Guides

How to make a tier list in 4 easy steps

Making a tier list with Tier List Maker Online takes less than a minute. Here’s the whole process from start to finish.

1. Add your images

Upload the items you want to rank by clicking the upload area or pasting images directly. We support JPG, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP files, so you can rank game characters, anime, movies, foods, players, logos — anything you can picture.

2. Drag and drop to rank

Grab each image and drop it into the tier that fits, from S at the top down to D at the bottom. Rearrange as often as you like until the order feels right — nothing is locked in.

3. Customize your tiers

Rename the tier labels to whatever you want (S, A, B, C, or Best, Worst, Must-Play, and so on) and change the colors to match your style. Add or remove tiers to build a ranking system that fits your topic.

4. Download and share

When you’re happy with it, download your tier list as a high-quality image and share it on social media, Discord, Reddit, or your own site. No watermarks, no sign-up required.

Tips for better tier lists

• Keep tiers meaningful. If everything lands in S tier, the ranking loses its punch. Be willing to place items lower.
• Use clear images. Crop tightly and pick recognizable pictures so viewers instantly know what each item is.
• Rank in one category at a time. Comparing similar items (all characters, all foods) gives a more useful ranking than mixing unrelated things.
• Add a title. A clear title like “Best RPGs of 2025” helps your list get noticed when you share it.

Choosing the right template before you start

Before you learn how to make a tier list that really lands, it helps to pick the right starting point. If your topic already fits one of our ready-made templates, like games, anime, movies, food, or sports, starting there saves you time because the tier structure and sizing are already set up. If your topic is more specific or unusual, a blank template gives you full control to build the exact number of tiers and layout you need from scratch.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few small habits make a big difference in how a finished tier list reads. Piling too many items into a single tier removes the point of ranking them at all, so try to spread items out even when several feel close in quality. Skipping a title or short description can also leave viewers confused about what exactly is being ranked, especially once the list is shared outside its original context. Finally, using blurry, cropped, or inconsistent images can make an otherwise great ranking look unfinished.

Refining your tier list after the first draft

Few people get their ranking perfect on the first pass, and that is normal. Once you have placed everything, step back and compare items within the same tier against each other. It is common to promote or demote a few items after seeing the whole board at once. Many creators also come back to an older tier list after a new game, season, or product launches and quickly update it rather than starting over, which is easy to do since your layout and tiers are already set.

Sharing your finished tier list

Once you are happy with the result, exporting as a high-quality image works well for social posts, thumbnails, and forum replies, while a shareable link is often better for community voting or ongoing discussion. Either way, no account or watermark is required, so the finished tier list looks fully your own. If you still have questions after reading this guide, check our FAQ page.