Short answer
The Bristol stool chart describes seven stool types. Type 3 (sausage with cracks) and Type 4 (smooth, soft sausage) are considered normal. Types 1 and 2 suggest constipation, Type 5 suggests a lack of fiber or an early trend to loose stool, and Types 6 and 7 suggest diarrhea. One odd stool means little. A pattern over several days is what matters.
What are the seven Bristol stool types?
The Bristol stool chart has seven types: Type 1 separate hard lumps, Type 2 lumpy sausage, Type 3 sausage with cracks, Type 4 smooth soft sausage, Type 5 soft blobs, Type 6 mushy pieces and Type 7 entirely liquid.
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Type 1: Separate hard lumps
Hard, pebble-like lumps that are difficult to pass. Suggests severe constipation.
Constipation -
Type 2: Lumpy sausage
Sausage-shaped but made of clumped lumps. Suggests mild constipation.
Constipation -
Type 3: Sausage with cracks
Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface. Within the normal range.
Normal -
Type 4: Smooth, soft sausage or snake
Smooth, soft and easy to pass. Usually seen as the ideal stool.
Normal -
Type 5: Soft blobs with clear edges
Soft pieces that pass easily. Can mean low fiber, or a move toward looser stool.
Lean loose -
Type 6: Fluffy, mushy pieces
Ragged, mushy pieces with no clear shape. Suggests mild diarrhea.
Diarrhea -
Type 7: Entirely liquid
Watery, no solid pieces. Diarrhea. Dehydration is the main risk.
Diarrhea
What is a normal stool on the Bristol chart?
Doctors usually consider Types 3 and 4 healthy. How often you go matters too. Normal ranges from about three times a day to three times a week. What is normal for you is what matters most: a sudden, lasting change from your own pattern is more important than any single number.
What do Bristol types 1, 2, 6 and 7 say about constipation and diarrhea?
On the Bristol stool chart, Types 1 and 2 suggest constipation and Types 6 and 7 suggest diarrhea.
Types 1 and 2: constipation
See also stool shape and size and stool consistency. Hard stool passes slowly through the colon, which pulls out more water. Fluids, fiber and activity are often discussed, but ask a doctor or pharmacist what suits you. See a doctor if constipation is new, lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with blood, pain or weight loss.
Types 6 and 7: diarrhea
Read more about loose or watery stool. It is usually from infection, food triggers, medicines or conditions such as IBS. Staying hydrated matters. See a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than two days, or comes with blood, fever or dehydration.
Who created the Bristol stool chart?
The chart was developed by Dr. Ken Heaton and Dr. Stephen Lewis at the University of Bristol, England, and published in 1997. It is widely used by doctors, because stool form closely tracks how long stool has spent in the colon. Stool color is a separate clue. Use the stool color chart alongside this one.
When should you see a doctor about your stool type?
See a doctor about a lasting change in your stool type, constipation that does not improve, diarrhea lasting more than two days, or thin stool that persists.
Call a doctor
- A lasting change in your stool type or how often you go, with no clear cause
- Constipation that does not respond to fiber and fluids
- Diarrhea lasting more than two days
- Thin, ribbon-like stool that persists
Get care now
- Blood in stool, or black, tarry stool
- Severe belly pain or a swollen belly with no stool or gas
- Signs of dehydration with watery stool
Questions people ask
What is the ideal Bristol stool type?
Type 4, a smooth, soft sausage or snake, is usually seen as ideal. Type 3 is also normal.
Is Type 5 poop normal?
Type 5, soft blobs with clear edges, is often acceptable and passes easily. If you often have Type 5, it can mean you need more fiber or that your stool is trending loose.
What does Type 6 stool mean?
Type 6 is fluffy and mushy, and suggests mild diarrhea. It is usually caused by infection, food or medicine, and often settles in a few days.
How often should you poop?
Anywhere from three times a day to three times a week is considered normal. A sudden change from your usual pattern matters more than the exact number.
Does the Bristol chart show stool color?
No. It only describes shape and consistency. Color is judged separately, using a stool color chart.
Sources
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