How to Make a Tier List (S-Tier to F-Tier Explained)

A tier list ranks a group of things into labeled rows from best to worst: usually S, A, B, C, D, and F, with S at the top. To make one, you list what you're ranking, drop each item into the tier you think it belongs in, and share the result. That's the whole idea. This guide walks through each step and the small decisions that make a tier list people actually take seriously.

What is a tier list?

A tier list is a ranking format borrowed from gaming culture, where players sort characters or strategies into power tiers. The rows are grades: S is the top tier (above A, think "superb" or "special"), then A, B, C, and D descend in quality, and F is the bottom. Anything in the same row is treated as roughly equal.

The format caught on because it's faster and more visual than a 1-to-20 ordered list: you make a handful of "good enough" buckets instead of agonizing over whether something is ranked 7th or 8th. (For a full breakdown of each grade, see what S, A, B, C, D, and F tiers mean.)

How to make a tier list, step by step

1. Decide what you're ranking

Pick one clear category so the comparison is fair: a game's characters, every pizza topping, a band's albums, the teams in your league. The tighter the category, the easier each placement is.

2. Choose your tiers

The classic S–F scale works for almost everything, so start there. But the tiers are yours to change:

• Rename them if grades don't fit: "Love it / Like it / It's fine / Never again" works too.
• Recolor rows so the best tier pops.
• Add or remove rows. Ranking only a few things? Three tiers may be plenty. Lots of strong contenders? Add an S+ row.

3. Place each item

Drag each item into the tier it belongs in (or, on a phone, tap the item then tap the tier). A good rhythm: do a fast first pass on gut feeling, then go back and move the close calls. Don't overthink the first pass. That's what makes the format quick.

4. Add images (optional, but worth it)

A tier list of plain text is fine, but images make it instantly readable: album covers, character art, team logos, photos of the food. A visual list is also far more shareable.

5. Share it

The point of a tier list is the reaction. Share a link so friends can see it, argue with it, and make their own. With a live tier list, your placements update for everyone the moment you move something.

Tips for a tier list people respect

• Be stingy with S. If half your items are S-tier, the tiers stop meaning anything. S is for the genuine standouts.
• Stay consistent. Rank on one axis (power, enjoyment, or quality), not a blurry mix of all three.
• It's fine to leave a D or F empty. Not every list has a worst-of; gaps are honest.
• Re-rank later. Opinions change. A saved tier list you can edit beats a screenshot you'd have to remake.

Make your tier list now

You don't need an image editor or a spreadsheet. Our free tier list maker gives you the S–F rows, lets you add items and images, and drags-and-drops the whole thing, then hands you a live link to share. Start a tier list and rank away.

Stuck on what to rank? Browse 50+ tier list ideas to get started.