How to Make an Eisenhower Matrix Template in Excel (With Easy Steps)

In an Eisenhower Matrix, we will have two parts. One part is the data section of the template. The data section will contain two parameters named Important and Urgent. We will set two values Yes or No with Data Validation to fix the level of importance and urgency. Another one is the Eisenhower box. This box will consist of four quadrants. Each quadrant will portray a combination of the importance and urgency of our task. Basically, the four combinations of importance and urgency that the four quadrants represent are:

• Important – Urgent
• Important – Not Urgent
• Not Important – Urgent
• Not Important – Not Urgent

So, in the first step, we will create the data section. Then, in the second step, we will create the Eisenhower box.

Step 1 – Create Data Section of Eisenhower Matrix Template

• Make a chart in cell range (H4:J13). Use the headings like the following image.
• Enter the name of the tasks in the Tasks column.

• Select cell I6.

• Go to the Data tab.
• Select the option Data Validation from the Data Validation drop-down menu.

• A new dialogue box named ‘Data Validation’ will open.
• Go to the Settings tab.
• From the Allow section, select the option List from the dropdown menu.
• Type the options Yes and No in the Source field.
• Click on OK.

• We can see a Data Validation dropdown in cell I6. If we click on the dropdown icon of cell I6, the two options Yes and No will be available.

• Drag the Fill Handle tool from cell I6 to I13.
• Drag the Fill Handle tool horizontally from cell I13 to J13.
• Finally, we get a Data Validation dropdown in all the cells from the range (I6:J13). So, we can express the level of importance and urgency of our tasks by selecting the options Yes or No.

Step 2 – Make Eisenhower Box

In the second step, we will create the part Eisenhower box of an Eisenhower matrix in Excel. Once we select some values for a task in the Data section, the task will automatically appear in the Eisenhower matrix box based on importance and urgency.

• Create a chart in the cell range (B5:F13) based on the image below, with enough space to fit half the tasks in each sector. You can format it however you like.

• Select cell D6.
• Insert the following formula in that cell:

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle from cell D6 to D9.

• Select cell F6 and insert the following formula in that cell:

• Hit Enter.

• Pull the Fill Handle tool from cell F6 to F9.

• Select cell D10.
• Enter this formula in the cell:

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle tool from cell D10 to D13.

• Select cell F10. Paste the following formula in that cell:

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle tool from cell F10 to F13.
• The process of making an Eisenhower box is finished now.

Features of Eisenhower Matrix Template in Excel

We will create the same template that we created in earlier steps. To illustrate the process we will follow the below steps.

Steps:

• Select importance level Yes from the dropdown menu of cell I6.
• Select the value Yes in cell J7.

• As a result, Task-1 automatically appears in the first quadrant of the Eisenhower box. It means Task-1 is both important and urgent.

• For Task-2, select the value Yes for the importance level in cell I7. But, select the value No for urgency level in cell J7.
• So, Task-2 appears in the 2nd quadrant. This means that Task-2 is important but not urgent.

• For Task-3, choose No for both cells I8 and J8.
• We can see Task-3 in the fourth quadrant.

Download Free Template

You can download the template from here.

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