This paper introduces the best–worst method to solve multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problems in the fuzzy environment. In the proposed method, there is no need to do all the possible pairwise comparisons. In other words, only reference comparisons should be done. Reference comparisons consist of assessing the relative fuzzy preference of the best criterion (alternative) over others and all the criteria (alternatives) over the worst one. Afterward, a fully fuzzy linear mathematical model will be formulated and solved to determine the weight of the criteria. The same action will be performed to find the score of alternatives. This method has some interesting and valuable characteristics: (a) less required data for pairwise comparison, (b) high ability to provide a reliable solution, (c) it is an autonomous method along with its high capability to accompany another method. To evaluate the performance, it is compared with another fuzzy MADM method in an example. Furthermore, we apply this method for the maintenance evaluation of hospitals in Bojnord. The computational study confirms the high efficiency and satisfactory performance of the method, and results are validated by a low consistency ratio. Furthermore, the suggested methodology outperforms fuzzy AHP and well verified in the test instance.