Closed Card Sort Template: Cards and Categories to Copy
A closed card sort lets you validate a draft structure by asking participants to place cards into categories you provide. Use this template when you have a proposed navigation or taxonomy and want to test whether your labels and groupings make sense to users.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
When to Run a Closed Card Sort
Run a closed card sort when you have a draft information architecture and want to validate where content should live. Closed sorts are faster than open sorts because participants do not create labels, and they give you a placement agreement score for each card.
Ready Card Sets
Each set includes cards and categories. Copy them to use as a starting point, or adapt them to match your content.
Website Navigation (Closed)
Validate your site structure with these cards and categories.
Categories:
- Product Catalog
- Shopping Cart
- Order History
- Track Shipment
- Return Policy
- About Our Company
- Meet the Team
- Careers
- Customer Reviews
- Contact Support
- Live Chat
- Shipping Information
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
App Settings (Closed)
Test your app's settings menu structure.
Categories:
- Change Password
- Email Notifications
- Push Alerts
- Privacy Controls
- Data Export
- Dark Mode
- Language
- Time Zone
- Auto-Save
- Two-Factor Auth
- Close Account
- Help Center
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
Product Filters (Closed)
Organize filter options for an e-commerce store.
Categories:
- Price Range
- Brand
- Customer Rating
- In Stock Only
- Free Shipping
- New Arrivals
- On Sale
- Size
- Color
- Material
- Eco-Friendly
- Best Sellers
Copy the cards to paste into a spreadsheet, or download the CSV to import directly.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
Participant Instructions Script
Welcome! In this closed card sort, you will see cards and a set of categories. Your task is to place each card into the category where you think it belongs.
- Read the category names first to understand the structure.
- Read through all the cards.
- Drag each card into the category that makes the most sense.
- If a card could fit in multiple categories, pick the best one.
- There are no right or wrong answers — we want your honest judgment.
Once you have placed all the cards, click Submit. Thank you for your help!
What to Measure
Placement agreement: the percentage of participants who put each card in the same category
Misplaced cards: items that most participants put in a different category than you expected
Split cards: cards where participants are divided between two or more categories
Category clarity: whether participants understood your category labels
Learn how to interpret these metrics in our card sort analysis guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a closed card sort instead of an open sort?
Use a closed sort when you have a draft structure and want to test it. Use an open sort when you are starting from scratch and want participants to create their own categories.
How many categories should I provide?
Aim for 3 to 8 categories. Fewer than 3 is too simple, and more than 8 can overwhelm participants. If you have more than 8, consider running an open sort first to see how participants naturally group the content.
What is a good placement agreement score?
Placement agreement shows how many participants put a card in the same category. Higher agreement means participants found it obvious where that card belongs. Lower agreement suggests the card may be confusing or belong somewhere else. The full analysis shows placement agreement for each card.
Related Templates and Guides
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.