Dr. David Taylor, MD, PhD · Last reviewed April 28, 2026

Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Scale

Choose the face that best describes how you feel right now. The result, a recommendation, and an optional printable log update instantly — no signup, no ads.

Tap the face that best matches how you feel right now.

Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale interactive selector

For educational reference only. This is not a substitute for clinical assessment. If pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by other symptoms, seek medical care. Wong-Baker FACES® is a registered trademark of the Wong-Baker FACES Foundation; this tool is offered as a non-commercial educational reference per the Foundation's terms.

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How to use this pain scale

The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale was created in 1983 by Donna Wong and Connie Baker for use with children, but is now widely used with adults and people who have difficulty describing pain in numbers. Here's how to use it well:

  1. Look at the faces above, then tap or click the face that comes closest to how you feel right now. Don't overthink it — first reaction is usually most accurate.
  2. Read the recommendation. Faces 4 through 8 surface a few of Dr. Taylor's at-home options for that pain level. Faces 0, 2, and 10 don't show product suggestions — at the extremes, what matters is rest or care, not shopping.
  3. Save the reading if you're tracking pain over time (post-injury, chronic flare-up, post-procedure recovery). Add an optional note like "lower back, after lifting" or "migraine, day 2" to give context.
  4. Download or share the log when it's time for a clinic visit. The PDF is formatted for handing to a clinician — chronological, with timestamps and notes.

Why this version is different from other Wong-Baker charts

Most Wong-Baker pain scale pages online — including the rights-holder's own site, Wikipedia, and every NHS / hospital education page — ship the same thing: a static PNG of the six faces and a downloadable PDF you'd have to print, fill in by hand, and bring to your appointment. They don't let you tap a face. They don't save anything. They don't pair the score with what to do next at home. Here's what this version does differently:

  • Tap-to-select, not point-and-print. Click or tap the face that matches how you feel and the score, the action tier, and the guidance update instantly — no pen, no PDF print queue, no second device.
  • Session pain log saved on your device. Add as many readings as you want over hours or days, with optional notes (location, trigger, what helped). Nothing leaves your browser; no signup, no account.
  • Clinician-ready printable PDF. One click exports the log as a chronological table formatted for handing to a clinician, with timestamps, pain scores, and notes — far easier than a hand-filled paper form for spotting patterns.
  • Score-tied at-home recommendations. Faces 4 through 8 surface a few of Dr. Taylor's reviewed at-home options for that pain level. Faces 0, 2, and 10 don't push products — at the extremes, what matters is rest or care, not shopping.
  • Embeddable on any site, free. Clinics, school nurse offices, PT practices, and patient-education sites can copy a one-line snippet and host the same interactive scale with attribution. No fee, no account.

How this scale works

Most pain scales ask you to convert a feeling into a number, which is hard — especially for kids, anyone in distress, or people who don't speak the assessing clinician's first language. Wong and Baker's insight was that faces communicate what numbers can't. A face you can point to is faster, less ambiguous, and works across language and literacy barriers.

The scale has been validated in dozens of studies since publication. Garra et al. (2010) confirmed strong correlation with the 0–10 numeric pain scale in adult emergency-department patients, and the IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain) lists it among the recommended self-report tools for ages 3 and up. It is now translated into more than 50 languages and is used in hospitals, clinics, and at-home care worldwide.

If your pain stays at 4 or above for more than a few days, check our guides on TENS units, lidocaine patches, and heating pads — each is reviewed against the same evidence base used in clinical practice.

Three real-world examples

Pediatric post-tonsillectomy

A 6-year-old returns home after a tonsillectomy. Pain is expected to peak between days 3 and 5. Parents use this scale 3 times a day for the first week — pre-medication, 30 minutes after, and at bedtime — to confirm the prescribed pain plan is keeping scores below 6. If three consecutive readings are above 6, that's the trigger to call the surgical team rather than wait for the next dose. The PDF log gives the team a concrete pain-trajectory plot rather than a vague "she's been uncomfortable."

