STOP-BANG Score Calculator — Sleep Apnea Risk
Answer eight yes/no questions to get your STOP-BANG score (0–8) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk category — low, intermediate or high.
STOP — Symptoms
S — Snoring: Do you snore loudly (heard through closed doors, or your partner nudges you at night)?
T — Tired: Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the daytime?
O — Observed: Has anyone observed you stop breathing or gasp/choke during your sleep?
P — Pressure: Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
BANG — Risk Factors
B — BMI > 35 kg/m²
A — Age > 50 years
N — Neck circumference > 40 cm (measured at the level of the Adam's apple)
G — Gender: Male
Low risk
- 1
STOP sub-score (S + T + O + P)
0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 - 2
BANG sub-score (B + A + N + G)
0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 - 3
Total STOP-BANG score
0 + 0 = 0
How does this calculator work?
Answer eight yes/no questions — Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apneas, blood Pressure, BMI > 35, Age > 50, Neck > 40 cm, male Gender. Total "Yes" answers = STOP-BANG score (0–8). Score 0–2 = low OSA risk, 3–4 = intermediate, 5–8 = high. Consult a physician for any score above 2.
Formula
How this is calculated
The STOP-BANG questionnaire was developed and validated as a preoperative screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (Chung et al., Anesthesiology, 2008). It has since been widely adopted in primary care and sleep medicine. Each "Yes" answer scores 1 point; the total (0–8) maps to an OSA risk category: 0–2 = low risk, 3–4 = intermediate risk, 5–8 = high risk for moderate-to-severe OSA.
The eight items cover the most clinically predictive features: S — loud Snoring; T — daytime Tiredness/fatigue; O — Observed apneas; P — treated or untreated high blood Pressure; B — BMI greater than 35; A — Age over 50; N — Neck circumference over 40 cm; G — male Gender. The STOP items capture subjective symptoms while the BANG items capture anatomical and demographic risk factors that independently predict OSA severity.
This tool is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. A score of 3 or above — especially a high score of 5–8 — should prompt discussion with a physician, who may refer you for a formal sleep study (polysomnography or a home sleep apnea test). Diagnosis of OSA requires objective measurement of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
Frequently asked questions
STOP-BANG screens for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It has high sensitivity, meaning it catches most people with OSA — making it useful for identifying who needs a formal sleep study. It is widely used as a pre-anaesthetic screening tool to reduce surgical risk.
A score of 3 or above (intermediate or high risk) warrants a conversation with your doctor, who may refer you for a formal sleep test. A score of 5 or above is associated with a high probability of moderate-to-severe OSA and should be assessed before any planned surgery.
STOP-BANG has high sensitivity (roughly 90 %+ for moderate-to-severe OSA at a cut-off of 3) but lower specificity — many people without OSA also score 3 or higher. It is intentionally designed to over-refer rather than miss cases. A formal sleep study is required to confirm any diagnosis.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). STOP-BANG Score Calculator — Sleep Apnea Risk [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/stop-bang-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "STOP-BANG Score Calculator — Sleep Apnea Risk." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/stop-bang-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "STOP-BANG Score Calculator — Sleep Apnea Risk," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/stop-bang-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_stop_bang_calculator, title = {STOP-BANG Score Calculator — Sleep Apnea Risk}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/stop-bang-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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