A supplier evaluation is how a buyer decides which supplier to award business to — not on price alone, but on a balanced view of quality, delivery, stability, compliance and service. Scoring every supplier against the same weighted criteria removes gut feel and gives you a defensible, auditable selection decision. This free Excel template does the maths for you: set your weights, score each supplier one to five, and the weighted totals calculate automatically so the strongest overall fit is obvious.
Why score suppliers on weighted criteria
Choosing a supplier on lowest price alone hides risk: a cheap supplier that misses deliveries or ships defects costs far more than the saving. A weighted evaluation forces you to consider total value — quality, reliability, financial health and service — in one comparable number.
Weighting matters because not every criterion is equally important. For a critical component, delivery reliability and quality might outweigh price; for commodity supplies, price may lead. Setting the weights up front makes your priorities explicit and consistent across every supplier you assess.
How to use this supplier evaluation template
Work through the template for each sourcing decision:
- Adjust the weight of each criterion so the column totals 100%.
- Score each supplier from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) against every criterion.
- Record the evidence or reasoning behind each score in the notes column.
- Read the automatic weighted total — the highest score is the strongest overall fit.
- Keep the completed sheet as the audit record for your selection decision.
Supplier evaluation best practices
Use the same criteria and weights for every supplier in a given category so scores are truly comparable. Base scores on evidence — quotes, references, site visits, samples and financial checks — not impressions. Re-evaluate strategic suppliers periodically rather than only at onboarding, and pair this template with an ongoing supplier scorecard to track performance after you award the business.
Download the Supplier Evaluation Template
Free, editable Excel (.xlsx). Complete the form above and your download starts instantly.
Common questions
What is a supplier evaluation template?
A supplier evaluation template is a reusable scoring form that rates suppliers against weighted criteria — such as price, quality, delivery and compliance — so you can compare them objectively and choose the best overall fit.
What criteria should a supplier evaluation include?
Common criteria are price competitiveness, product or service quality, delivery reliability, financial stability, compliance and certifications, service and responsiveness, capacity, and sustainability. This template includes all eight and lets you weight each one.
Is this supplier evaluation template free?
Yes. Enter your work email above and the editable Excel file downloads automatically, free of charge.
What is the difference between supplier evaluation and a supplier scorecard?
A supplier evaluation is usually done before you award business, to select the right supplier. A supplier scorecard tracks an existing supplier's performance over time. Use them together — evaluate to select, then scorecard to manage.
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