About the STOP-BANG Sleep Apnea Score
The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a short screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It combines four symptom questions — Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apneas and high blood Pressure — with four simple measurements: BMI over 35 kg/m², Age over 50, Neck circumference of 40 cm (16 in) or more, and male Gender. Each "yes" scores one point, giving a total from 0 to 8.
It was developed and validated by Chung and colleagues in adult surgical patients at pre-operative clinics, where undiagnosed sleep apnea raises the risk of anaesthetic and post-operative complications, and it is now widely used in sleep clinics and primary care. This calculator applies the official risk bands, including the rule that two or more STOP answers plus male sex, BMI over 35 or a large neck also count as high risk.
STOP-Bang is a screening test with high sensitivity, so it is good at ruling sleep apnea out when the score is low but produces many false positives. A high score means you should discuss a sleep study (polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing) with a clinician; it cannot diagnose OSA on its own.
With the default inputs, the stop-bang score is 3 / 8. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the stop-bang sleep apnea score
- 1Answer the four STOP symptom questions honestly — ask a bed partner about snoring and pauses in breathing.
- 2Check your BMI (use the BMI calculator if needed) and measure your neck around the Adam’s apple.
- 3Answer the age question and select your gender.
- 4Read your total score and risk category, and take a high result to a clinician.
Formula and method
Each of the eight items scores one point when present. The official risk bands are: low risk for 0–2 yes answers, intermediate risk for 3–4, and high risk for 5–8. A score of 3 or 4 is also classed as high risk when at least two of the four STOP questions are positive together with male sex, a BMI above 35 kg/m², or a neck circumference of 40 cm (16 in) or more.
The original validation compared scores with the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) from overnight polysomnography in adult surgical patients. Adding the BANG items to the four STOP questions raised sensitivity to 83.6%, 92.9% and 100% for AHI cut-offs above 5, 15 and 30 respectively, at the cost of lower specificity.
- S, T, O, P
- Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure
- B
- BMI more than 35 kg/m²
- A
- Age older than 50 years
- N
- Neck circumference 40 cm (16 in) or larger
- G
- Male gender
Worked examples
Snorer over 50, tired, female
Snoring (1) + tiredness (1) + age over 50 (1) gives 3 points. Two STOP answers are positive but none of male sex, BMI over 35 or a large neck applies, so the result stays in the 3–4 intermediate band.
Male with two STOP answers
Snoring (1) + high blood pressure (1) + male gender (1) = 3. A score of 3 would normally be intermediate, but two STOP answers plus male sex is one of the official high-risk combinations.
Classic high-risk profile
Every item is positive, giving the maximum score of 8 out of 8, well inside the 5–8 high-risk band.
Young woman with no symptoms
No items are positive, so the score is 0 — low risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
Frequently asked questions
What is a high STOP-Bang score?+
A score of 5 to 8 is high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. A score of 3 or 4 is also treated as high risk if at least two STOP answers are positive together with male sex, BMI over 35 or a neck of 40 cm (16 in) or more.
How accurate is the STOP-Bang questionnaire?+
It is very sensitive, especially for moderate and severe sleep apnea, so a low score is reassuring. Specificity is modest, which means many people with a high score turn out not to have significant OSA when tested.
Can STOP-Bang diagnose sleep apnea?+
No. It is a screening tool. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) or a home sleep apnea test that measures breathing pauses per hour of sleep.
How do I measure my neck circumference?+
Wrap a flexible tape measure around your neck at the level of the Adam’s apple while standing upright and looking straight ahead. A shirt collar size of 16 inches (40 cm) or more is a quick proxy.
Who was STOP-Bang validated for?+
It was developed in adult surgical patients attending pre-operative clinics and has since been validated in sleep clinic and general populations. It is not designed for children.
What should I do with a high score?+
Discuss the result with your doctor, who may arrange a sleep study. If you are due for surgery, tell the anaesthesia team, because untreated sleep apnea affects airway management and post-operative monitoring.
For healthcare professionals and education only. This calculator implements a published formula or score but is not a diagnosis and does not replace clinical judgment. Verify inputs and results against the original source before using them in patient care.