| Intensity of importance | Definition | Explanation |
| 1 | Equal importance | Two factors contribute equally. |
| 3 | Moderate importance | One is slightly more important than the other. |
| 5 | Strong importance | One is strongly more important than the other. |
| 7 | Very strong or demonstrated importance | One is significantly more important than the other. |
| 9 | Extreme importance | One is absolutely more important than the other. |
| 2, 4, 6, 8 | For a compromise between the above values | An interpolated compromise judgment numerically |
| Reciprocals of above | If factor A has one of the above numbers assigned to it when compared with factor B, then B has the reciprocal value when compared with A. | |