Get Bristol Stool Chart

The good news is that if you have Bristol Type 3 or 4 – your poop is normal! You're getting enough water and fiber, and your stools are healthy. Bristol Type 1 or 2, where the poop is hard and difficult to pass, are indicative of constipation. Often, these types of stool can be painful to pass.

The Bristol Stool Chart is widely used as a research tool to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for various diseases of the bowel. The chart is used to describe the shapes and types of stools. It is also used as a tool to diagnose constipation, diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome.

How does it work? The Bristol stool scale (see below) shows pictures of seven different types of faeces. Type 1–2 indicate constipation, Type 3–4 are normal, Type 5 is normal approaching diarrhea, and Type 6–7 show diarrhea. Type 7 is the most serious watery diarrhea, which can be a symptom of cholera.

Bristol Stool Chart Type 1: Separate hard lumps (hard to pass) Type 2: Lumpy, hard, sausage-shaped. Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface. Type 4: Sausage-shaped or snake-like; smooth and soft. Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (easy to pass) Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges; mushy.

The BSFS is a scale that classifies stools, ranging from the hardest to the softest. Experts consider types 1 and 2 to be uncharacteristically hard and indicative of constipation, while types 6 and 7 are unusually loose and may indicate diarrhea.

Shape and consistency: With type 6, you'll see mushy blobs with ragged edges. These stools can look a little like porridge. What it means: You have mild diarrhea. This could be related to diet, illness or a medical condition.

The ideal stool is generally type 3 or 4, easy to pass without being too watery. If yours is type 1 or 2, you're probably constipated. Types 5, 6, and 7 tend toward diarrhea.