Cross-efficiency　evaluation　methods　have　long　been　suggested　as　an　alternative　for　the　ranking　of　decision　making　units　(DMUs)　in　data　envelopment　analysis　(DEA).　So　far,　little　research　on　cross-efficiency　evaluation　takes　the　bounded　rationality　of　DMUs　into　account.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　neutral　cross-efficiency　evaluation　method　based　on　interval　reference　points　(IRPs)　to　consider　bounded　rational　behavior.　As　such,　we　take　the　prospect　value,　which　reflects　the　bounded　rationality　of　DMUs　when　facing　gain　and　loss,　as　secondary　goals.　This　approach　allows　us　to　determine　the　input　and　output　weights　for　each　DMU　from　its　own　point　of　view.　Each　reference　point　(RP)　of　the　prospect　value　is　defined　as　an　elastic　interval　reference　point　(IRP),　which　can　degenerate　into　a　precise　reference　point　(PRP)　or　an　IRP　by　adjusting　the　parameters.　As　a　result,　the　proposed　cross-efficiency　evaluation　method　not　only　takes　the　bounded　rational　behavior　of　DMUs　into　account,　but　is　also　more　neutral　and　flexible.　Numerical　examples　are　provided　to　illustrate　the　applications　of　the　cross-efficiency　evaluation　method　based　on　IRPs　in　DEA　ranking.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.