APGAR Score Calculator

The APGAR score is a quick assessment of a newborn's condition just after birth, introduced by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1953. It rates five signs (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration) on a scale of 0 to 2 each, then adds them for a total from 0 to 10. It is usually taken at 1 minute and again at 5 minutes after birth.

You score each of the five signs as 0, 1, or 2, then add the five numbers. Appearance covers skin color, pulse is heart rate, grimace is reflex response to stimulation, activity is muscle tone, and respiration is breathing effort. The total is appearance plus pulse plus grimace plus activity plus respiration, giving a value from 0 to 10.

A total of 7 to 10 is considered reassuring and is normal for most healthy newborns. A score of 4 to 6 is moderately abnormal and may mean the baby needs some assistance, such as help with breathing. A score of 0 to 3 is critically low and signals the need for immediate resuscitation.

The 1-minute score reflects how the newborn tolerated birth, while the 5-minute score shows how well the baby is adapting and responding to any care given. The change between the two timepoints matters: a low 1-minute score that rises by 5 minutes is reassuring. If the 5-minute score is below 7, scoring is often repeated every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes.

No. The APGAR score describes a newborn's condition at a single moment and helps guide care right after birth. A low score does not reliably predict long-term health or development, and a perfect score does not guarantee future health. It is a snapshot, not a forecast.

No. This calculator is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Newborn scoring and any decisions about care should be made by a qualified clinician present at the birth. Use the result to understand the score, not to make medical decisions.