The IDDSI levels · Printable chart
IDDSI levels chart
All eight levels on one page: what each is called, whether it applies to drinks or foods, the older US name where there was one, and the test that confirms it.
| Level | Name | Used for | Older US name | How to check it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Thin | Drinks | — | Syringe flow test: 1 mL or less left after 10 seconds |
| 1 | Slightly Thick | Drinks | — | Syringe flow test: 1 to 4 mL left |
| 2 | Mildly Thick | Drinks | Nectar thick | Syringe flow test: 4 to 8 mL left |
| 3 | Moderately Thick / Liquidised | Drinks + Foods | Honey thick | Syringe flow test: more than 8 mL left, some flows. Drips through a fork |
| 4 | Extremely Thick / Pureed | Drinks + Foods | — | Fork drip test and spoon tilt test. Holds its shape, no lumps |
| 5 | Minced & Moist | Foods | — | Fork pressure test. Soft lumps about 4 mm, no liquid leaking |
| 6 | Soft & Bite-Sized | Foods | — | Fork pressure test. Pieces no bigger than 1.5 cm for adults |
| 7 | Easy to Chew / Regular | Foods | — | Easy to Chew: breaks apart with the side of a fork or spoon |
Drinks use Levels 0 to 4 and foods use Levels 3 to 7, so Levels 3 and 4 have a drink name and a food name. Level 7 has two forms, Easy to Chew and Regular. Products vary by batch, so test what you serve. Your speech-language pathologist prescribes the level; this chart explains it.
Checked against the IDDSI framework on 2026-10-22. Each level name links to its full page with the official descriptors, example foods, and common mistakes.