Bishop Score Calculator
Use this Bishop score calculator to add up the findings from your cervical exam and see what your total means for labor induction.
Updated October 22, 2026
Choose dilation, effacement and station to see a score. Add consistency and position for the full Bishop score.
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general estimate based on established research and is for educational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results can vary based on health conditions, so consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. Read our full Medical Disclaimer.
How the Bishop Score Is Calculated
The Bishop score is a 0 to 13 point rating of how ready your cervix is for labor. It is the most common way clinicians judge whether the cervix is "ripe" (soft, thin and starting to open) before an induction of labor¹. The score adds up five findings from an internal (vaginal) exam.
What the Bishop Score Measures
The score rates five things that change as the cervix gets ready for birth²:
Dilation: how far the cervix has opened, in centimeters.
Effacement: how much the cervix has thinned, as a percentage. 0% is not thinned and 100% is fully thinned.
Station: how far down the baby's head sits in the pelvis. Zero station means the head is level with the ischial spines, two bony points in the pelvis, and negative numbers mean it is higher³.
Consistency: whether the cervix feels firm, medium or soft.
Position: whether the cervix points toward your back (posterior), the middle, or the front (anterior).
These findings come from an exam by your midwife or doctor, so you cannot measure them yourself. The score does not check your baby's health or predict when labor will start.
The Formula
Bishop score = dilation points + effacement points + station points + consistency points + position points
Simplified Bishop score = dilation points + effacement points + station points
The points come from this table, as printed in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 2025 guideline¹. Edward Bishop published the original score in 1964².
Finding | 0 points | 1 point | 2 points | 3 points |
Dilation | Closed | 1 to 2 cm | 3 to 4 cm | 5 to 6 cm |
Effacement | 0 to 30% | 40 to 50% | 60 to 70% | 80% or more |
Station (-3 to +3 scale) | -3 | -2 | -1 or 0 | +1 or +2 |
Consistency | Firm | Medium | Soft | Not used |
Position | Posterior | Midposition | Anterior | Not used |
How This Calculator Computes Your Result
Choose the row for each finding from your exam notes. The tool shows your Bishop score out of 13, its range, and the points for each finding. It also shows the simplified Bishop score out of 9, which uses only dilation, effacement and station⁴. If you only know those three, you will see the simplified score on its own.
The tool does not guess for values between rows, such as 35% effacement, so ask your clinician which row they used. This table uses a -3 to +3 station scale, but some clinicians use a scale that goes down to -5³, so check which scale your note uses. Some clinics use a modified score that records cervical length in centimeters instead of effacement. This calculator scores only the original five-part version.
What Your Result Means
A higher score means the cervix is more ready for labor. The two most common cutoffs, 6 or less and more than 8, come from ACOG's 2009 bulletin on induction⁵.
Bishop score | Range | What it suggests |
0 to 6 | Unfavorable | The cervix has not yet softened, thinned or opened much. This is the most common definition of an unfavorable cervix in induction trials |
7 to 8 | Middle | Between the two common cutoffs. ACOG did not label this range, and some sources call 8 favorable |
9 to 13 | Favorable | The chance of a vaginal birth after induction is similar to that after labor that starts on its own |
There is no single agreed cutoff. ACOG's 2025 guideline, which replaced the 2009 bulletin, notes that studies have used thresholds from 3 to 8¹. For the simplified score, a result above 5 performed about as well as a full score above 8 in the study that created it⁴.
How Well the Score Predicts Induction Success
Bishop built the score for women who had given birth before and were at least 36 weeks pregnant. In his paper, women with a score of 9 or more went into labor after induction, and their labor averaged under four hours².
A 2011 study of 5,610 first-time mothers induced at term found that dilation, station and effacement were linked to vaginal birth, but consistency and position were not clearly linked⁴. In that study, about 87 in 100 women with a full score above 8 gave birth vaginally, and a simplified score above 5 did just as well⁴. A low score was a much weaker signal, because many women with lower scores still gave birth vaginally⁴. A 2013 review of 40 studies and 13,757 women concluded that the Bishop score is a poor predictor of whether an induced labor ends in a cesarean birth⁶.
Cervical Ripening and a Low Score
ACOG defines cervical ripening as "the process of softening and effacing the cervix in preparation for labor"¹. Its 2009 bulletin said that if induction is indicated and the cervix is unfavorable, agents for cervical ripening may be used⁵. Common methods are a balloon catheter and medicines called prostaglandins¹. Studies have used Bishop scores from 3 to 8 to define who is likely to benefit from ripening before the labor drug oxytocin is started¹. ACOG adds that whether you have given birth before and how many weeks pregnant you are also affect how an induction goes¹.
Bishop Score Ranges
Where a full Bishop score out of 13 falls. Enter your score to mark it.
- Unfavorable
- Middle
- Favorable
Show data table
| Scale | Unfavorable | Middle | Favorable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop score | 0 to 6 | 7 to 8 | 9 to 13 |
A Note on Accuracy
This calculator only adds up the findings your clinician recorded. It cannot check them. Each finding is judged by hand, so two examiners may record slightly different results, and the cervix can change over hours or days. ACOG's guideline covers full-term pregnancies with one head-down baby and unbroken waters¹. The score predicts a successful induction better than it predicts a cesarean birth⁴ ⁶. It is not a diagnosis and does not say whether you should have an induction. If your total differs from the one your clinician gave you, ask which version and which rows they used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Bishop score for induction?
A score above 8 is usually called favorable, and ACOG has said the chance of vaginal birth after induction at that level is similar to labor that starts on its own⁵. A score of 6 or less is the most common definition of an unfavorable cervix⁵.
What happens if your Bishop score is low?
A low score means the cervix is not yet soft, thin or open. If an induction is planned, cervical ripening with a balloon catheter or prostaglandin medicine may be used first to help the cervix get ready¹ ⁵.
How accurate is the Bishop score?
It is better at predicting a successful induction than a failed one⁴. A review of 40 studies found it a poor predictor of cesarean birth after induction, so it is one factor among several, such as whether you have given birth before¹ ⁶.
Can I calculate my own Bishop score?
Only from findings a clinician gives you, because all five parts come from an internal exam. Enter the findings from your notes, and this tool adds up the points for you.
Sources
Cervical Ripening in Pregnancy, Clinical Practice Guideline No. 9, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2025
Pelvic Scoring for Elective Induction (1964), by Edward H. Bishop, Embryo Project Encyclopedia
Your Baby in the Birth Canal, MedlinePlus
Using a Simplified Bishop Score to Predict Vaginal Delivery, Laughon et al., 2011
Induction of Labor, Practice Bulletin No. 107, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2009
The Bishop Score as a Predictor of Labor Induction Success: A Systematic Review, Kolkman et al., 2013