What Are Key Results? The Measurable Half of OKRs Explained

Last verified: February 2026

The Short Answer

Key Results are the measurable outcomes that define success for an Objective in the OKR framework. While the Objective states what you want to achieve, Key Results specify how you'll know you achieved it. Each Key Result must be specific, quantifiable, and verifiable — there should be no debate about whether it was met.

Anatomy of a Good Key Result

A well-written Key Result has three components:

1. A metric — what you're measuring
2. A starting value — where you are today
3. A target value — where you want to be

Format: [Metric] from [X] to [Y]

Examples:

• Increase monthly active users from 10,000 to 25,000
• Reduce customer churn from 8% to 4%
• Achieve Net Promoter Score of 50 (currently 32)

Types of Key Results

1. Metric-Based (Most Common)

Quantitative targets tied to business metrics.

• "Increase conversion rate from 2.5% to 5%"
• "Reduce support ticket volume by 30%"

2. Milestone-Based

Progress through defined stages.

• "Complete migration: design → development → testing → launch"
• "Hire: job post → 50 applicants → 10 interviews → 3 offers → 2 accepts"

3. Binary (Use Sparingly)

Yes/no outcomes.

• "Launch the mobile app in the App Store"
• "Achieve SOC 2 compliance certification"

Binary Key Results are less ideal because they don't show incremental progress. When possible, convert them to metric-based: instead of "Launch mobile app," try "Launch mobile app with 1,000+ downloads in first month."

How Many Key Results per Objective?

The recommended range is 2-5 Key Results per Objective. Most teams find 3 is the sweet spot:

• Fewer than 2: The Objective likely isn't complex enough
• 3-4: Provides multiple angles on success without overloading
• More than 5: Likely trying to cover too much; split into two Objectives

Key Results vs. Tasks

This is the most common mistake in OKR writing:

The test: If completing the item doesn't guarantee a business outcome improved, it's a task, not a Key Result. Building a landing page is a task. The Key Result is whether conversion actually increased.

Scoring Key Results

At quarter-end, score each Key Result on a 0.0-1.0 scale:

Example: KR: Increase MAU from 10,000 to 25,000

• If you ended at 10,000 → Score: 0.0
• If you ended at 17,500 → Score: 0.5
• If you ended at 25,000 → Score: 1.0

Formula: (Actual - Start) / (Target - Start)

For well-set stretch Key Results, 0.7 represents strong performance.

Common Key Result Mistakes

1. Writing tasks as Key Results — "Ship feature X" is a task. Measure its impact instead.
2. Unmeasurable KRs — "Improve customer experience" isn't measurable. Use a specific metric like NPS or CSAT.
3. Too easy — If you're 90%+ confident of hitting it, the target isn't stretchy enough.
4. No baseline — You need to know your starting point to set a meaningful target.
5. Gaming metrics — Choose metrics that can't be gamed without actually improving the outcome.

Writing Key Results: A Checklist

Before finalizing a Key Result, verify:

• It includes a specific number or metric
• It has a defined starting point and target
• Progress can be tracked during the quarter (not just at the end)
• It measures an outcome, not an activity
• Achieving it would genuinely indicate the Objective was met
• It's ambitious but not impossible

How Krezzo Helps

Krezzo provides guided Key Result creation with built-in validation. The platform flags common issues (task-like KRs, missing baselines, insufficient ambition) and helps teams write measurable, outcome-oriented Key Results that connect to business impact.

Sources

• Doerr, John. Measure What Matters. Penguin, 2018.
• Wodtke, Christina. Radical Focus. Cucina Media, 2016.
• krezzo.com