What Is the RICE Score?
Ideas are endless, but time and resources… not so much. That's where the RICE score comes in, a simple framework to prioritize product features based on reach, impact, confidence, and effort.
RICE framework gives structure to decision-making, regardless of whether you're a solo founder, PM, or part of a larger product org.
What Is the RICE Framework?
RICE is an acronym that stands for:
Reach – How many users will this initiative impact?
Impact – How much will it affect each person?
Confidence – How sure are we about our estimates?
Effort – How much time will this take?
Together, these four factors make a score that helps rank ideas, features, or tasks by how valuable they are relative to the work required. The formula looks like this:
RICE Score = (Reach × Impact × Confidence) / Effort
This gives you a number you can use to compare initiatives more objectively.
Why Use a RICE Score?
We all carry bias. It's easy to overvalue a pet feature or get excited about something loud on Twitter. RICE brings logic to prioritization.
Instead of arguing opinions, you compare numbers. This doesn't mean you ignore intuition – it means you back it up with reasoning.
The RICE framework helps:
Focus on what actually moves the needle
Cut through the noise
Align teams on priorities
How Each RICE Component Works
Let's go deeper into each part of the score.
1. Reach
How many users will this affect over a set period (say, one quarter)? You can express reach in signups, messages sent, conversions, and whatever metric fits.
Example:
If a feature would impact 1,000 users/month, your reach is 3,000 for the quarter.
2. Impact
How deeply will this feature or fix affect user behavior? Use a simple scale:
3 = massive impact
2 = high
1 = medium
0.5 = low
0 = minimal
This is subjective, yes – but applying the same scale across ideas makes it more consistent.
3. Confidence
How sure are you about the reach and impact estimates? Use percentages:
100% = high certainty
80% = solid guess
50% = not sure at all
If confidence is low, the score will reflect that. It nudges teams to do more research or deprioritize risky ideas.
4. Effort
How long will this take your team? You're flexible to use units that make sense to you and your team. Like story points, or just plain converting weeks into numbers. If one developer needs 1 week, that's 1 effort. If it's 2 developers for a month, that's an 8 effort.
RICE Score in Action
Let's say you're evaluating two ideas:
Feature A
Reach: 5,000
Impact: 2
Confidence: 80%
Effort: 2
Score = (5000 × 2 × 0.8) / 2 = 4000
Feature B
Reach: 1,000
Impact: 3
Confidence: 90%
Effort: 1
Score = (1000 × 3 × 0.9) / 1 = 2700
Even though Feature B has a higher impact, Feature A reaches more users and still has strong confidence. The score tells you which one to tackle first.
When to Use the RICE Framework
RICE works well when:
You have a long list of features or requests
You're deciding what to ship next
You're presenting roadmap priorities to stakeholders
It's especially helpful in early-stage teams or product-led companies where speed and focus are everything.
But RICE isn't perfect. It simplifies complex decisions into one number. That's powerful, but not absolute. Use it to guide, not dictate.
Tips for Making RICE Work
Keep estimates rough but consistent. Don't overthink decimals, ballpark is fine.
Align on definitions. Make sure the team agrees on what "impact" and “effort” mean.
Use it as a conversation starter. Let the score surface trade-offs, not shut down debate.
Revisit often. As you learn more, adjust your scores. RICE works best when it's a living tool.
Alternatives to RICE Score
While RICE is popular, it's not the only prioritization method out there. Others include:
ICE (Impact × Confidence × Ease) – similar but simpler
Kano model – focuses on user satisfaction
Each has its own use case. RICE stands out for its balance of simplicity and structure.
Final Thoughts
The best teams aren't just fast, they're focused. The RICE framework helps you get there. If you're overwhelmed by requests, stuck on what to build next, or just want a better way to decide, try using the RICE score. It helps you prioritize with logic, not just gut.
