Intensity of importance Definition Explanation
1 Equal size between the increments Two increments are equal in size
2 Weak or slight size advantage of one increment over the other  judgment slightly favor one increment over another
3 Moderate size advantage of one increment over the other  judgment moderately favor one increment over another
4 Moderate plus  
5 Strong size advantage of one increment over the other  judgment strongly favor one increment over another
6 Strong plus  
7 Very strong or demonstrated importance An increment is favored very strongly over another
8 Very, very strong  
9 Extreme importance The evidence favoring one increment over another is of the highest possible order
1.1–1.9 When increments are very close a decimal is added to 1 to show their difference as appropriate  
Table 3: Modified Saaty scale.