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Likert scale generator

Pick what you want to measure and how many response options you want. You get the scale labels with their values, ready to paste into your survey, Excel or Word. It works for business surveys (customer satisfaction, employee engagement, training) and for research questionnaires.

What the scale measures

Number of options

Value of the first option

Preview

The training helped me in my daily work.

1Strongly disagree
2Disagree
3Neither agree nor disagree
4Agree
5Strongly agree

With an odd number of options there is a neutral midpoint.

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How to choose the scale

The type depends on the question. For a statement ("The training helped me"), use agreement. For a habit ("How often…?"), use frequency. To rate a service, use satisfaction or quality.

5 points is the most common: it is easy to answer on a phone and gives enough detail. 7 points adds a bit more nuance and helps if you plan finer statistical analysis.

With 4 or 6 points there is no neutral option, so people have to lean one way. Use it when "neither" doesn’t help you decide.

Use the same scale, in the same order, for every question in a block. Switching halfway through confuses people and causes mistakes.

Common mistakes

  • Labels that aren’t symmetric, like "Poor, Fair, Good, Very good, Excellent", which has more positive options than negative ones.
  • Numbers without labels on every option. Labeling each point makes everyone read it the same way.
  • Mixing 5 and 7-point scales within the same dimension, which makes scores impossible to add up or compare.
  • Using "Don’t know" as the midpoint. If you need it, add it as a separate option outside the scale.
Step-by-step guideWhat is a Likert scale: types, examples and how to interpret the resultsWhat a Likert scale is, its types (agreement, frequency, satisfaction), 5 and 7-point examples, how to score it with reverse items and how to interpret it.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 5 or 7-point scale better?
Both work well. The 5-point scale is quicker to answer and the most common in surveys. The 7-point one discriminates a little more and is popular in research. What matters is keeping the same one throughout the questionnaire.
Should the scale start at 0 or 1?
Starting at 1 is the norm. Starting at 0 makes sense when the first option means "not at all" or "never" and you want the total score to start from zero.
How do I analyze the answers?
You can report the percentage for each option, the share of positive answers (top 2 box) or the mean. To turn summed scores into levels (low, medium, high), use the Likert levels calculator.
Can I build the survey right away?
Yes. In SurvIQ you can paste these labels as the options of a single-choice question, or use a scale question with labels on both ends. Results show up in charts with the percentage for each option.

Know what you want to ask?

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