Apgar Score
Select the observed condition for each of the 5 Apgar criteria to get an instant total score and clinical interpretation for newborn assessment.
The Apgar score checks a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth on five signs, each scored 0, 1 or 2, for a total of 0 to 10.
Use the Apgar Score
Apgar Criteria
Select the observed condition for each criterion. Score updates instantly.
Select an option for each criterion to see the Apgar score.
For educational use only. The Apgar score is not used to decide whether a newborn needs resuscitation. All clinical decisions must be made by a qualified healthcare professional based on the full patient context.
Quick answer
The Apgar score checks a newborn at 1 and 5 minutes after birth on five signs, each scored 0, 1 or 2, for a total of 0 to 10. A score of 7 to 10 is reassuring, 4 to 6 is moderately abnormal and 0 to 3 is low (AAP and ACOG).
Examples
| Sign | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance (color) | Blue or pale all over | Body pink, hands and feet blue | Pink all over |
| Pulse | Absent | Below 100 bpm | 100 bpm or more |
| Grimace (reflex) | No response | Grimace | Cry, cough or sneeze |
| Activity (tone) | Limp | Some flexion | Active motion |
| Respiration | Absent | Weak or irregular | Strong cry |
Score a newborn.
Summary
The Apgar score is a rapid newborn assessment method developed by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952. It evaluates five criteria — Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration — each scored 0 to 2, yielding a total of 0 to 10. The assessment is typically performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. AAP and ACOG describe a score of 7–10 as reassuring, 4–6 as moderately abnormal and 0–3 as low. The score records how the baby is doing and responding; it is not used to decide whether to start resuscitation.
How it works
- Observe the newborn immediately after birth.
- For each of the 5 criteria, select the option that best matches the observed condition.
- The calculator instantly sums all individual scores into a total Apgar score (0–10).
- Review the color-coded interpretation: reassuring (7–10), moderately abnormal (4–6) or low (0–3).
- Repeat the assessment at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth as clinically indicated.
Use cases
- Rapid bedside assessment of newborn health immediately after delivery.
- Standardized documentation of neonatal status at 1 and 5 minutes post-birth.
- Recording how a newborn responds to transition, or to resuscitation already under way.
- Medical education and training on neonatal assessment methods.
- Communication of newborn status between obstetric and neonatal care teams.