The Cons of Using a Pros/Cons List
The popular method of making a decision has some critical flaws. Learn what they are – and how to fix them.
The pros/cons list is a straightforward, universally applicable method for making difficult decisions. It’s quick, simple, and requires no preparation or specialized tools.
But here’s the catch: using a pros/cons list to make decisions has some significant cons. What are they? And how can you fix them?
1. Equal Weighing of Factors
A classic pros/cons list treats every point as equally important, which can distort your perception of their actual importance. For instance, a minor pro such as “saves time” might outweigh a major con like “extremely costly,” simply because they’re given the same space on the list.
Solution: Assign a numerical weight to each factor based on importance (e.g., 1 to 10) then add up the total scores for a clearer picture.
Ben Franklin recommended this addition of weights in his formulation of a pros/cons list:
“When I have thus got [pros and cons] all together in one View, I endeavour to estimate their respective Weights; and where I find two, one on each side, that seem equal, I strike them both out: If I find a Reason pro equal to some two Reasons con, I strike out the three. If I judge some two Reasons con equal to some three Reasons pro, I strike out the five; and thus proceeding I find at length where the Ballance lies; and if after a Day or two of farther Consideration nothing new that is of Importance occurs on either side, I come to a Determination accordingly.”
But don’t worry about adding precise numerical values for each item. As Franklin wrote in the same letter, the mere act of weighing them enhances judgment:
“And tho' the Weight of Reasons cannot be taken with the Precision of Algebraic Quantities, yet when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less likely to take a rash Step;"
Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, September 19, 1772
2. Subjectivity
A pros/cons list is highly subjective. The way you frame each point—or the biases you bring—can significantly influence the outcome. For example, you might unconsciously downplay cons that conflict with your preferred choice.
Solution: Have someone else create their own pros/cons list for the same decision, then compare that list to yours. Additionally, ask a trusted person to review your list for bias.
3. No Time Factor
A pros/cons list often ignores the element of time. A decision may have short-term benefits but lead to long-term negative consequences—or vice versa.
Solution: Add a time factor to each item and whether its significance changes over 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years.
4. Oversimplification
Reducing complex decisions to a binary comparison risks overlooking nuances. Real decisions often involve multidimensional factors that don’t fit neatly into “pro” or “con” but are neutral, irrelevant, or equivalent.
Imagine that you are a student deciding between two universities, A and B, both in small college towns. If you enjoyed visiting both equally, the “location” factor could be neutral.
Another variation of this method is to try and “cancel out” cons by thinking of a simple solution to that con. For example, if a con of University A is that it has fewer on-campus dining options than University B, you might “cancel out” this drawback by planning to cook more meals at home or exploring off-campus restaurants.
Solution: Include a “neutral” or “ambivalent” column for factors that aren’t strictly positive or negative.
5. No Dependencies or Consequences
Pros/cons lists treat each factor as independent, but real-life decisions often have ripple effects. Choosing one path might lead to cascading consequences, each with its own pros and cons.
Solution: Use a flow chart to map out possible outcomes. For every pro and con, consider the potential consequences.
6. No Probabilities
Not every pro or con is guaranteed. Some outcomes are more probable than others, yet pros/cons lists don’t account for this variability.
It can be difficult to determine specific numeric probabilities for items. If that’s the case, don’t worry. They don’t need to be extremely accurate or even use numbers. Instead, just label them as one of these five options:
impossible (0%)
unlikely (25%)
even odds (50%)
likely (75%)
guaranteed (100%)
Solution: Add a probability factor to each item (e.g., low, medium, high). Use it to refine the overall evaluation.
7. No Adjustment for Personal Mood
Your mood, energy level, or time of day can influence how you evaluate decision factors. Research shows people often make worse decisions under specific conditions such as fatigue, hunger, or stress.
Solution: Fill out your pros/cons list at different times of the day (e.g., morning, lunch, before bed) or in different mental states (e.g., well-rested, stressed). Compare your answers for consistency.
8. No Visualization
The standard pros/cons list is a flat, text-based exercise where every point takes up equal space—regardless of significance. This can make wildly different factors appear equivalent.
Instead, visualize the results. For example, create a bar chart that displays the level of importance from 1 to 5 (as in #1 above) for each pro or con. As you can see in the chart below, while there are more cons, their importance is relatively insignificant compared to the pros. Visualizing this information into graphic form makes this more immediately obvious.
Solution: Use visuals like bar charts or pie charts to represent the weight of each factor. Seeing data visually can help you more easily make a decision.
9. No Scenario Analysis
Pros/cons lists are often too abstract and focus too much on isolated benefits and downsides. As a result, they don’t encourage you to think through specific scenarios or outcomes.
One way to address this is by creating narrative scenarios that describe the outcome of different decisions. Imagine what the world will be like if you go through with the decision, and write it as a short story or descriptive essay.
If, for example, you are making an important personal decision, ask yourself these questions when writing a potential scenario:
How will your personal life change?
What will your day-to-day routines look like?
What kinds of problems or challenges will you deal with?
Where will you physically be every day?
…and so on.
Visualize each scenario, then ask yourself: is this outcome appealing or unappealing?
Solution: Create at least two scenario outcomes: one for going through with the decision and one for not doing it. Compare the practical implications of each.
10. No Gut-Check
Even if a pros/cons list points to a clear choice, you might still feel uneasy. That feeling matters—it often reflects deeper values or priorities that the list hasn’t captured.
Solution: Trust your intuition as a final check. If the list suggests one choice but your gut says otherwise, it’s worth exploring why. Maybe it reveals hidden priorities or misaligned values.
The Improved Pros/Cons List
So, now we know how to take a basic pros/cons list to the next level.
The question is: how complex do you want to make your analysis? After all, one of the main advantages of a pros/cons list is its simplicity. By adding too many additional steps, you run the risk of making it too complicated – and ultimately too complex to use in real-world situations.
Solution: Upgrade your pros/cons list by level, with each level increasingly more complex.
Level 1
Make the list at different times of day and compare the results
Ask a friend to make a list about the decision, then compare the results
Do a gut check and make sure your analysis matches your immediate, gut-level feelings
Level 2
Do a simple scenario analysis and imagine the possible future for each option
Add a neutral column of factors that aren’t important or don’t have significant effects on the outcome
Level 3
Add weights for importance.
Add probabilities for each pro and con
Level 4
Evaluate the decision’s consequences in 10 days, 10 months, and 10 years. This requires more speculation about the future
Add dependencies and IF → THEN flowcharts
Create visualizations of pros/cons
The Verdict
While pros/cons lists can be a helpful starting point, they’re far from perfect. By addressing these ten limitations, you can transform this basic tool into a more effective decision-making framework.