Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Last reviewed
ESS: Daytime Sleepiness Questionnaire
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an 8-item questionnaire that measures your general level of daytime sleepiness. It was developed by Dr Murray Johns in 1991 and is one of the most widely used instruments in sleep medicine. Each item describes a situation in which you might doze off, and you rate the likelihood on a scale from 0 (would never doze) to 3 (high chance of dozing). Your total score ranges from 0 to 24.
The ESS is relevant to post-viral conditions because excessive daytime sleepiness and unrefreshing sleep are common features of ME/CFS, long COVID, and post-viral fatigue. However, the relationship between fatigue and sleepiness is not straightforward. Many people with post-viral fatigue feel profoundly exhausted but are not actually sleepy in the way the ESS measures. A low ESS score alongside severe fatigue can itself be informative, as it suggests the fatigue is not driven by excessive sleep propensity and may point toward other mechanisms.
The ESS is used in research on long COVID and post-viral conditions and is commonly used by GPs and sleep specialists as a first-line screening tool for sleep disorders.
This is a free, interactive version. Complete it below and receive your score immediately. No sign-up or email is required.
Your Epworth Sleepiness Scale score
Item breakdown
| Situation | Your response | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Total |
Understanding your score
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale produces a total score between 0 and 24. A score of 11 or above is the standard threshold for excessive daytime sleepiness.
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.
In post-viral conditions, the ESS result is often most useful alongside other measures. A high ESS score may point toward a sleep disorder (such as obstructive sleep apnoea) contributing to the overall picture. A low ESS score alongside significant fatigue is also meaningful; it suggests the fatigue has a different character from sleepiness, which is more consistent with ME/CFS-type fatigue or autonomic dysfunction. If that's your situation, the Fatigue Severity Scale may be a more relevant measure.
This is a screening tool only. Discuss your score with your doctor.
Your results over time
Complete this again in a few weeks and the change will show here.
Symptom scores change slowly. A monthly retake is enough to see a trend.
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