# STOP-BANG Calculator (Sleep Apnea Risk)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/health/stop-bang/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The STOP-BANG calculator screens for obstructive sleep apnea with eight yes/no questions – Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apneas, high blood Pressure, BMI over 35, Age over 50, Neck over 40 cm and male Gender – and gives a low, intermediate or high risk.

## Inputs

- Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through closed doors)?
- Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?
- Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
- Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
- BMI more than 35 kg/m²?
- Age over 50?
- Neck circumference over 40 cm (16 in)?
- Male?

## Results

- STOP-BANG score
- Risk of obstructive sleep apnea

## Formula

```
Score = 1 point for each yes (0–8)
0–2 low · 3–4 intermediate · 5–8 high risk
Also high: 2+ STOP answers plus male sex, BMI > 35 or neck > 40 cm
```

## Explanation

STOP-BANG was developed in 2008 to screen surgical patients and is now used widely in clinics and sleep services. A score of 0–2 makes moderate-to-severe sleep apnea unlikely, while 5–8 indicates high risk.

### How to use the STOP-BANG Calculator

- **Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through closed doors)?**
- **Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?**
- **Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?**
- **Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?**
- **BMI more than 35 kg/m²?**
- **Age over 50?**
- **Neck circumference over 40 cm (16 in)?**
- **Male?**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Each answer carries the points shown in the published score. The calculator adds them up and maps the total to the published interpretation.

### Scoring table

ItemAnswers and pointsDo you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through closed doors)?No = 0; Yes = 1Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?No = 0; Yes = 1Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?No = 0; Yes = 1Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?No = 0; Yes = 1BMI more than 35 kg/m²?No = 0; Yes = 1Age over 50?No = 0; Yes = 1Neck circumference over 40 cm (16 in)?No = 0; Yes = 1Male?No = 0; Yes = 1

### Tips

- Keep a regular wake-up time, even at weekends.
- Get daylight in the morning and dim screens in the hour before bed.
- Keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet.
- See a doctor about loud snoring, gasping at night or strong daytime sleepiness.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Trying to catch up on a week of short nights in one lie-in.
- Using alcohol to fall asleep – it fragments sleep later in the night.
- Ignoring symptoms of sleep apnoea.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterDo you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through closed doors)?Choose one: No, YesDo you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?Choose one: No, YesHas anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?Choose one: No, YesDo you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?Choose one: No, YesBMI more than 35 kg/m²?Choose one: No, YesAge over 50?Choose one: No, YesNeck circumference over 40 cm (16 in)?Choose one: No, YesMale?Choose one: No, Yes
*Health note: this calculator is for education and screening only and is not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your results with a qualified clinician.*

## Worked example

Inputs — Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or heard through closed doors)?: Yes; Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?: Yes; Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?: No; Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?: Yes; BMI more than 35 kg/m²?: No; Age over 50?: Yes; Neck circumference over 40 cm (16 in)?: No; Male?: Yes.

Results — **STOP-BANG score = 5 / 8**; Risk of obstructive sleep apnea = High risk.

## Key terms

- **OSA**: Obstructive sleep apnea.

## FAQ

**What does a high STOP-BANG score mean?**
You are likely to have moderate-to-severe sleep apnea and should have a sleep study.

**Is STOP-BANG accurate?**
It is very sensitive (catches most cases) but has many false positives.

**Can women have sleep apnea?**
Yes – it is under-diagnosed in women, especially after the menopause.


## Sources

- [Chung F et al. STOP-Bang questionnaire: a practical approach to screen for obstructive sleep apnea. Chest, 2016](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26378880/)