Senior knee pain

A 72-year-old with osteoarthritis logs morning, mid-day, and bedtime readings for two weeks before a rheumatology appointment. Most days hover around 4 (manageable with topical relief), but every few days a 6 or 8 spike correlates with weather changes or extra walking. Bringing this pattern to the appointment changes the conversation from "knee hurts" to "predictable flares 2–3 days a week with these triggers" — the latter actually gets a treatment adjustment.

Migraine episode

Someone tracking a 3-day migraine logs hourly during an episode, noting which intervention (rest, hydration, abortive medication, dark room, ice) corresponded to which score. Over several episodes the log surfaces what works — and what doesn't — better than memory alone. This is the same data a headache specialist asks for at intake.

Companion: 0–10 numeric scale and FLACC

For adults who prefer numbers, the 0–10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale uses the same scoring (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) but without faces. Many clinicians document pain on the 0–10 scale, so the Wong-Baker score maps directly: 0 = 0, 2 = 2, etc.

For non-verbal patients (sedated, ventilated, advanced dementia, infants), clinicians use the FLACC scale — Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability — scored 0–2 in each domain for a total 0–10. The Wong-Baker scale is a self-report tool; FLACC is observational. Both are valid; pick the one that matches the patient's ability to communicate.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Wong-Baker pain scale only for children?

No. It was designed with children in mind, but adults — especially those in distress, with limited English, or with cognitive impairment — often find faces faster and more accurate than rating their pain on a 0–10 scale. It's appropriate for ages 3 through adult.

What pain score should prompt me to call my doctor?

There's no single threshold. As a general guide: a score of 8 or above that doesn't respond to your usual pain plan within a few hours, a sudden jump (e.g., your usual pain was 4 and is now 8), or pain at any level that's accompanied by other concerning symptoms (fever, new weakness, vision changes, chest pain, confusion) warrants a call. When in doubt, call.

Can I use this scale to track chronic pain?

Yes. Logging a few readings a day for one to two weeks before a specialist appointment often surfaces patterns (time of day, weather, activity, medication response) that change the treatment conversation. The PDF export is designed to hand directly to a clinician.

Is my log data sent anywhere?

No. Everything is stored only on your own device using your browser's local storage. Closing the tab keeps your log; clearing your browser's site data deletes it. Nothing is uploaded, no account is required, and no analytics are attached to log entries.

Can I embed this tool on my own site?

Yes — copy the embed snippet at the bottom of this page. The embedded version is a stripped-down variant designed for clinics, school nurse offices, PT practices, and patient-education sites. Required attribution is built in. There is no fee.

For ongoing pain at scores 4–8, three categories cover most at-home situations. Each links to the full review with current top picks, prices, and pros/cons:

  • Best TENS Units — drug-free electrical pulses for muscle, joint, and back pain. Especially useful for chronic conditions where you don't want to add another oral medication.
  • Best Lidocaine Patches — 8–12 hours of targeted topical numbing. Good for localized pain (lower back, shoulder, knee) where a pill is overkill.
  • Best Heating Pads — moist or dry heat for muscle tension and joint stiffness. The most underrated pain tool in most homes.
  • Best Muscle Rubs — menthol- and camphor-based topicals for fast-acting relief. Useful between TENS sessions or for travel.

Sources & methodology

  • Wong-Baker FACES Foundation — canonical scale, history, and licensing terms.
  • Wong DL, Baker CM. Pain in children: comparison of assessment scales. Pediatric Nursing, 1988;14(1):9–17.
  • Garra G, et al. Validation of the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale in pediatric emergency department patients. Acad Emerg Med, 2010;17(1):50–54.
  • International Association for the Study of Pain — recommended self-report pain assessment tools.

This tool is reviewed annually for accuracy and product currency. About Dr. Taylor · Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

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Free for clinics, schools, PT practices, patient-education sites, and personal blogs. Required attribution is included in the snippet. No fee, no account. 

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  &middot; Reviewed by Dr. David Taylor, MD, PhD
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