Evidence asset
Survey response rate calculation: formulas, examples and a disposition worksheet
Calculate and report survey response rates consistently with AAPOR definitions, a worked example and a reproducible disposition worksheet.
- Published
- 7 September 2026
- Reading time
- 12 min
- Author and reviewer
- The Survey Review
A survey response rate needs a stated numerator, denominator and treatment of cases whose eligibility is unknown. For a simple census invitation with only known eligible cases, divide completed interviews by eligible invitations. For sample surveys with partial interviews or unknown eligibility, use the American Association for Public Opinion Research disposition codes and name the AAPOR rate you report.
What is a survey response rate?
Survey response rate is the share of sampled units that produced a complete interview, or a complete plus partial interview under rates that count partials. It is not a quality score by itself. A high rate does not remove coverage, measurement or nonresponse bias, and a low rate does not prove that estimates are biased.
What is the basic response-rate formula?
When every invitation is known to be eligible and only completed interviews count, use completed interviews ÷ eligible invitations × 100. Remove confirmed ineligible units, but do not silently remove refusals, noncontacts or unresolved invitations. If the survey has a formal sample and unresolved eligibility, use an AAPOR formula instead.
AAPOR response-rate formulas
Use these disposition groups: I complete interviews, P partial interviews, R refusals, NC noncontacts, O other eligible non-interviews, U cases of unknown eligibility, and e the estimated proportion of unknown cases that are eligible.
| Rate | Numerator | Denominator | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| RR1 | I | I + P + R + NC + O + U | Conservative complete-interview rate; all unknown cases remain in the denominator. |
| RR2 | I + P | I + P + R + NC + O + U | Like RR1, but partial interviews count as respondents. |
| RR3 | I | I + P + R + NC + O + eU | Complete-interview rate with an estimated eligible share of unknown cases. |
| RR4 | I + P | I + P + R + NC + O + eU | Like RR3, but partial interviews count as respondents. |
| RR5 | I | I + P + R + NC + O | Only when no unresolved case is eligible, or there are no unknown cases. |
| RR6 | I + P | I + P + R + NC + O | Like RR5, but partial interviews count as respondents. |
Worked example
A sample ends with 240 complete interviews, 30 partials, 90 refusals, 60 noncontacts, 20 other eligible non-interviews and 160 cases of unknown eligibility. The study estimates that 75% of unknown cases are eligible, so eU = 0.75 × 160 = 120.
| Measure | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| RR1 | 240 ÷ 600 | 40.0% |
| RR2 | 270 ÷ 600 | 45.0% |
| RR3 | 240 ÷ 560 | 42.9% |
| RR4 | 270 ÷ 560 | 48.2% |
| RR5 | 240 ÷ 440 | 54.5% |
| RR6 | 270 ÷ 440 | 61.4% |
RR5 and RR6 look highest because they omit every unknown case. They should not be selected merely because the result is more flattering. The disposition evidence determines which rate is valid.
Reproducible disposition worksheet
Create one row per sampled unit, never one row per email event. The minimum worksheet below makes the calculation auditable.
| Column | Rule |
|---|---|
| sample_id | Stable, non-identifying unit key |
| final_disposition | One controlled value: I, P, R, NC, O, unknown household, unknown respondent or other unknown |
| eligible | Yes, no or unresolved |
| partial_threshold_met | Yes or no, using a rule fixed before analysis |
| contact_attempts | Count used for fieldwork audit, not the denominator |
| invitation_channel | Email, phone, mail, intercept or other stated mode |
| last_contact_utc | ISO 8601 timestamp |
| exclusion_reason | Required when a unit is removed as ineligible |
| calculation_version | Formula name, e estimate, date and analyst |
How to report the result
- Freeze one final disposition per sampled unit.
- State how complete and partial interviews were defined.
- Report the AAPOR formula name, every disposition count and the value and derivation of e, if used.
- Keep confirmed ineligible cases separate from unresolved cases.
- Report the field period and invitation mode.
- Discuss possible nonresponse bias separately from the response-rate percentage.
Completion rate, click rate and response rate
| Metric | Typical denominator | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Click rate | Delivered invitations | Who opened the survey link? |
| Start rate | Delivered or eligible invitations | Who began? |
| Completion rate | Survey starts | Who finished after beginning? |
| Response rate | Eligible sample plus defined unresolved cases | What share of the selected units responded? |
Limitations
The worksheet standardizes arithmetic, not the estimate of unknown eligibility. A probability sample, opt-in panel, website intercept and open-link survey have different frames. An open public link usually has no defensible denominator, so report completes and funnel conversion metrics instead of inventing a response rate. Consult the full standard for mixed-mode, establishment, mail and complex household designs.
Sources and limitations
- AAPOR Standard Definitions, the primary definitions for final dispositions and response-rate reporting.
- AAPOR Response Rate Calculator, the association's implementation aid for the standard formulas.
- AAPOR Standard Definitions, 10th edition, for the full formulas, eligibility estimation and survey-mode guidance.
Verification date: 7 September 2026. This is operational survey-design guidance, not legal advice. Requirements can differ by jurisdiction, audience and research purpose. Send corrections with a primary source through our corrections process.