Calculate a Braden Scale score from all six subscales to grade pressure injury risk, see the risk level, and get targeted prevention steps for weak areas.
Braden Scale Formula
The Braden Scale total is the sum of six subscale scores. You rate each factor by direct observation of the patient, then add the ratings together:
Braden Score = Sensory + Moisture + Activity + Mobility + Nutrition + Friction/Shear
Variables:
- Sensory perception, rated 1 to 4: the ability to feel and respond to pressure-related discomfort
- Moisture, rated 1 to 4: how often the skin is exposed to moisture
- Activity, rated 1 to 4: the degree of physical activity
- Mobility, rated 1 to 4: the ability to change and control body position
- Nutrition, rated 1 to 4: the usual food intake pattern
- Friction and shear, rated 1 to 3: how much the skin drags against surfaces during moves
The total ranges from 6 to 23. A lower total means higher risk, because low ratings pile up on the factors that expose skin to unrelieved pressure. Five subscales top out at 4 and the friction and shear subscale tops out at 3, which is why the maximum is 23 rather than 24.
The calculator runs in two modes. In “Score all six subscales” you rate each factor and the tool adds them into a total, grades the risk, and flags any subscale scoring 1 or 2 so you can see which factors are driving the score. In “Interpret a known total score” you enter a total from 6 to 23 and the tool returns the matching risk level. The optional care setting changes only the suggested reassessment interval, not the score.
Braden Score Risk Levels and Prevention Focus
The total maps to a risk level. Lower scores call for more intensive prevention. Use this table to read a total quickly.
| Total score | Risk level | Prevention focus |
|---|---|---|
| 19 to 23 | Not at risk | Routine skin care and reassessment on your usual schedule |
| 15 to 18 | Mild risk | Start a prevention plan and reposition regularly |
| 13 to 14 | Moderate risk | Turn every 2 hours, add a support surface, manage moisture and nutrition |
| 10 to 12 | High risk | Turn with a 30 degree tilt, use wedges and a support surface, offload heels |
| 6 to 9 | Very high risk | Full prevention bundle plus daily skin inspection |
The total tells you how hard to work, but not where to work. This second table maps a low score on each subscale to the action that fixes that specific problem, so a moderate total with one weak factor still points you to the right intervention.
| Subscale | What a score of 1 or 2 points to | Targeted action |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory perception | Cannot feel or report pressure | Scheduled repositioning and frequent skin checks |
| Moisture | Skin is often damp | Barrier cream, absorbent pads, prompt cleansing |
| Activity | Bed or chair bound | Support surface, cushion, and an out-of-bed plan |
| Mobility | Cannot shift position without help | Turn at least every 2 hours and offload bony points |
| Nutrition | Poor food and protein intake | Dietitian review and protein or calorie supplements |
| Friction and shear | Slides or drags on the sheets | Lift instead of drag, head of bed at or below 30 degrees, heel protection |
Example Problems
Example 1: score all six subscales.
You rate a patient sensory 2, moisture 3, activity 2, mobility 2, nutrition 3, and friction 2. Add them: 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 14, which falls in the 13 to 14 band, so the result is moderate risk. Four subscales scored 2, so the calculator flags sensory perception, activity, mobility, and friction as the factors to target first with repositioning and a support surface.
Example 2: interpret a known total.
You already scored a patient at 12 during rounds. Switch to “Interpret a known total score” and enter 12. A total of 12 sits in the 10 to 12 band, so the result is high risk, which calls for a strict turning schedule with a 30 degree tilt and heel offloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Braden Scale score?
A higher score is better. A total of 19 to 23 counts as not at risk, 15 to 18 is mild risk, 13 to 14 is moderate risk, 10 to 12 is high risk, and 6 to 9 is very high risk. Because the scale runs backward from most tests, a low number is the warning sign, not a low one being safe.
How often should you reassess the Braden Scale?
Reassess whenever the patient’s condition changes, and on a routine schedule that depends on the setting. In acute care that usually means on admission and then every 24 to 48 hours. In long-term care it is common to reassess weekly for the first four weeks after admission and at least quarterly after that. In home care, reassess at every visit.
Why look at the subscales instead of just the total?
The total tells you the overall level of risk, but two patients with the same total can need very different care. A patient can have a reassuring total and still have one very low subscale, such as constant moisture or poor nutrition, that drives a pressure injury on its own. Studies of critical-care patients have found that certain subscale patterns predict injuries even when the total looks moderate, which is why this calculator flags any subscale scoring 1 or 2 rather than stopping at the sum.