> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.powerfulform.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.powerfulform.com/field-types/ratings/matrix.md).
# Matrix
Ask several questions against one shared set of answers in a single grid.
The **Matrix** field lays your questions out as rows and one shared set of answers as columns, so the visitor answers each row by picking a column. It saves a survey from turning into a stack of near-identical dropdowns — for example rating *Delivery speed*, *Packaging* and *Product quality* against the same *Poor / Fair / Good / Excellent* scale.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Matrix** is not included in the free plan. On the free plan it is grayed out in the element picker with an upgrade prompt. See [Plans and billing](/settings/plans-and-billing.md).
{% endhint %}
## 🔧 How to Set It
In the form editor, click **Add element**, open the **Ratings** category and pick **Matrix**. The field is added and its settings open on the left.
See [Add and arrange elements](/build-your-form/add-and-arrange-elements.md) for the other ways to add a field and how to reorder them.
A Matrix asks the same scale question across several rows at once.
## 🔧 Settings
Only the settings specific to this field are listed here. **Label**, **Placeholder**, **Description**, **Required**, **Hide label**, **Column width**, **Conditional display** and the rest of the shared settings work the same on every field.
| Setting | What it does | Default |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Questions** | The rows of the grid. Edited as its own list, with **Add Question** and **Bulk add Question**. | How likely are you watch movies?, How likely are you listening to music? |
| **Answers** | The columns of the grid, shared by every row. Edited as its own list, with **Add Answer** and **Bulk add Answer**. | Rarely, Seldom, Often, Always |
| **Multiple selection** | Lets the visitor pick more than one answer on the same row. | Off |
### Write the questions and answers
**Questions** and **Answers** are two separate lists in the same panel, and both behave like any other option list.
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
### Replace the sample questions
Type over each row under **Questions**, drag rows by their handle to reorder them, and delete the ones you do not need. **Add Question** adds one more row; **Bulk add Question** opens the **Bulk Add Values** dialog where you paste one question per line and click **Add values**.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Replace the sample answers
Do the same under **Answers**. These become the columns and are shared by every question, so write them to fit all your rows at once.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Check the stored values
Click **Expand** on either list to show the **Value** column beside the **Label** column. **Label** is what the visitor reads; **Value** is what is stored in your submissions. **Collapse** hides it again.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
Every question shares the same answers. If one of your questions needs a different scale, it does not belong in this grid — give it its own **Radio buttons** or **Dropdown** field instead.
{% endhint %}
## 🔄 How It Works
### What the visitor sees
The visitor sees your questions down the left and your answers across the top, with a selectable control in every cell. Picking a cell answers that row. With **Multiple selection** off, picking a second cell on the same row moves the answer.
### How the answers reach you
The submission records the answer chosen for each question, so one **Matrix** field produces one line per question rather than a single value. Open the entry under **Submissions** to see them listed together.
## 💡 Example
* **Rate Delivery speed, Packaging and Product quality** ⇒ three questions, one shared Poor-to-Excellent answer set
* **Which days can we deliver?** ⇒ days as questions, **Multiple selection** on
## ⚠️ Limits & Notes
### One answer per row, or several
By default a visitor picks one column per row. Turn on **Multiple selection** when a row can honestly have more than one answer — *Which of these did you use?* rather than *How would you rate this?*
### Keep the grid readable on a phone
A grid with many columns gets cramped on a narrow screen. Two habits help:
* Keep answer wording short. *Poor* reads better in a column heading than *Below my expectations*.
* Keep the number of columns down. Four or five is comfortable; ten is not.
Switch the editor's preview to mobile and check the grid before you publish.
## Next steps
* [Radio buttons](/field-types/selects/radio-buttons.md) when a question needs a scale of its own.
* [Feedback](/field-types/ratings/feedback.md) for a single icon-based rating.
* [Export submissions](/submissions/export-submissions.md) to pull the grid answers into a spreadsheet.
