Printable Pain Scale Chart with Faces

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 28 Jun 2020 - Updated: 8 Jun 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables

Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: Printable medical faces pain scale chart enables adults and children to be able to point to the facial pain level they are feeling.

At a Glance

• 1 - The chart is designed for both adults and children, letting someone simply point to the face that matches their current pain rather than putting it into words.
• 2 - A companion "Pain Scale Chart: 1 to 10 Levels" page breaks down and explains each individual pain level to help people describe their pain to others.
• 3 - The chart can be printed directly from the browser using the File menu or a keyboard shortcut - Command + p on Mac, or Ctrl + p on Windows and Linux.

Topic Definition: Faces Pain Scale

A faces pain scale is a simple visual tool that lets a person communicate how much pain they are feeling by pointing to a cartoon face that matches their experience, with the expressions ranging from a happy, comfortable face at one end to a distressed, crying face at the other. Because it relies on pictures rather than words or numbers, it works well for people who may struggle to put their pain into language, including young children, older adults, and individuals with communication or cognitive differences. Care providers print or display the chart and ask the patient to indicate the face that best reflects their current state, which gives a quick, consistent read on pain severity that can be tracked over time. While the scale draws on the broader understanding of pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience tied to actual or possible tissue damage, its real strength is practical: it turns something subjective and hard to describe into a shared reference that patients and caregivers can both understand at a glance.

Introduction

Our printable faces pain scale chart is a handy reference for people in pain to be able to point to the face of the pain level they are experiencing. Full information on our pain scale diagram and chart, including an explanation of each of the pain levels that can help you better explain to others the pain you are feeling, can be found on our comprehensive Pain Scale Chart: 1 to 10 Levels web page.

Main Content

To print the above chart click "File" and then "Print". Or, use a keyboard shortcut:

Mac: Command-key + p

Windows and Linux: Ctrl + p

In the window that appears, select the destination and change your preferred print settings.

Click "Print".

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.