Epworth Sleepiness Scale Calculator

Rate your chance of dozing in 8 everyday situations to get your total Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (0-24) and see what that score typically indicates about daytime sleepiness.

For each situation below, choose the chance you would doze off or fall asleep — not just feel tired — based on your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven't done some of these things recently, estimate how they would affect you.

Quick Facts

Score range
0-24 total points
Sum of 8 items, each rated 0 (never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing).
Clinical cutoff
Score > 10
The widely used threshold suggesting excessive daytime sleepiness.
Origin
Johns, 1991
Developed by Dr. Murray W. Johns as a simple self-administered questionnaire.
Screening only
Not a diagnosis
Used alongside clinical history and, when indicated, a sleep study.

Your Results

Calculated
Total ESS Score
-
Sum of all 8 items (0-24)
Sleepiness Category
-
Based on standard ESS bands
Clinical Cutoff (>10)
-
Below vs. at/above threshold
Suggested Next Step
-
General guidance, not a diagnosis

Ready

Answer all 8 questions, then press Calculate.

How the Epworth Sleepiness Scale Score Is Calculated

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an 8-item questionnaire developed by Dr. Murray W. Johns in 1991 to measure a person's general level of daytime sleepiness. For each of 8 everyday situations, you rate your usual chance of dozing off on a scale of 0 to 3. The 8 item scores are simply added together: Total ESS = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4 + Q5 + Q6 + Q7 + Q8, producing a total score between 0 and 24. Higher totals indicate a greater general propensity to fall asleep during common daily activities, not just ordinary tiredness.

How to answer each item accurately

  • Rate the chance of dozing, not fatigue: "dozing" means actually nodding off or falling asleep, which is different from simply feeling tired or drowsy.
  • Think about your recent usual life: if you haven't been in a particular situation recently (for example, riding as a car passenger), estimate how it would have affected you.
  • Answer every item: the total only reflects the situations you rate — leaving items blank or defaulting them to 0 without thought will understate your true score.

Interpreting your total score

Commonly cited bands are: 0-5 lower normal daytime sleepiness, 6-10 higher normal daytime sleepiness, 11-12 mild excessive daytime sleepiness, 13-15 moderate excessive daytime sleepiness, and 16-24 severe excessive daytime sleepiness. A score above 10 is the standard clinical cutoff that is often used to flag excessive daytime sleepiness worth discussing with a clinician, particularly if it is a new or worsening pattern. The ESS is a validated screening tool, not a diagnostic test — it is frequently used alongside a clinical history and, when indicated, an overnight sleep study to evaluate conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or insufficient sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does my Epworth Sleepiness Scale score mean?
The ESS adds your ratings (0-3) for 8 everyday situations into a total score from 0 to 24. Scores of 0-10 are generally considered within the normal range, 11-12 suggests mild excessive daytime sleepiness, 13-15 suggests moderate excessive daytime sleepiness, and 16-24 suggests severe excessive daytime sleepiness.
What is considered a normal ESS score versus excessive daytime sleepiness?
Most healthy adults score in the 0-10 range. A total score above 10 is the widely used clinical cutoff for excessive daytime sleepiness and is often flagged for further evaluation, though some individuals without sleep disorders score slightly higher.
Can the Epworth Sleepiness Scale diagnose sleep apnea or another sleep disorder?
No. The ESS is a self-reported screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. A high score can support a referral for evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, or other conditions, but diagnosis requires clinical assessment and often a sleep study.
How often should I retake the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?
Many clinicians re-administer the ESS every few weeks to months, or after starting a new treatment (such as CPAP therapy), to track whether daytime sleepiness is improving over time.

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