SUS Score Calculator Template

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

Measuring user experience is crucial for improving digital products. One of the most popular tools for this is the System Usability Scale (SUS). It provides a quick and reliable way to assess usability through a simple questionnaire. However, calculating the SUS score manually can be tedious and prone to errors. That’s where a SUS Score Calculator Template becomes invaluable. This post explains what the SUS score is, why a calculator template helps, and how to use one effectively.

Printed SUS questionnaire with user responses

What is the SUS Score?

The System Usability Scale is a standardized questionnaire consisting of 10 statements. Users rate each statement on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The statements alternate between positive and negative phrasing to reduce bias. After collecting responses, the scores are converted and summed to produce a final usability score between 0 and 100.

This score helps teams understand how users perceive the ease of use of a product, website, or app. A higher score indicates better usability. For example, a score above 80 is generally considered excellent, while below 50 suggests significant usability problems.

Why Use a SUS Score Calculator Template?

Calculating the SUS score involves a few steps:

• For odd-numbered questions, subtract 1 from the user’s rating.

• For even-numbered questions, subtract the rating from 5.

• Sum all adjusted scores.

• Multiply the total by 2.5 to get a score out of 100.

  
  

Doing this manually for multiple users can be time-consuming and error-prone. A SUS Score Calculator Template automates these calculations, saving time and ensuring accuracy. It also allows easy data entry and instant score generation, which helps teams quickly analyze usability results.

Features of a Good SUS Score Calculator Template

When choosing or building a SUS score calculator template, look for these features:

• User-friendly interface: Easy to enter responses without confusion.

• Automatic calculations: Adjust scores and compute totals instantly.

• Summary output: Display individual and average SUS scores clearly.

• Data export options: Ability to save results for reporting or further analysis.

• Compatibility: Works on common platforms like Excel, Google Sheets, or web apps.

  
  

For example, a Google Sheets template can include dropdown menus for responses and formulas to calculate scores automatically. This setup allows multiple team members to input data simultaneously and track results in real time.

Laptop screen displaying a SUS score calculator template in spreadsheet

How to Use a SUS Score Calculator Template

Using a SUS score calculator template is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Collect responses: Have users complete the 10-question SUS survey.

2. Input data: Enter each user’s ratings into the template.

3. Review scores: The template automatically calculates the adjusted scores and final SUS score.

4. Analyze results: Look at individual scores and averages to identify usability strengths and weaknesses.

5. Take action: Use the insights to prioritize improvements in your product’s design or functionality.

   
   

For example, if several users score question 4 (a negatively worded statement) very high, it may indicate confusion or frustration with a specific feature. The team can then investigate and address this issue.

Practical Tips for Using SUS Score Calculator Templates

• Standardize data collection: Use the same version of the SUS questionnaire for all users to ensure consistency.

• Train your team: Make sure everyone understands how to input data correctly.

• Combine with qualitative feedback: SUS scores provide a number, but user comments add context.

• Track changes over time: Use the template to compare scores before and after updates.

• Share results visually: Charts and graphs can help communicate findings to stakeholders.