Which pain scale should I use?

Use NRS for cognitively intact adults. Use FACES for children aged 3+ or adults with language barriers. Use FLACC for infants, young children, or non-verbal adults. Use Abbey for patients with late-stage dementia who cannot self-report pain.

What is a normal pain score?

On the NRS scale: 0 = no pain, 1–3 = mild, 4–6 = moderate, 7–10 = severe. A score of 4 or above generally indicates pain requiring clinical intervention.

What is the FLACC scale used for?

The FLACC scale is used for infants (from 2 months), young children (up to 7 years), and non-verbal adults who cannot self-report pain. It observes five behavioural indicators: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability.

What is the Abbey Pain Scale?

The Abbey Pain Scale is designed for people with late-stage dementia who cannot verbalise pain. It scores six behavioural indicators: Vocalisation, Facial Expression, Change in Body Language, Behavioural Change, Physiological Change, and Physical Changes.

How often should pain be assessed?

Pain should be assessed at regular intervals — typically every 4 hours for hospitalised patients, after every analgesic dose, and whenever a patient reports pain. Post-operatively, more frequent assessment is recommended.

Is this pain assessment tool free?

Yes — completely free, no sign-up required. Log unlimited readings, view trend charts, and export to CSV or PDF.

Medical › Clinical Nursing

Pain Scale Assessment Tool

Comprehensive pain assessment using four validated scales — NRS Numeric Rating, Wong-Baker FACES, FLACC Behavioral (for non-verbal patients and children), and Abbey (for dementia patients). Log readings and track trends over time.

😣 Assess Pain Level

Select Pain Scale

Ask the patient: "On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain right now?"

Moderate pain

0 — No pain5 — Moderate10 — Worst possible

Pain Location (optional)

Time (optional)

Note (optional)

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Pain Score

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Pain Scale Assessment — Clinical Guide

Pain is a subjective experience and cannot be measured objectively. Validated assessment tools provide a standardised way to quantify and communicate pain intensity, enabling consistent clinical decision-making, treatment evaluation, and documentation. This tool supports four commonly used validated pain scales, each designed for different patient populations.

NRS — Numeric Rating Scale

The NRS is the most widely used pain scale in adults. Patients rate pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). It is simple, quick, and well validated for acute and chronic pain in cognitively intact adults. Classification: 0 = none, 1–3 = mild, 4–6 = moderate, 7–10 = severe.

Wong-Baker FACES Scale

Developed for use in children aged 3 and above, the FACES scale uses illustrated facial expressions to convey pain intensity. Each face corresponds to a numeric score (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). Also useful in adults with limited literacy or language barriers. For medication dosing in children, see our pediatric dose calculator.

FLACC — Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability

The FLACC scale is a behavioural pain assessment tool for infants (2 months+), young children, and non-verbal adults who cannot self-report pain. Each of five categories is scored 0–2 giving a total of 0–10. Scores ≥7 indicate severe pain requiring immediate management.

Abbey Pain Scale

Specifically designed for people with late-stage dementia who cannot verbalise pain. Scores six behavioural indicators on a 0–3 scale (total 0–18). Classification: 0–2 = no pain, 3–7 = mild, 8–13 = moderate, 14–18 = severe. Recommended by the British Pain Society for use in care home settings.

For comprehensive clinical monitoring, combine pain assessment with our Glasgow Coma Scale, blood pressure tracker, and drug dosage calculator for analgesia management.

⚠️ Pain assessment scores are clinical aids. Treatment decisions must be made by qualified healthcare professionals considering the full clinical picture.