Barthel Index Calculator

Score the 10 activities of daily living on the Barthel ADL Index to get a 0 to 100 total and the matching dependency level.

Quick Facts

Scale
10 ADL items, total 0 to 100 in 5-point steps
Higher scores mean greater independence; 100 is fully independent in basic self-care.
Origin
Introduced by Mahoney and Barthel in 1965
A widely used measure of functional independence in rehabilitation and stroke care.

Your Results

Calculated
Total Barthel Index
-
Sum of all 10 items (0 to 100)
Dependency level
-
Category for the total score
Self-care subtotal
-
Hygiene, dressing, continence, toilet (of 60)
Mobility subtotal
-
Transfers, walking, stairs (of 40)

Ready

Choose the level that best matches each activity, then calculate.

Understanding Barthel Index results

The Barthel Index is a standardized scale that measures how independently a person can perform ten basic activities of daily living (ADLs). Each activity is scored in fixed increments and the points are added together to give a total from 0 to 100, where higher totals reflect greater independence. It is widely used in rehabilitation, stroke care, and elderly care to track functional ability over time.

The ten items and how they are scored

  • Feeding (0, 5, 10), bathing (0, 5), grooming (0, 5), and dressing (0, 5, 10) cover basic self-care.
  • Bowel control (0, 5, 10), bladder control (0, 5, 10), and toilet use (0, 5, 10) cover continence and toileting.
  • Transfers from bed to chair (0, 5, 10, 15), mobility on level surfaces (0, 5, 10, 15), and stairs (0, 5, 10) cover movement.

Because every item is scored in steps of 5, the total is always a multiple of 5 between 0 and 100. The maximum of 100 comes from a self-care and continence subtotal of 60 plus a mobility subtotal of 40.

Interpreting the total score

  • 0-20: total dependence.
  • 21-60: severe dependence.
  • 61-90: moderate dependence.
  • 91-99: slight dependence.
  • 100: independent in the basic activities of daily living.

These bands describe function in basic self-care only. A score of 100 does not necessarily mean a person can live alone, because the index does not cover tasks such as shopping, cooking, finances, or managing medication.

Progress over time

The Barthel Index is most informative when repeated. A rising score over weeks of rehabilitation signals recovering independence, while a falling score can flag decline. Interpret any score together with a healthcare professional who knows the person's full clinical picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Barthel Index and what does it measure?
The Barthel Index is a 10-item scale that rates how independently a person performs basic activities of daily living: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel and bladder control, toilet use, transfers, walking, and stairs. Each item is scored in 5-point steps and summed to a total from 0 to 100.
How is the Barthel Index scored and interpreted?
Item scores add up to a total between 0 and 100, where higher means more independent. A common reading is 0-20 total dependence, 21-60 severe dependence, 61-90 moderate dependence, 91-99 slight dependence, and 100 independent in basic self-care. A clinician should interpret the score in context.
What is a good Barthel Index score?
A score of 100 means a person is fully independent in the 10 basic activities of daily living, though it does not mean they can live entirely alone. Scores are most useful tracked over time to show functional gain or decline rather than as a single pass-or-fail number.

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