A tier list is a visual ranking system that sorts items into ordered levels — usually S, A, B, C, D, and F — from best to worst. It groups similar-quality items in the same row, which makes it faster to read than a numbered list.

How do I make a tier list for free?

Use a free online tier list maker like TierPOP. Open the tool in your browser, add your images or text items, drag them into tiers, and export the result as a PNG. No login or payment is required.

Can I make a tier list without images?

Yes. A text tier list maker lets you rank items with words alone — type or batch-add names, ideas, or phrases and drag them into tiers. It is the fastest option when your items have no obvious pictures.

How many tiers should a tier list have?

Five to six tiers (S through D or F) works for most topics. Fewer tiers make choices feel too coarse; more than seven makes the difference between adjacent tiers hard to justify.

How to Make a Tier List (Step-by-Step Guide)

Updated July 2026 · 5 min read

A tier list is the fastest way to show your opinion on anything — games, movies, foods, characters, even coworkers' coffee orders. Instead of ranking items one by one, you sort them into ordered levels (usually S, A, B, C, D), so items of similar quality sit together on the same row. This guide walks you through making your first tier list in about five minutes, using a free online tier list maker with no login required.

Step 1: Pick a topic and gather your items

Good tier lists have a clear, bounded topic — "every Zelda game", "fast food chains in my city", "programming languages I've used". Aim for 10–40 items: fewer feels thin, more gets exhausting to rank. Write your item list down before you start; it keeps the ranking session focused.

Step 2: Choose text or images

This choice decides which tool you should use:

Items with recognizable visuals (game covers, movie posters, food photos) — use an image tier list maker. Upload pictures and the finished list is instantly readable at a glance.
Abstract or wordy items (ideas, names, book titles, habits) — use a text tier list maker. You skip image hunting entirely: type or paste your list and start ranking.

Step 3: Set up your tiers

The classic scale runs S → A → B → C → D, where S is the best (curious why S beats A? See what S tier means). You don't have to keep the defaults, though — rename tiers to anything: "Must play / Great / Fine / Skip", or "Daily / Weekly / Never". Five to six tiers is the sweet spot; beyond seven, the difference between adjacent tiers gets hard to defend.

Step 4: Drag and rank

Add your items, then drag each one into a tier. Two tips make this go faster. First, place your anchor items — the obvious best and worst — before anything else; everything in between becomes a comparison against them. Second, don't agonize: your first instinct is usually your real opinion, and you can always drag items again later.

Step 5: Export and share

When the ranking looks right, export the tier list as a PNG image and share it anywhere — Discord, Reddit, X, group chats. In TierPOP the watermark is optional: untick one box in the download popup to export with no watermark, free, no signup. Your work is also cached in your browser, so closing the tab by accident won't lose anything.

Quick ideas if you need a topic

Video games in a series, anime of the season, pizza toppings, exercise routines, travel destinations, horror movies, sneaker brands, programming frameworks, first-date ideas, office snacks. Anything people have opinions about is tier-list material.

FAQ

What is a tier list?
A visual ranking system that sorts items into ordered levels — usually S, A, B, C, D, and F — from best to worst, grouping similar-quality items on the same row.
How do I make a tier list for free?
Use a free online tier list maker like TierPOP — open it in your browser, add items, drag to rank, export as PNG. No login or payment required.
Can I make a tier list without images?
Yes — a text tier list maker ranks items with words alone.
How many tiers should I have?
Five to six. Fewer feels too coarse; more than seven gets hard to justify.

Ready to make yours?

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