depth, prioritize what matters most, and avoid indecisive answers. Now that you know how to rank choices in Google Forms, try using this feature in your next survey — whether it's for business, education, or fun. It’s quick to set up and incredibly powerful when used right. potential of your data collection efforts.