Learn how to give great feedback and start the hard conversations without losing trust.
Performance reviews often feel daunting to both managers and employees. Sometimes it’s even hard to know where to start. The key is to understand that there’s not just one right way to hold performance reviews (although there are plenty of wrong ones). Rather, you should tailor your review to your company’s structure and culture.
To help take some of the pressure off, we’ve created a master list of free performance review templates, so you can save time by finding the right template for your team. We’ve organized the list by the frequency of reviews: annual performance reviews, biannual (every six months), or quarterly. We’ve also included some general performance review templates that you can use at any time throughout the year.
To jump to specific sections, click below:
And for guidance on how you can prepare yourself and your team for performance reviews by improving communication all year, check out our guide to successful 1:1 meetings.
1. This comprehensive performance review template includes all the standard sections: objectives, employee skill assessments, and a self-evaluation for employees to fill out. It also has some extras we like: a professional development plan and a chance for employees to evaluate their managers. Get it now >
Format: Excel document
2. This simple, one-page annual performance review template focuses on written reflections rather than metrics or grading. It’s suitable for any employee. Get it now > Format: Excel document
3. This annual form is specifically for evaluating managers and includes valuable skills, such as “leading with dignity and respect,” “ability to teach,” and “ability to learn.” Get it now > Format: Excel document
4. This 12-page performance review form has everything but the kitchen sink. It grades team members from “unsatisfactory” to “outstanding” on over 50 different attributes. Get it now > Format: PDF
5. This three-page performance form doesn’t look fancy but is comprehensive without being too long. It features a wide range of performance competencies, plus some goal-setting questions. Get it now > Format: PDF, Word document, or Google Doc
6. Use this qualitative performance review if you want to get away from metrics and grades. It encourages leaders to write down impressions of their employee’s performance, along with examples of strengths and suggestions for improvement. Get it now > Format: PDF
7. One of the more detailed review forms that we’ve seen, with separate sections for a wide variety of metrics. There are several documents on this page; select “Annual Performance Review Form” for the right one. You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: PDF
8. Need a review in a hurry? This three-page form is easy to fill out without glossing over any important areas. Get it now > Format: PDF
The next four documents (9–12) are designed to be used as a set, with nearly identical questions and formatting. Developed by Emory University, they include detailed examples and definitions of expected behavior, including solving problems, building trust, and collaborating. Each link will take you to the same page, so be sure to select the document title that fits your needs (manager vs. non-manager, self-evaluation vs. standard evaluation).
9. Annual Evaluation Form (Non-manager): We like this template for giving specific examples of every area it grades on. For example, “communication” includes listening skills and body language. Get it now > Format: Word document
10. Annual Evaluation Form (Manager): This template is similar to the one for employees but includes extra skills related to managing direct reports and solving problems. Get it now > Format: Word document
11. Annual Self-Evaluation Form (Non-manager): The format of this template is the same as the ones above, but it’s designed for employees to evaluate their own performance. Get it now > Format: Word document
12. Annual Self-Evaluation Form (Manager): As you’ve probably guessed, this form is roughly the same as the others, but for managers to evaluate themselves. Get it now > Format: Word document
Even though annual performance reviews are still the norm at a lot of businesses, we strongly recommend conducting performance evaluations at least twice a year. Doing it more often takes some of the pressure off and allows managers and team members to address problems before they get out of hand. These biannual review templates will help you get into the swing of it.
13. This form is advertised as “midyear,” but you can use it anytime to take a closer look at employee performance. It’s formatted as a conversation, so it uses discussion prompts rather than grades. Get it now > Format: Word document
14. This template is designed to be used with new employees after a 6-month trial period to determine whether they should be hired on full time. The narrative-based review template ends with the supervisor’s recommendation that an employee be retained or let go. There are several documents on the page, so select the one titled, “6-Month Employee Review Template.” Get it now >
Format: PDF
15. This midyear performance check is really more of a discussion guide for a conversation between a supervisor and an employee, so you’ll need to supplement it with your own notes or other documentation. Get it now > Format: PDF
The next five documents (16–20) are designed to be used as a set, with the same questions and formatting. They include detailed examples and definitions of expected behavior, including solving problems, building trust, and collaborating. Each link will take you to the same page, so be sure to select the document title that fits your needs (manager vs. non-manager, self-evaluation vs. standard evaluation).
16. Self-evaluation form elf-evaluation form — midyear review (non-manager). Get it now > Format: Word document
17. Self-evaluation form — midyear review (manager). Get it now > Format: Word document
18. Midyear evaluation form (non-manager). Get it now > Format: Word document
19. Midyear evaluation form (manager). Get it now > Format: Word document
20. Six-month evaluation form, new employee (non-manager). Get it now > Format: Word document
Learn how to give great feedback and start the hard conversations without losing trust.
