iPhone / iPhone Duo Live
Last night before you are out of bed. Apple Health vitals, Face ID.
Download on the App Store
TOOLS · INTERPRETER
Epworth Sleepiness Scale: what your score means
Enter your Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) total and see where it sits: 0–10 is within the normal range, 11 or more points to excessive daytime sleepiness. If you have an earlier score, we show whether the change is large enough to matter.
Published scoring · Johns, Sleep 1991
- About 1 minute
- Free, no sign-up
- Counts toward your Sleep Check-up
Sleep Check-up
0 of 6 checks done
Finish this one to reach 1 of 6.
- NoSAS (not started)
- STOP-Bang (not started)
- Berlin (not started)
- Epworth (next)
- Insomnia (not started)
- NOSE (not started)
Enter your Epworth Sleepiness Scale total (0–24) to see what it means, compare it with an earlier score, and track daytime sleepiness on CPAP.
What your result looks like
A sample result. Yours appears here the moment you finish, with what it means and what to do next. Every possible result is listed beside it.
Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness
14/24
024
Your ESS of {score} suggests moderate excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sleepiness is likely affecting your days. This is worth a conversation with your clinician soon, and extra care with driving.
- Prepare for your appointment
- Check usage and AHI together in Trends
0–5Lower normal daytime sleepiness
Your ESS of {score} is in the lower normal range.
6–10Higher normal daytime sleepiness
Your ESS of {score} is in the higher normal range.
11–12Mild excessive daytime sleepiness
Your ESS of {score} suggests mild excessive daytime sleepiness.
13–15Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness
Your ESS of {score} suggests moderate excessive daytime sleepiness.
16–24Severe excessive daytime sleepiness
Your ESS of {score} suggests severe excessive daytime sleepiness.
Milestone addedEpworth done · 4 of 6 checks
Saved to your account. We'll remind you to retake in 30 days.
Look up your number
You will need your ESS total from the questionnaire your clinician gave you. Don't have one? Take the free NoSAS check instead, or ask your clinician for the questionnaire.
What this tool does
The ESS asks how likely you are to doze in eight everyday situations, each rated 0 to 3. It is the most widely used measure of daytime sleepiness in sleep medicine. This tool does not show the licensed questionnaire; it explains the total you already have and tracks it.
It cannot tell you why you are sleepy.
How the score works
| ESS total | Band |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Lower normal daytime sleepiness |
| 6–10 | Higher normal daytime sleepiness |
| 11–12 | Mild excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 13–15 | Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness |
| 16–24 | Severe excessive daytime sleepiness |
With an earlier score, a difference of 2 points or more counts as meaningful, based on the minimum important difference estimated in people with sleep apnea.
Reading your result
0–5 and 6–10. Within the normal range.
11–12. Mildly excessive. Look at sleep length and, if not yet assessed, sleep apnea.
13–15. Moderately excessive. See your clinician and be careful on the road.
16–24. Severely excessive. See a doctor promptly. Do not drive drowsy.
Tracking sleepiness on CPAP
For many people, effective CPAP brings the ESS down over the first months. Tracking it turns "I feel better" into something you can show. Apnealytics saves each ESS you enter and plots it against usage hours and AHI in Trends, with a "compare with your first month" card.
If it stays high despite good usage and a low residual AHI, tell your clinician; residual sleepiness has several possible causes.
Sources
- Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep, 1991.
- Crook S, Sievi NA, Bloch KE, et al. Minimum important difference of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in obstructive sleep apnoea. Thorax, 2019.
FAQ
What is a normal Epworth score?
A total of 0 to 10 is generally considered within the normal range, split into lower normal (0–5) and higher normal (6–10). Scores of 11 and above suggest excessive daytime sleepiness, graded as mild (11–12), moderate (13–15) or severe (16–24).
Where can I get the Epworth questionnaire?
Ask your sleep clinician or GP; most sleep clinics use it routinely. The ESS is copyrighted by Dr Murray Johns and licensed for commercial use, so we do not reproduce it here. Without a score, try the free NoSAS check.
How much should my ESS drop on CPAP?
There is no fixed target, and people vary a lot. Research in people with sleep apnea suggests a change of about 2 points is the smallest difference that is meaningful. Many people see larger drops with regular use; compare with your first month on the saved timeline.
Is a high Epworth score a sign of sleep apnea?
It can be, but sleepiness has many causes, including short sleep, medicines, depression and other sleep disorders. Many people with sleep apnea also have normal ESS scores. That is why a high score is a reason to talk to a clinician rather than a diagnosis.
Should I drive if my Epworth score is high?
Drowsy driving is dangerous whatever the cause. If you have dozed at the wheel or feel sleepy while driving, stop driving and see a doctor promptly. Driving rules for people with sleep disorders vary by country and state, so ask your clinician what applies to you.
Diagnosed and on CPAP? See if it's working.
Apnealytics reads your machine's SD card and shows residual AHI, leak and usage every night. Your first 30 nights are free.
Screening tool, not a diagnosis. A result here cannot tell you whether you have sleep apnea, insomnia or any other condition — only a licensed clinician can diagnose. If you are very sleepy during the day or have dozed while driving, see a doctor promptly.
