The EQ-5D is one of the most widely used tools for measuring health-related quality of life. Use this calculator to turn an EQ-5D health profile into a utility index, generate a health state code, and get a plain-language interpretation.
EQ-5D Utility Calculator
Choose a model, enter levels for all five dimensions, and click Calculate.
Using official UK EQ-5D-3L tariff scoring.
What is EQ-5D?
EQ-5D is a standardized questionnaire developed by the EuroQol Group to describe and value health status. It is commonly used in clinical research, health technology assessment, outcomes tracking, and economic evaluation.
The instrument captures health across five dimensions:
- Mobility
- Self-care
- Usual activities
- Pain/discomfort
- Anxiety/depression
Each dimension is scored in levels (3 levels for EQ-5D-3L or 5 levels for EQ-5D-5L), creating a 5-digit health state such as 11111, 12321, or 55555.
How this EQ-5D calculator works
1) Health state generation
Your selected levels are concatenated into a 5-digit health profile. For example, levels 1-2-1-3-2 become 12132.
2) Utility scoring
The calculator converts that profile into a utility index. Utility values are typically anchored at 1.000 = full health and 0.000 = dead. Some severe states can score below zero, which is interpreted as “worse than dead” in certain valuation systems.
3) Optional EQ VAS comparison
If you enter an EQ VAS score (0-100), the tool compares your self-rated health (VAS) with the utility-derived percentage.
EQ-5D-3L vs EQ-5D-5L
- 3L: Three levels per dimension; historically common in older studies and health economics literature.
- 5L: Five levels per dimension; provides finer clinical granularity and reduces ceiling effects.
This page includes an official-style implementation for UK 3L tariff scoring and an illustrative 5L model for quick educational exploration.
Interpreting your result
Use the score as a summary marker, not a stand-alone diagnosis. A practical interpretation framework:
- 0.90 to 1.00: Minimal health burden
- 0.75 to 0.89: Mild burden
- 0.50 to 0.74: Moderate burden
- 0.25 to 0.49: Marked burden
- Below 0.25: Very severe burden
Always interpret utility alongside context: diagnosis, treatment phase, age, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes.
Common use cases
- Comparing baseline and follow-up health states in a program or trial
- Estimating quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)
- Benchmarking outcomes across interventions
- Communicating quality-of-life impact in a single index
Important notes and limitations
- Value sets are country-specific; scores may vary by tariff.
- Different versions (3L vs 5L) are not always directly interchangeable.
- This calculator is for educational and planning use, not medical diagnosis.
- For publication-grade analysis, use the exact tariff required by your jurisdiction and protocol.