Epworth Sleepiness Scale — Online Test
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is one of the most widely used tests for measuring daytime sleepiness: how easily you doze off throughout the day. For each of the 8 situations below, answer how likely you are to fall asleep. The total ranges from 0 to 24 points.
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to feeling just tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you haven't done some of these things recently, try to work out how they would have affected you.
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Sitting and reading
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Watching TV
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Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g., a theater or a meeting)
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As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
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Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
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Sitting and talking to someone
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Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
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In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in the traffic
Epworth score
0out of 24 points
Answer the 8 situations above.
How to interpret your score
The sum of the 8 situations reveals how much sleepiness shows up in your routine:
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | Normal sleepiness |
| 11 to 12 | Mild sleepiness — worth reviewing your sleep |
| 13 to 15 | Moderate sleepiness — consider a medical evaluation |
| 16 to 24 | Severe sleepiness — see a sleep doctor |
The scale was created by Australian physician Murray Johns in 1991 and is used worldwide as a screening tool. It doesn’t say what’s causing the sleepiness, only how present it is. A high score is a signal to investigate, not a diagnosis.
Sleepiness isn’t the same thing as tiredness
It’s common to confuse the two, but they’re different. Tiredness (or fatigue) is the feeling of low energy, which can exist even without the urge to sleep. Sleepiness is the actual tendency to fall asleep — dozing off watching TV, on public transit, in a meeting. The Epworth scale specifically measures sleepiness, and it’s precisely that which is most associated with sleep disorders.
What can cause excessive daytime sleepiness
- Insufficient sleep: the most common and simplest cause — sleeping less than you need
- Sleep apnea: sleep fragments overnight without the person noticing
- Irregular schedules or night shift work, which throw off the body clock
- Some medications and health conditions
- Disorders like narcolepsy, rarer, which require specialized evaluation
If you snore loudly and feel sleepy, also assess the sleep apnea risk calculator. And, before anything else, check whether you’re simply not getting enough sleep with the sleep duration calculator — often the sleepiness disappears once sleep returns to normal.
This calculator is for informational purposes, does not diagnose any disorder, and does not replace medical evaluation. Severe sleepiness, especially while driving, requires attention and professional evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Epworth scale measure?
It measures daytime sleepiness: the chance of you dozing off in 8 everyday situations, each scored from 0 (never) to 3 (high chance). The total ranges from 0 to 24 points.
What Epworth score is considered normal?
0 to 10 points is considered normal. 11 to 12 indicates mild sleepiness, 13 to 15 moderate, and 16 to 24 severe sleepiness, which deserves medical evaluation.
Is daytime sleepiness the same as tiredness?
Not exactly. Tiredness is a lack of energy; sleepiness is the actual tendency to fall asleep. The Epworth scale measures the latter: how easily you doze off in everyday situations.
Does a high score mean sleep apnea?
Not necessarily, but excessive sleepiness is one of the signs of apnea and other sleep disorders. A high score indicates it's worth investigating the cause with a doctor.
Sources
- The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Murray W. Johns — epworthsleepinessscale.com)
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Sleep Education)
Written by Lucas Silva · Reviewed by Lucas Silva · Updated on July 20, 2026