Braden Scale Calculator
Assess pressure injury risk using the Braden Scale with six subscales for sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear.
About this calculator
This calculator implements the Braden Scale, the validated bedside tool nurses use to estimate a patient's risk of developing a pressure injury. Six subscales are each scored on their own descriptive rubric -- Sensory Perception, Moisture, Activity, Mobility, and Nutrition each run 1 (worst) to 4 (best), while Friction & Shear runs a narrower 1 to 3 -- and Total Braden Score is simply their sum, giving a possible range of 6 to 23. Lower scores mean higher risk throughout the scale, which is why the interpretation runs in the opposite direction from the raw number: a score of 23 (best possible on every subscale) is the lowest risk, and a score at or below 9 is the highest.
The calculator maps Total Braden Score onto the standard clinical risk bands: 19-23 = No Risk, 15-18 = Mild Risk, 13-14 = Moderate Risk, 10-12 = High Risk, and 9 or below = Severe (Very High) Risk. Because Sensory Perception, Moisture, Activity, Mobility, and Nutrition all share the same 1-4 point range, a one-level change in any one of them moves Total Braden Score by exactly as much as a one-level change in any of the others -- Friction & Shear's narrower 1-3 range means its maximum possible swing is smaller. Braden risk level is meant to be reassessed regularly (commonly on admission, with each shift or daily depending on setting, and after any significant change in condition), not scored once and left static, since a patient's risk can shift quickly with mobility or nutritional status changes.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
Total Braden Score
17 / 23
Risk Level
2 (1=No Risk, 2=Mild, 3=Moderate, 4=High, 5=Severe)
Figures current as of 1987. Source: Bergstrom N, Braden BJ, Laguzza A, Holman V. The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk. Nurs Res. 1987;36(4):205-210.
How to Use This Calculator
- Score each Braden Scale subscale: sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear.
- Each subscale is scored 1-4 (or 1-3 for friction/shear) — lower scores indicate higher risk.
- Read the total Braden score: <=9 = very high risk, 10-12 = high, 13-14 = moderate, 15-18 = mild risk.
- Implement a prevention bundle appropriate to the risk level: repositioning, moisture barriers, nutrition support.
- Reassess Braden score weekly or with significant changes in mobility, nutrition, or continence.
What each input means
- Sensory Perception
- Ability to respond to pressure-related discomfort.
- Moisture
- Degree to which skin is exposed to moisture.
- Activity
- Degree of physical activity.
- Mobility
- Ability to change and control body position.
- Nutrition
- Usual food intake pattern.
- Friction & Shear
- Friction and shear risk level.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersSensory Perception = 3, Moisture = 3, Activity = 3, Mobility = 3 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total Braden ScoreTotal Braden Score17 = 17
- Calculate Risk LevelRisk Level2 = 2
Figures and sources
- Braden Scale (pressure injury risk assessment) (1987) — Bergstrom N, Braden BJ, Laguzza A, Holman V. The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk. Nurs Res. 1987;36(4):205-210.
Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a lower Total Braden Score mean higher or lower pressure injury risk?
Higher risk. The Braden Scale runs in the opposite direction from most clinical scores -- a LOWER Total Braden Score means MORE risk, because each subscale is worded so that 1 represents the worst function (most impaired sensory perception, wettest skin, least mobility) and higher numbers represent better function. A score of 9 or below is Severe (Very High) Risk; a score of 19-23 is No Risk.
Do all six Braden subscales count equally toward the total?
Almost. Sensory Perception, Moisture, Activity, Mobility, and Nutrition each run 1-4, so a one-point change in any of those five moves Total Braden Score by exactly the same amount. Friction & Shear is scored on a narrower 1-3 scale, so while a one-point change there also moves the total by one point, its maximum possible contribution to the score is smaller than the other five subscales.
How often should the Braden Scale be reassessed?
Regularly, not just once -- typical practice is scoring on admission and then at an interval set by unit protocol (commonly every shift or daily, depending on care setting and patient acuity), plus any time there's a significant change in the patient's mobility, nutrition, or overall condition. Risk level can shift quickly, and a stale score can miss a patient who has newly become high risk.
What should change in a care plan when Braden risk level increases?
Higher risk levels generally call for a more intensive prevention bundle -- increasing repositioning frequency, adding moisture-barrier products, involving nutrition support for a low Nutrition subscale, and using pressure-redistribution surfaces -- scaled to the specific subscales driving the score down, not just the total number alone.
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