STOP-Bang Sleep Apnea Risk Calculator

The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a validated 8-item screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk. It was developed by Chung and colleagues and is widely used before surgery and in sleep clinics because it takes under a minute to complete. This calculator implements the official scoring, including the updated two-step high-risk rules.

Each letter is one yes/no item worth 1 point: S = Snoring loudly, T = Tired/fatigued/sleepy in daytime, O = Observed apneas (someone saw you stop breathing), P = high blood Pressure, B = BMI over 35, A = Age over 50, N = large Neck circumference, G = Gender male.

Add 1 point for every “yes” across the 8 items, for a total of 0 to 8. Scores of 0–2 indicate low risk, 3–4 intermediate risk, and 5–8 high risk of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. An intermediate score can be upgraded to high risk when you answer yes to 2 or more STOP items plus male gender, BMI over 35, or a large neck circumference.

A score of 0 to 2 is considered low risk for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in validation studies. Low risk does not mean zero risk: about 18% of people scoring 0–2 still had moderate-to-severe OSA in the pooled data, so persistent symptoms still deserve a conversation with your doctor.

A score of 3 or 4 falls in the intermediate-risk band. It means your answers put you between low and high risk, so extra context matters: the official criteria upgrade an intermediate score to high risk if you said yes to 2 or more of the 4 STOP items (snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, blood pressure) plus male gender, BMI over 35, or a large neck. This calculator applies that rule automatically.

A score of 5 to 8 is classified as high risk for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. In validation studies the probability of moderate-to-severe OSA rose from 18% at scores of 0–2 up to 60% at scores of 7–8. A high score is a screening result, not a diagnosis — only a sleep study interpreted by a clinician can diagnose sleep apnea.

Because of the updated two-step scoring from Chung and colleagues: answering yes to 2 or more of the 4 STOP questions together with male gender, BMI over 35 kg/m², or a large neck circumference (17 in / 43 cm or more for men, 16 in / 41 cm or more for women) classifies you as high risk even when the total is only 3 or 4. This calculator checks those combinations and tells you when the upgrade applies.

Measure around your Adam’s apple. The official cutoff is a shirt collar of 17 inches (43 cm) or larger for men, and 16 inches (41 cm) or larger for women. This calculator uses those gender-specific cutoffs automatically once you answer the gender item.

Yes. The B item scores 1 point when body mass index exceeds 35 kg/m². If you do not know your BMI, use the built-in helper on the BMI question: enter your height and weight and it computes your BMI and sets the answer for you.

In the pooled validation data summarized by Chung and colleagues (Chest, 2016), a score of 3 or higher detected moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI above 15) with 93% sensitivity and severe OSA (AHI above 30) with 100% sensitivity; negative predictive values were 90% and 100% respectively. Like all screening tools it trades sensitivity for specificity, which is why a result is a prompt for clinical follow-up, not a diagnosis.

No. STOP-Bang is a screening aid, not a diagnostic test. A diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea requires a sleep study (polysomnography or an approved home sleep test) interpreted by a qualified clinician. Use your score as structured information to bring to your doctor, not as a verdict about your health.

Talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist, especially if you snore loudly, feel excessively sleepy during the day, or someone has seen you stop breathing in your sleep. A clinician may recommend a sleep study. Meanwhile, general sleep-health steps — regular sleep schedule, limiting alcohol before bed, and discussing weight management with your clinician — are commonly advised, but get personalized guidance from a professional.

The STOP questionnaire was developed by Frances Chung and colleagues (Anesthesiology, 2008) for preoperative screening, and extended with the four BANG items (BMI, Age, Neck, Gender) in the British Journal of Anaesthesia (2012). The two-step scoring refinement appeared in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2014), and a practical summary in Chest (2016). The official questionnaire is maintained at stopbang.ca by University Health Network.

No. This calculator is an educational screening aid. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard professional advice because of something you read here.