Cognitive Load Scorer
Describe your screen across 10 cognitive load factors – from number of choices to visual hierarchy – and get an objective score from 0 to 100. Low, medium, or high: know exactly what to fix.
Screen type
Describe your screen
Clear visual hierarchy established
Size, weight, and spacing guide the eye to the most important element
UI elements are consistent throughout
Buttons, inputs, and typography follow the same patterns
Distracting animations or auto-play present
Checked = there IS unnecessary motion competing for attention
Users can easily recover from errors
Inline validation, clear messages, and undo options are available
Progressive disclosure applied
Advanced options are hidden until needed
Familiar UI patterns used
Standard patterns users already know (nav, cards, modals)
Low cognitive load
Great – users can focus on their goal without mental overhead.
Cognitive load score: 23 out of 100, Low cognitive load.Score breakdown
Recommendations (2)
Reduce choices from 8 to 7 or fewer. Group related options or use progressive disclosure.
Apply progressive disclosure: hide advanced options behind "More options" or secondary screens.
What Is Cognitive Load in UX?
Cognitive load is the total mental effort required to use an interface. Psychologist John Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory distinguishes three types: intrinsic (complexity inherent to the task itself), extraneous (complexity introduced by poor design), and germane (the effort used to build understanding and learn). UX designers have direct control only over extraneous load – things like too many choices, inconsistent UI patterns, unclear hierarchy, and verbose copy. Every decision that forces users to think about the interface instead of their actual goal adds extraneous load. When it accumulates, users abandon tasks, make errors, and report frustration even when they can't articulate why.
The ten factors in this scorer cover the most evidence-backed sources of cognitive overload: the number of choices (Hick's Law), visual noise from excessive colors and motion, task complexity, instruction verbosity, and the absence of design scaffolding like hierarchy, consistency, and familiar patterns. Each factor is weighted by its research-backed impact on perceived complexity. A score above 65 means users are likely to struggle – not because the content is hard, but because the interface itself is working against them. Use this tool during design reviews, before usability testing, or as a final checklist before shipping a screen.