How to Make a Tier List in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

What Is a Tier List?

A tier list ranks items from best (S) to worst (D or F) using labelled rows. The format originated in the early-2000s fighting game community, where players grouped characters by competitive viability, and has since spread to anime, movies, music, food, sports, and pop culture in general. Today, the tier list definition is simple: any visual ranking where multiple items can share a tier. If you're asking "what is a tier list?", that's it — labelled rows, items inside, best on top.

What You Need to Make a Tier List

Just a browser. This free tier list maker works on desktop, tablet, and mobile — no downloads, no sign-up, no watermark. Common search variants also land here: "teir list maker" (the misspelling), "tierlistmaker", "tear maker", "tier maker" — they all open the same tool.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Tier List With Images

1. Step 1 — Open the Image Tier List Maker. No login needed; it loads in your browser.
2. Step 2 — Upload your images. PNG, JPG, or WEBP. Drag-and-drop into the library, or click the file picker. You can add as many as you want — they're stored locally, not on a server.
3. Step 3 — Drag each image into the right tier. S = best, A = great, B = solid, C = average, D = worst. Reorder freely until it feels right.
4. Step 4 — Customize. Rename tier labels, change tier colors, add or remove rows, add a title and watermark, swap between light and dark themes.
5. Step 5 — Click Download. You get a clean, high-resolution PNG — no watermark, no logo unless you added one. Ready for Reddit, Discord, TikTok, or anywhere else.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Tier List With Text

1. Step 1 — Open the Text Tier List Maker. Same drag-and-drop board, no images required.
2. Step 2 — Add items. Type them one by one, or paste a list and let the tool split each line into its own card.
3. Step 3 — Drag each text card into the right tier. Same S/A/B/C/D system as the image version.
4. Step 4 — Customize. Adjust labels and colors, switch item shapes between square, rounded, and pill, scale items up or down.
5. Step 5 — Export PNG. Share-ready, no watermark.

Best Tier List Topics to Try

Stuck for inspiration? Here are some topics that consistently spark discussion: anime series, video game characters, Pokémon starters, MCU movies, K-pop groups, fast food chains, Taylor Swift albums, sports teams, programming languages, Marvel Rivals heroes, Brawl Stars brawlers, and even your friends and family for a laugh. Or grab a ready-to-rank board from the tier list templates library and start from there. The best topics are ones you have strong opinions about — gaming rosters and seasonal anime are perennial winners.

Tips for a Great Tier List

• Be consistent with your ranking criteria. Decide upfront whether you're ranking by quality, popularity, personal favorite, or competitive viability — then stick to it.
• Give lower tiers as much thought as S tier. A well-argued D tier is half the fun.
• Name your tiers something specific. Replace "S/A/B/C/D" with "Goated / Great / Mid / Skip / Cursed" or whatever fits the topic.
• Export and share to spark discussion. Tier lists are conversation starters — post them and let people argue.
• Come back and update. After a new season, patch, album, or movie, revisit your tier list and move things around.