RICE is a prioritization framework developed by Intercom that scores ideas based on four factors: Reach, Impact, Confidence, and Effort. It produces a single numeric score that makes it easy to compare and rank competing priorities objectively.
How to use it
Score each idea across four dimensions and calculate the RICE score:
- Reach — How many people will this affect in a given time period? Use a concrete number (e.g., "500 customers per quarter").
- Impact — How much will this affect each person? Use a scale:
- 3 = Massive impact
- 2 = High impact
- 1 = Medium impact
- 0.5 = Low impact
- 0.25 = Minimal impact
- Confidence — How confident are you in your estimates? Use a percentage:
- 100% = High confidence (backed by data)
- 80% = Medium confidence (some data)
- 50% = Low confidence (gut feeling)
- Effort — How many person-months will this take? Use a number.
Higher scores indicate higher priority items.
Example
| Factor | Feature A: Smart Search | Feature B: Dark Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 2,000 users/quarter | 5,000 users/quarter |
| Impact | 2 (High) | 0.5 (Low) |
| Confidence | 80% | 100% |
| Effort | 3 person-months | 1 person-month |
| RICE Score | (2000 × 2 × 0.8) / 3 = 1,067 | (5000 × 0.5 × 1.0) / 1 = 2,500 |
Dark Mode wins despite lower per-user impact because of higher reach, confidence, and lower effort.
Takeaway
RICE Scoring helps you make prioritization decisions based on data rather than gut feelings or the loudest voice in the room. The framework forces you to think critically about reach, impact, confidence, and effort for every idea.
Put this tool to practice
Apply the RICE Scoringto your own situation. Start with a real problem you're facing and work through the steps above.
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