Not every manager has time to conduct quarterly performance assessments, but they can be very useful for new employees, who shouldn’t have to wait six months to get detailed feedback on their progress. Here are a few quarterly and 90-day review templates to help you and your team member start off on the right foot.
21. Use this template after a 90-day introductory period to make sure a new hire is the right fit for your company. It documents training and performance goals and allows for open-ended feedback. Get it now > Format: Word document
22. This two-page introductory performance review assesses how a new hire is fitting in so far, in terms of attitude and overall abilities, as well as what their training needs will be going forward. Get it now > Format: PDF
23. Grade your new employees with a three-point scale: excellent, improvement needed, or unsatisfactory. There are multiple documents on this page, so be sure to select the one titled “Introductory Period Performance Review.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: Word, Pages, Google Docs, PDF
24. A comprehensive template that can be used at the end of a quarterly probationary period, and then annually thereafter. There are multiple documents on this page, so be sure to select the one titled “Performance Review Template for Employees.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: Word Document
25. This 90-day review is one of our favorites for the simple reason that it leaves enough space for managers to leave meaningful comments. Get it now> Format: PDF
26. This customizable 90-day employee evaluation lets you add your own logo and questions, although it sticks to a pretty strict scoring method, in which employees must score a 70 or above to “pass.” Get it now> Format: PDF
27. Managers who hate writing by hand will love this 90-day performance review form. You can easily type your answers directly into the template. Get it now> Format: PDF
28. This performance review template for sales reps is very action-oriented and helps both the team member and the manager take responsibility for addressing issues. Sign-up is required for download. Get it now> Formate: PDF
29. This health care performance review template is designed for nurses, but with some slight edits, it can work for a wide range of health care professionals. There are several documents on the page, so select the one titled, “Employee Review Template Doc.” Get it now > Format: Word document
30. This restaurant employee evaluation form asks good general questions and homes in on issues relevant to hospitality, such as complying with uniform policies and obeying the health code. Get it now> Format: PDF
The next five templates (31–35) are written for manual workers. They include questions specifically geared toward those jobs, such as “safety awareness,” as well as detailed frameworks for measuring job performance against specific job objectives. Each link takes you to the same page, so be sure to select the title you want.
31. Appraisal form based on job objectives. Get it now > Format: Word document
32. Appraisal form for manual workers. Get it now >Format: Word document
33. Appraisal form for earmarking potential for promotion. Get it now >Format: Word document
34. Self-appraisal form. Get it now > Format: Word document
35. Appraisal questionnaire. Get it now >Format: Word document
You don’t have to wait for a formalized review process to get value from performance assessments. If you’re trying to make changes to your team or with a specific team member, you can try conducting different types of reviews, such as peer reviews, upward feedback, and self-evaluations.
36. This peer-review template helps your team candidly discuss their colleagues’ performance. While managers should always be careful with peer reviews, lest they turn into witch hunts, it’s important to know how team members rate each other in qualities such as “integrity.” Get it now > Format: Word document
37. First-time managers will benefit from this comprehensive template because it doesn’t just list questions but also explains best practices for performance reviews. Get it now > Format: Word document or Google Doc
38. This 360-degree review template can be used by anyone in your organization, at any time of year. Not everyone needs to fill out peer-review forms, so make sure you select only those who work closely with the person they’re reviewing. Get it now > Format: PDF
39. This “numerical scale form” lets you assess your team quantitatively on a five-point scale. However, we still advise that you include comments to add some context to your assessment. Get it now > Format: Word document
40. It’s crucial for managers to receive upward feedback from their teams, and that’s what this template is designed for. This 360-degree feedback form will tell you what you need to work on. Get it now > Format: Word document
41. A basic one-page performance review that focuses on the employee’s goals and has a grading scale of unsatisfactory to excellent. This template is simple but satisfactory if you need only a quick snapshot. Get it now > Format: Excel document
42. This employee self-evaluation form puts the employee’s perspective first when it comes to responsibilities, goals, and company values. The template is short, but be warned: the questions are somewhat vague and uninspired. Get it now > Format: Word document
43. This quick, one-page template is designed for lower-level staff members. Rank team members in eight areas without getting bogged down in detail. Get it now > Format: PDF
44. This form prioritizes objective performance metrics over values or employee professional development. The six-page form is standard but old-fashioned in its focus and looks—skip it if you’re looking for something modern. Get it now > Format: PDF
45. This “narrative” form allows for open-ended responses and specifically highlights “areas of exceptional performance.” Get it now > Format: Word document
46. This short template grades employees on a simple three-point scale. Rank employees as “does not meet expectations,” “meets expectations,” or “exceeds expectations.” Get it now > Format: PDF, Word document, or Google Doc
47. This is a basic form with well-thought-out questions that focus on strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Please note that you have to sign up for a free account in order to access the form. Get it now >
Format: Online form or PDF download
48. This employee self-evaluation includes useful, less common prompts, such as, “What can your supervisor do to ensure that you are making progress toward your professional goals?” Get it now > Format: PDF
49. This 360-degree review template can be used by anyone in your organization, at any time of year. Not everyone needs to fill out peer-review forms, so make sure you select only those who work closely with the person they’re reviewing. Get it now > Format: PDF
50. This performance review template is all about clarifying expectations and it defines every metric an employee is being rated on. This can help take some of the confusion out of the review process. Get it now> Format: PDF
The next five templates (51–55) all link to the same page, although the reviews have significant differences. They vary in format and level of granularity. However, the documents’ titles aren’t descriptive, so look through the descriptions below to learn which one is right for you.
