Every buying guide on Toolbox Consensus includes an Expert Scorecard: a side-by-side look at what independent reviewers concluded about each tool. When enough experts have reviewed a tool, we also combine their verdicts into a single Consensus Score from 0 to 100. Here’s exactly how that works.

1. Which reviews count

• Independent experts only. Publications that test tools or review them hands-on, such as TechGearLab, Consumer Reports, Pro Tool Reviews, Tools in Action and DIY Gear Reviews. We don’t count retailer star ratings or thin “top 10” list sites.
• The exact model only. A review of last year’s version or a sister model doesn’t count, even if the name is similar. Different kit versions of the same tool (for example, tool-only vs. with a battery) do count.
• One verdict per source. If a publication gives a number score, we use that; otherwise we use its written verdict.

2. Turning verdicts into numbers

What the expert said	Counts as
A number score (e.g. 88/100, 8.5/10, 4.5/5 stars)	Converted to /100 (88, 85, 90)
Top award (Best Overall, Editors’ Choice, Top Pick) with no number	95
Another award or pick in a roundup	88
Positive review	80
Positive, with notable reservations	70
Mixed review	60
Negative review	40

3. The Consensus Score

The Consensus Score is the average of those numbers, rounded to a whole number. We only publish a score when at least three independent experts have reviewed that exact model. With fewer, one reviewer’s opinion would swing the result too much, so the scorecard shows “Needs more reviews” instead, alongside the verdicts we did find.

4. What the score doesn’t mean

• It’s not our own test result. We don’t run a lab; we summarize the people who do.
• It’s not influenced by commissions. Affiliate links never change a score (see our Affiliate Disclosure).
• It’s a snapshot. We update scores as new expert reviews come out, and every scorecard links to its sources so you can check them yourself.

Think we missed a review or counted one wrong? Tell us and we’ll take a look.