Katz ADL Score Calculator
The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living is a long-standing functional assessment that rates how independently a person performs six fundamental self-care tasks: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Each task is scored as independent (1 point) or dependent (0 points), and the points are summed to a total between 0 and 6, where 6 means full independence and 0 means complete dependence. This calculator records the six items and returns the total Katz score along with a plain-language band. It is an educational scoring aid and is not a clinical diagnosis or a substitute for professional assessment.
Katz ADL scoring
Each item: independent = 1, dependent = 0
Total score = bathing + dressing + toileting + transferring + continence + feeding
Band: 6 full function, 4 moderate impairment, 2 or below severe impairment
Percent independent = (total / 6) * 100
Worked example: a person independent in bathing, dressing, transferring, continence, and feeding but dependent in toileting scores 5 of 6, one item dependent, and 83.33 percent independent, falling in the high-function range.
Using the Katz Index
- The six items cover the most basic self-care abilities, scored as independent or dependent only.
- A total of 6 indicates full independence; lower totals indicate increasing need for assistance.
- Repeating the assessment over time tracks functional decline or recovery.
- The Katz Index does not cover instrumental tasks such as cooking, shopping, or managing money.
- This calculator is an educational aid; clinical scoring should follow your institution's protocol.
Katz ADL score: frequently asked questions
What is the Katz Index of Independence in ADL?
The Katz Index, first described by Sidney Katz in 1963, rates a person's ability to perform six basic activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Each activity scores 1 point for independence and 0 for dependence, giving a total from 0 to 6.
How is the Katz ADL score interpreted?
A total of 6 indicates full function and independence, a score of 4 indicates moderate impairment, and a score of 2 or below indicates severe functional impairment. The Katz Index is a screening summary, not a diagnosis, and is interpreted alongside the full clinical picture.
How is each item scored?
Each of the six items is scored 1 for independence (no supervision, direction, or personal assistance) or 0 for dependence (supervision, direction, personal assistance, or total care). This calculator sums the six items to produce the total index score.
What is the difference between ADL and IADL?
The Katz Index covers basic activities of daily living (ADL), the fundamental self-care tasks. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), such as managing finances, shopping, and using transport, are more complex tasks measured by separate scales such as the Lawton scale.
Who uses the Katz ADL Index?
Clinicians, nurses, and researchers use the Katz Index to assess functional status in older adults and people with chronic illness, to track change over time, and to inform care planning. It is one of the most widely used functional assessment instruments.
Official sources
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI Bookshelf: Activities of daily living assessment reference.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine): Activities of daily living and functional status.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.