51. This one-page review is simple to administer but doesn’t leave much room for comments. To access, click on “Employee_Template_1.” Get it now > Format: Word document
52. This review form has space for employees to evaluate their own performance and for managers to comment. To access, click on “Employee_Template_2.” Get it now > Format: Word document
53. This review is fairly short but still has room for performance goals and professional development goals. To access, click on “Employee_Template_3.” Get it now > Format: Word document
54. This review ranks employees numerically using 15 well-thought-out questions. To access, click on “Employee_ Narrative_Template_4.” Get it now > Format: Word document
55. This open-ended template is focused on celebrating accomplishments and setting goals. To access, click on “Employee_Template_5.” Get it now > Format: Word document
56. This simple employee self-review template is useful because it doesn’t just have employees rate their own performance; it also asks them what they need in order to succeed. There are several documents on the page, so select the one titled, “Employee Self-Review Template.” Get it now > Format: PDF
Learn how to give great feedback and start the hard conversations without losing trust.
57. This standard form allows you to rank a team member from poor to excellent on characteristics like job knowledge, productivity, and work quality. There are several documents on the page, so select the one titled, “Employee Performance Review Template.” Get it now >Format: PDF
58. Don’t want to average your ratings by hand? This Excel spreadsheet review template is for you. There are several documents on the page, so select the one titled, “Employee Review Template Excel.” Get it now >
Format: Excel document
59. This might be the simplest performance review template on this list. It has only two responses per metric: “meets expectations” and “does not meet expectations.” There are several documents on this page, so click on the one titled “Employee Performance Review.” Get it now > Format: PDF
60. Here’s another simple one-page template for the busy manager. It includes relevant categories, such as “Works to potential” and “Work consistency.” There are several files on this page, so choose the one titled “Simple Performance Review.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: Word, Pages, Google Docs, PDF
61. This template is more comprehensive and provides instructions for how to use the form. There are several files on this page, so choose the one titled “Sample Performance Review.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: PDF
62. This brief template allows employers to rank team members on everything from technical skills to punctuality. There are several files on this page, so choose the one titled “Employee Performance Review.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: Word Document, Pages, PDF, Google Docs
63. This template is built around an employee’s professional development goals and checking in on progress since the last review. It includes a brief self-evaluation section and the opportunity for managers to note any obstacles that prevented a team member from completing their goals. There are several files on this page, so choose the one titled “Employee Performance Review Template.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: PDF
64. Managers should be held to a higher standard, and this detailed form helps you do that. There are several files on this page, so choose the one titled “Performance Management Review Example.” You must sign up to get access. Get it now > Format: PDF
These forms aren’t performance review templates, but they can help you keep track of important metrics throughout the year, or be used alongside a performance review to support your team members’ growth.
65. We designed this self-evaluation form ourselves. It’s a healthy mix of questions about facing challenges and taking on professional development goals, and it gives a team member a chance to ask for the help they need to succeed. Get it now> Format: Blog Post
66. This simple employee attendance tracker lets you monitor your team’s attendance record at a glance. Get it now > Format: Excel document
67. Onboarding and training are crucial to employee development, and this employee training plan template helps you track progress in Week 1, and at 30, 60, and 90 days. Get it now > Format: Excel document
68. This group evaluation form lets you assess your whole team by looking at each individual and then rating the group as a whole. Get it now > Format: Excel document
69. This professional development plan template divides goals into short-, mid-, and long-term, and even though the form is short, the concepts are useful. Get it now> Format: Word document
The next four documents (70–73) are designed to be used alongside the performance review templates listed in numbers 9–12 and numbers 15–19. They can also be used as stand-alone resources. Developed by Emory University, they include detailed examples and definitions of expected behavior. Each link will take you to the same page, so be sure to select the document title that fits your needs from there.
70. Performance log. Get it now > Format: Word document
71. Professional development plan. Get it now > Format: Word document
72. Performance improvement plan (PIP). Get it now > Format: Word document
73. Upward feedback form. Get it now > Format: Word document
