Free self-tests · 3 min · 13 questions
Burnout test: the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
Burnout is a state of long-lasting physical and emotional exhaustion. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was developed by Danish researchers to measure it in plain language, and it is free for anyone to use.
This version has two parts. The first asks about exhaustion in your life in general, whatever its cause. The second asks about exhaustion you link to your work. If you are not in paid work, the first part is the one to focus on.
It is not a diagnosis. Your answers stay on your device and nothing is stored.
Free, no sign-up. Your progress is saved only in this browser on this device, so you can stop and come back later. Nothing is sent to anyone.
Please answer each question about how things usually are for you. Questions 1 to 6 are about you in general; questions 7 to 13 are about your work.
Your results
This is a self-report questionnaire, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional can assess you properly.
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The PDF is created on your device. Your saved answers stay in this browser until you start again or clear them.
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory measures exhaustion and how strongly you link it to work. It doesn't diagnose depression, and exhaustion can also come from anaemia, thyroid problems, poor sleep, perimenopause and many other causes. If your score was 50 or more on either part, please see a GP or another qualified health professional.
Burnout isn't only about paid work. Caring for children or relatives, holding a family together across two countries, or being the person everyone relies on can wear you down in the same way, and the personal scale picks that up.
If exhaustion has turned into hopelessness or thoughts of not wanting to be here, please reach out now: the helplines page lists free numbers, and in an emergency call 999 in the UK or 112 in Europe.
Counselling can be a place to look at what is taking your energy and what you might want to change, at your own pace. I am a trainee person-centred counsellor working under supervision. You might also find feeling stuck, boundaries with family or online counselling for women useful.
How the CBI): personal and work-related burnout scales score works
13 questions, scored as the average of your answers; 1 are reverse-scored. These are the score ranges this page uses to describe your result. Where the questionnaire's authors publish official cut-offs, the ranges follow them; the sources are listed below.
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Below the high-burnout range | 0 to 49.99 |
| High degree of personal burnout | 50 to 100 |
| Score | Range |
|---|---|
| Below the high-burnout range | 0 to 49.99 |
| High degree of work-related burnout | 50 to 100 |
About this questionnaire
Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI): personal and work-related burnout scales by Tage S. Kristensen, Marianne Borritz, Ebbe Villadsen and Karl B. Christensen (2005).
Kristensen, T. S., Borritz, M., Villadsen, E., & Christensen, K. B. (2005). The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: A new tool for the assessment of burnout. Work & Stress, 19(3), 192–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370500297720. Source to be cited under the NFA terms: Borritz, M., Rugulies, R., Bjorner, J. B., Villadsen, E., Mikkelsen, O. A., & Kristensen, T. S. (2006). Burnout among employees in human service work: Design and baseline findings of the PUMA study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 34(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940510032275
Used in line with the published terms of use.
Questions people ask
How is the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory scored?
Each answer is scored 100, 75, 50, 25 or 0, from 'Always' or 'To a very high degree' down to 'Never' or 'To a very low degree'. The last work question is reversed. Each scale score is the average of its answers, so it runs from 0 to 100.
What counts as a high burnout score?
In the original Danish studies, researchers defined a score of 50 or more as a high degree of burnout. The average personal burnout score in a representative Danish adult sample was about 33. These are reference points, not diagnostic thresholds.
Is burnout the same as depression?
Not exactly. Burnout describes long-lasting exhaustion, often linked to work or caring. Depression is a broader condition that affects mood, interest and hope. They can overlap, which is why a high score is worth discussing with a GP.
Why is there a third CBI scale you haven't included?
The full inventory also has a client-related scale for people who work directly with patients, pupils or clients. It is left out here because many visitors don't work in those roles. The personal and work scales can be used on their own.