Free download · PDF, Word, Excel & Google Sheets

Eisenhower Matrix Template:Free PDF, Word & Excel download

A printable, editable Eisenhower Matrix in four formats. Drop every task into a quadrant and walk away with a clear next step: do it, schedule it, delegate it, or eliminate it.

Download the PDF

Prefer no file at all? Open the online matrix and sort tasks right in your browser.

FreePreview of the printable Eisenhower Matrix PDF template: a two by two grid labeled Do First, Schedule, Delegate, and Eliminate, with ruled lines for writing tasks
this is how it prints. one page

Download the Eisenhower Matrix template

Every format holds the same quadrant template. Pick the one that fits how you already work.

PDF template

PDF · 1 page · US Letter

Best for: Printing and sorting tasks by hand in under five minutes.

Print the page, or open it on a tablet. Write each task on a line inside one quadrant. Then give it a move: do, schedule, delegate, or eliminate.

Download PDF

Word template

DOCX · works in Word and Google Docs

Best for: Typing tasks into a document you can edit and share.

Open the file and click inside a quadrant cell. Type one task per line. Add rows if you need more room. Save a fresh copy each week instead of editing the old one.

Download Word

Excel template

XLSX · pre-formatted 4 quadrant grid

Best for: Keeping a sortable matrix inside an existing workbook.

Open the sheet. The four quadrants are already colored. Type one task per cell under the matching quadrant. Review it weekly, since priorities shift.

Download Excel

Google Sheets template (CSV)

CSV · imports into Google Sheets or Excel

Best for: A flat task list you can filter, sort, and share with a team.

In Google Sheets, choose File → Import → Upload and pick the CSV. Type a task, mark whether it is urgent and important, and choose its quadrant. Filter by quadrant or next action to work through them one at a time.

Download CSV

How to fill out the template

Whichever format you picked, the method is the same: four steps that take a few minutes.

  1. Dump everything first. Write every task down before judging it. You cannot prioritize what is still in your head.

  2. Judge importance, then urgency. Ask what changes if the task is done well. Then ask whether it needs attention today.

  3. Decide the next step. Every task leaves the matrix with a next step: do it, schedule it, delegate it, or eliminate it.

  4. Review weekly. Priorities shift. A task sitting in Schedule can turn into a Do First task as its deadline approaches.

The four quadrants, explained

Call it an Eisenhower quadrant template or a four-box grid. The label matters less than what you do next. Sort each task once, then move it out of the matrix.

Do First

Urgent + important

Work with a real deadline and consequences if it slips.

e.g. A production outage, or the tax form due tomorrow.

Schedule

Important, not urgent

Strategic work that prevents fires instead of fighting them.

e.g. The quarterly plan, exercise, the skill your next role needs.

Delegate

Urgent, not important

Requests that need motion, but not your best attention.

e.g. A vendor follow-up a teammate can cover.

Eliminate

Not urgent, not important

Activity that fills the day without changing the outcome.

e.g. The recurring status ritual nobody reads.

Rather skip the download?

The templates are made for printing and sharing. But if your priorities change often, a file becomes another thing to manage.

The free online matrix autosaves in your browser, needs no account, and lets you drag tasks between quadrants, so you can sort once and get back to work.

Open the online matrixCreate a free accountRead the Eisenhower Matrix guideTry the urgent important matrix

P.S. a free account keeps your matrix in sync on every device.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Eisenhower Matrix template free?

Yes. Every format on this page (PDF, Word, Excel, and CSV) is free to download and use, with no account required. The online matrix on 4todo is free too.

Which Eisenhower Matrix template format should I use?

Pick Word to type into a document, Excel for a spreadsheet you can sort, or the CSV if you work in Google Sheets. For pen and paper, print the PDF, or grab the printable planner with a week line and space for your top moves. If you would rather skip files altogether, open the free online matrix. See the printable planner

How do I use the template in Google Sheets?

Download the CSV, open Google Sheets, and choose File → Import → Upload. The file becomes a flat task list with columns for urgency, importance, quadrant, and next action. Filter by quadrant to focus.

Is an Eisenhower quadrant template the same as a 4-quadrant template?

Yes, different names for the same four-box grid. Every file on this page is a quadrant template sorted by urgency and importance: do first, schedule, delegate, eliminate.

What are the four quadrants of the Eisenhower Matrix?

Do First (urgent + important), Schedule (important, not urgent), Delegate (urgent, not important), and Eliminate (neither). Each quadrant tells you what to do with the task.

How often should I update the matrix?

Go through it once a week, or whenever your list changes. As its deadline nears, a Schedule task can move into Do First.

What is the difference between the template and the online tool?

The templates are files you download and manage yourself. The online matrix saves automatically as you work and lets you drag tasks between quadrants, with no account needed. When priorities shift often, it is the easier option.

Keep your matrix with you

A free account syncs your matrix across devices, backs it up automatically, and stays free for the basics. Setup takes about a minute.

Create a free accountNo credit card required

from the 4todo team