Guide · Bowel diary
How to track bowel movements
Three simple ways to track bowel movements (a notebook, a printable sheet or an app), what to record each time, and how to keep the habit going.
In short: each time you have a bowel movement, write down the date, the time and the Bristol stool type (1 to 7). You can do that in a notebook, on a printable sheet or in an app; the best method is the one you will actually keep up. Review the record as a pattern over days or weeks, not entry by entry.
Three ways to track
| Notebook | Printable sheet | Phone app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | Many are free |
| Speed per entry | Slower | Slower | A few seconds |
| Easy to carry | Sometimes | Sometimes | Usually with you |
| Summaries | You count by hand | You count by hand | Often automatic |
| Easy to hand to a doctor | Yes | Yes | Depends on the app |
| Privacy | Stays with you | Stays with you | Depends on where the app stores data |
If your doctor or clinic has given you their own diary form, use that one. Clinical forms can ask for more than a general record, as Gateshead Health’s bowel record chart shows.
What to record each time
- Date of the bowel movement.
- Time, roughly. If you record it later, correct the time instead of leaving “now”.
- Stool type from the Bristol stool chart, a seven-type scale published in 1997 to describe stool form consistently. Source: PubMed, checked October 18, 2026.
- Notes, only if useful: for example, anything your doctor asked you to note.
Keep it short. A record you can keep up for weeks is more useful than a detailed one you abandon after three days.
Tips for keeping the habit
- Record it straight away, while you remember. Leave the notebook, sheet or phone where you will see it.
- Don’t backfill from memory unless you mark the entry as approximate.
- Leave gaps visible. A day with no entries means nothing was recorded, not that nothing happened.
- Pick a review day, for example once a week, rather than reading meaning into every entry.
Reviewing what you recorded
Look at how many entries you have over a week or a month, which types appear most often and whether anything changed. A single entry tells you little; patterns over time are what a record is for.
A record describes what you observed. It does not diagnose anything. If you notice a lasting change in your bowel habits, or something worries you, speak to a qualified healthcare professional and bring your record. See how to share your bowel diary with a doctor.
Getting started
- On paper: download our free printable bowel diary, which has 26 rows and a type key.
- On your phone: Gut Elements is a free Android app for exactly this. Tap the stool type and save; the date and time fill in automatically. It shows your history in a calendar or list with simple summaries, and your logs stay on your phone with no account.
For more on record keeping, read how to keep a bowel movement diary.
Piyush Sachdeva is the founder of Gut Elements and the accountable editor of this guide. Diagnosed with celiac disease at 13, he has spent most of his life learning how much his days depend on his gut, and built Gut Elements as the simple, private bowel tracker he wanted. He is not a doctor or dietitian; he shares his own experience, not medical advice.