Barthel Index – Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Calculator
ADL Barthel Index Calculator
Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Estimate a person’s independence in basic activities of daily living. Total score 0–100;
higher scores indicate greater independence.
1. Feeding
Ability to eat food that has been prepared and served on a plate (may use adaptive equipment).
2. Bathing
Washing self in bath or shower (including getting in and out if usually uses one).
3. Grooming
Personal appearance (washing face, hair, teeth, shaving).
4. Dressing
Putting on and taking off clothes, including fasteners and using aids if needed.
5. Bowels
Control of bowel movements (continence or effective management).
6. Bladder
Control of urination, including use of catheter or other devices.
7. Toilet use
Getting to and from toilet, using it properly, cleaning, rearranging clothes.
8. Transfers (Bed to chair and back)
Moving from lying to sitting, and from bed to chair and back.
9. Mobility (on level surfaces)
Walking or wheelchair use on flat surfaces (use usual aid).
10. Stairs
Going up and down a flight of stairs (with usual aid if any).
Barthel Index total (0–100)
0
Total dependency
Complete the items above and press “Calculate” to display the Barthel Index score and an
interpretation of dependency level.
Suggested cut-offs (may vary between studies): 0–20 total dependency; 21–60 severe;
61–90 moderate; 91–99 slight; 100 independent.
This tool is intended for health professionals and educational use. It summarises one common
version of the Barthel Index; always follow your local scoring instructions and clinical
judgement when making decisions about care needs, discharge planning or rehabilitation goals.
The Barthel Index is a widely used scale that measures a person’s ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs) independently. It was originally developed in the 1960s for patients with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders and is now used in stroke, geriatric and rehabilitation settings worldwide.
It typically assesses 10 core ADLs:
Feeding
Bathing
Grooming
Dressing
Bowels
Bladder
Toilet use
Transfers (bed to chair and back)
Mobility (on level surfaces)
Stairs
Each item is scored in steps (e.g. 0, 5, 10, 15) depending on how much help is needed, giving a total between 0 and 100 (or 0–20 in some versions; here we’ll use the 0–100 version). Higher scores mean greater independence.
Common interpretation (can vary slightly between sources):
0–20 – Total dependency
21–60 – Severe dependency
61–90 – Moderate dependency
91–99 – Slight dependency
100 – Independent
The Barthel Index is simple, quick, and reliable for tracking functional change over time (for example, from admission to discharge in rehab). It does not capture more complex tasks (IADLs like shopping, finances) or cognition, so it’s often used alongside other tools.
