The 8-question questionnaire by Johns (Sleep, 1991) that measures your usual daytime sleepiness. Rate each situation 0–3, get your total score (0–24) with clinical interpretation — instantly, privately in your browser.
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations — in contrast to just feeling tired? Answer for your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven't done some of these things recently, imagine how they would affect you. It is important that you answer each question as best you can.
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–10 | Normal range in healthy adults |
| 11–14 | Mild excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 15–17 | Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 18–24 | Severe excessive daytime sleepiness |
Each of the 8 situations gets one number: 0 = would never doze, 1 = slight chance of dozing, 2 = moderate chance of dozing, 3 = high chance of dozing. The ESS score is the simple sum of all 8 answers, so the total always ranges from 0 to 24. Higher scores mean greater daytime sleepiness.
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–10 | Normal range in healthy adults |
| 11–14 | Mild excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 15–17 | Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 18–24 | Severe excessive daytime sleepiness |
Clinical nuance: a total above 10 is generally considered abnormal — a score of 11 or higher indicates excessive daytime sleepiness worth discussing with a doctor. Some references use slightly different sub-bands (e.g. 15–18 moderate / 19–24 severe); the bands above follow Harvard Sleep Medicine's published interpretation.
So a person who rates a slight chance of dozing while reading and in traffic, moderate chance watching TV and after lunch, high chance as a car passenger, never while talking, and so on, scores 12 — mild excessive daytime sleepiness.
The ESS and the STOP-BANG questionnaire are not the same tool. The ESS measures subjective daytime sleepiness (how likely you are to doze in everyday situations, scored 0–24). STOP-BANG is an obstructive sleep apnea risk screener (8 yes/no questions on snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck circumference, gender — scored 0–8). High sleepiness on the ESS can coexist with any STOP-BANG result, and vice versa.
You rate each of the 8 everyday situations from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing). The ESS score is the sum of the 8 ratings, giving a total between 0 and 24.
Scores of 0 to 10 are considered the normal range in healthy adults. A score of 11 or higher indicates excessive daytime sleepiness: 11–14 is mild, 15–17 is moderate, and 18–24 is severe.
With answers 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 0, 1, 2 across the 8 situations, the total is 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 2 = 12, which falls in the 11–14 range: mild excessive daytime sleepiness. All example numbers on this page are computed by the tool's own engine.
No. The ESS is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. A high score suggests excessive daytime sleepiness that deserves clinical follow-up — for example with a sleep specialist or a sleep study (polysomnography) — but it cannot by itself diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or any other condition.
The ESS measures subjective daytime sleepiness on a 0–24 scale. STOP-BANG is a separate 8-item yes/no screener for obstructive sleep apnea risk (scored 0–8) based on symptoms and physical factors. They answer different clinical questions and are often used together.
Yes. The validated 0–24 total requires all 8 items; a partial questionnaire cannot be scored against the published bands. If you have not experienced a situation recently, rate how you think it would affect you, as the original instructions specify.
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