Quick answer: Bristol stool type 6 is mushy stool in fluffy pieces with ragged edges. Type 5 is soft blobs with clear edges, and type 7 is entirely liquid. All three usually mean stool moved through your gut quickly and didn't lose much water. One type 6 after a heavy meal is common. Loose stools lasting more than a couple of days, or coming with blood, fever or dehydration, need medical advice.
"Is type 6 diarrhea?" is a surprisingly tricky question. The answer depends on how often it happens, for how long and what comes with it.
This guide explains how types 5, 6 and 7 differ, what usually causes them, and which details to log so a doctor can tell a passing upset from a pattern worth testing.
Key takeaways
- Types 5, 6 and 7 suggest stool is moving through the bowel quickly and not absorbing enough water [1]. In the study behind the scale, a laxative shifted stools toward the loose end [2].
- Type 5 is borderline: some sources group it with diarrhea [1], while some research treats types 3–5 as normal [3].
- Diarrhea means loose, watery stools three or more times a day, or more often than is normal for you. Episodes are acute (<1 week), persistent (2–4 weeks) or chronic (≥4 weeks) [4].
- Count days with loose stools and note what came before them. That's what makes a log useful.
- See a doctor promptly for blood, black stool, fever, dehydration, six or more loose stools a day, or diarrhea lasting more than 2 days [5].
What does Bristol stool type 6 mean?
Type 6 is "fluffy, mushy pieces with ragged edges" [1]. It usually means stool passed through your colon faster than usual, so less water was absorbed.
The link between stool form and speed is the whole point of the Bristol scale. In the original 1997 study, volunteers took senna (a laxative), which shortened their gut transit time and pushed stool form toward the loose end. Loperamide (an anti-diarrheal) did the opposite [2]. Cleveland Clinic describes types 5–7 as stools that come out too easily and may be hard to hold in, because the bowels move too fast and too often [1].
A single type 6 is very common after a rich meal, alcohol, a stressful morning or a stomach bug. On its own it doesn't mean you "have diarrhea" in the medical sense.
Type 5 vs type 6 vs type 7: what's the difference?
The difference is how much shape is left. Type 5 holds its edges, type 6 has lost them, and type 7 has no solid pieces.
| Type 5 | Type 6 | Type 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looks like | Soft blobs with clear-cut edges [1] | Mushy, fluffy pieces with ragged edges [1] | Watery, no solid pieces [1] |
| Transit | On the faster side | Fast | Fastest |
| Usual reading | Borderline; can be normal for some [3] | Loose; mild diarrhea if frequent | Diarrhea |
| One-off after a big meal? | Very common | Common | Less common; note it |
| Tip to tell apart | Pieces have a defined outline | Pieces look torn or fluffy; may spread in water | Pours rather than holds a shape |
People often confuse 5 with 6. In a study of stool models, type 5 and type 6 were each classified correctly less than 80% of the time [3]. If you're torn, log the one you think fits and add a "?" note.
For the healthy middle of the scale, see what healthy poop looks like. The full Bristol stool chart covers all seven types.
When does loose stool count as diarrhea?
Diarrhea is defined by both form and frequency: loose, watery stools three or more times a day, or more often than is normal for you [4]. Doctors then describe it by duration [4]:
| Duration | Term | What it often means |
|---|---|---|
| Less than a week | Acute | Usually an infection or something you ate; often resolves on its own |
| 2 to 4 weeks | Persistent | Worth seeing a doctor |
| 4 weeks or more | Chronic | Needs medical evaluation |
The British Society of Gastroenterology uses a practical definition of chronic diarrhea as a persistent change from your norm, with stools between types 5 and 7 on the Bristol chart and increased frequency, for more than 4 weeks [6].
For most stomach bugs, the NHS notes diarrhea usually stops within 5 to 7 days [10].
What causes types 5, 6 and 7?
Most loose-stool episodes have everyday causes. Repeated or long-lasting ones can point to a condition worth testing for.
Common, usually short-lived causes
- Infections (viral, bacterial or parasitic), including from untreated water while traveling [4]
- Medicines, such as antibiotics [4]
- Sugar alcohols like sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol in "sugar-free" foods [4]
- Large, rich or fatty meals; alcohol; caffeine (see diarrhea after eating for timing clues)
- Stress
Causes doctors look for when loose stools keep coming back
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Under Rome IV, people with IBS are sorted into subtypes by the share of their abnormal stools that are types 1–2 versus types 6–7 [7]. If more than a quarter are types 6–7, that points toward IBS with diarrhea. See IBS-C vs IBS-D.
- Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. For suspected IBS with diarrhea, the American College of Gastroenterology suggests a celiac blood test and a fecal calprotectin test to rule out IBD [8].
- Bile acid diarrhea, microscopic colitis and lactose malabsorption, which the BSG lists among common disorders to detect in chronic diarrhea [6].
- Food intolerances and food allergies [4].
Your stool type alone can't tell these apart. That's why the context you log matters.
What should you log when your stools are loose?
Log every bowel movement for at least 14 days with these details. They're what a clinician will ask about.
- Bristol type (5, 6 or 7) and time
- Number of loose stools that day
- Urgency (had to hurry; any accidents)
- Nighttime episodes. Diarrhea that wakes you is a red flag.
- Blood, mucus or black color
- What came before: meals in the previous 0–36 hours, alcohol, coffee, sugar-free products, new medicines or supplements, travel, stress, period
- Other symptoms: cramps, fever, vomiting, signs of dehydration
Example summary (illustrative data)
| Week | Loose-stool days (type 6–7) | Most loose stools in one day | Night episodes | Common thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 of 3 days followed a late restaurant dinner with wine |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Day after a "sugar-free" candy binge |
What this suggests: short, food-linked episodes with no red flags. Worth testing by cutting back on late, rich meals and alcohol for two weeks and comparing. If your log instead shows daily loose stools, night episodes or blood, skip the experiment and see a doctor.
How to track this in Get Regular
For ongoing records, explore the Get Regular poop tracker. Compare the current logging workflow and access with the details you want to keep. An app record does not identify the cause of a bowel change.
When to see a doctor
Talk with a doctor right away if you have [5][9]:
- Stools that are black and tarry, or contain blood or pus
- Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days (adults), or six or more loose stools a day
- High fever, frequent vomiting, or severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
- Signs of dehydration: extreme thirst or dry mouth, peeing less, dark urine, dizziness or lightheadedness
- Confusion, or a change in mental state
Also book an appointment for:
- Loose stools that keep coming back over weeks, or that wake you at night
- Unintended weight loss
- New, lasting changes in bowel habit after age 50, or a family history of colorectal cancer, IBD or celiac disease
People who are pregnant, over 65, taking antibiotics or have a weakened immune system should keep in touch with their doctor during diarrhea [4]. See when to see a doctor about bowel changes for more.
FAQ
Is Bristol stool type 6 diarrhea? A single type 6 isn't diarrhea in the medical sense. Diarrhea means loose, watery stools three or more times a day, or more often than is normal for you [4]. Frequent type 6 stools across a day, though, count.
Is type 5 poop normal? It can be. Cleveland Clinic groups type 5 with loose stools [1], while research has counted types 3–5 as the normal band [3]. If type 5 is your usual and you feel well, it's likely fine.
What should I eat when my stools are type 6? For a short bout, focus on fluids. Many people find bland foods easier and avoid greasy, very sugary or spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine until things settle [9].
Can stress cause type 6 stools? Yes, stress can speed up the gut in some people. If you notice loose stools on high-stress days, log stress alongside stool type to see whether the pattern holds.
What's the difference between type 6 and type 7? Type 6 still has mushy pieces. Type 7 is entirely liquid with no solid pieces [1]. Repeated type 7 stools raise the risk of dehydration, so drink fluids and watch for warning signs.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Bristol Stool Chart: Types & What They Mean. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/bristol-stool-chart
- Lewis SJ, Heaton KW. Stool form scale as a useful guide to intestinal transit time. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1997. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9299672/
- Blake MR, Raker JM, Whelan K. Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant IBS. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27492648/
- NIDDK. Definition & Facts for Diarrhea. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/definition-facts
- NIDDK. Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causes
- Arasaradnam RP, et al. Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea in adults: British Society of Gastroenterology, 3rd edition. Gut. 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6204957/
- Mearin F, et al. Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016 (Rome IV). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27144627/
- Lacy BE, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33315591/
- Cleveland Clinic. Diarrhea: When To See a Doctor. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-to-see-a-doctor-for-diarrhea
- NHS. Diarrhoea and vomiting. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
This article is for general education and isn't medical advice. Get Regular is a tracking app — it doesn't diagnose or treat any condition. If you have red-flag symptoms or ongoing changes in your digestion, talk to a doctor.