Star Rating Questions
Star rating questions provide a visual way for respondents to rate items using stars or other icons. They’re intuitive and quick to answer.
When to Use
Star rating questions are ideal for:
- Quick satisfaction ratings - Overall experience
- Product reviews - Quality, value, usability
- Service ratings - Support, delivery, communication
- Simple preference scales - How much do you like X?
Adding a Star Rating Question
- Click Add Question in the survey editor
- Select Star Rating
- Enter your question text
- Configure the scale
- Add labels (optional)
Configuration Options
Scale Size
Set the number of stars:
- 3 stars - Simple good/neutral/bad
- 5 stars - Standard rating (most common)
- 7 stars - More granular feedback
- 10 stars - Detailed ratings
Icons
Choose your rating icon:
- ⭐ Stars (default)
- ❤️ Hearts
- 👍 Thumbs
- 😊 Smileys
- Custom icons
Labels
Add context to your scale:
Endpoint labels:
- Low end: “Poor”
- High end: “Excellent”
Individual labels:
- 1 star: “Very Poor”
- 2 stars: “Poor”
- 3 stars: “Average”
- 4 stars: “Good”
- 5 stars: “Excellent”
Half Stars
Enable half-star selections for more precision:
- 4.5 stars possible
- Doubles your scale points
- Good for detailed feedback
Initial State
No selection (default):
- All stars empty
- Respondent must select
Pre-filled:
- Start with middle value
- Respondent can adjust
Required Response
Toggle to require a rating before continuing.
Best Practices
Scale Selection
| Scale | Best For |
|---|---|
| 3 stars | Quick binary-ish feedback |
| 5 stars | General satisfaction, reviews |
| 7 stars | When you need more granularity |
| 10 stars | Detailed analysis, NPS-style |
Label Guidelines
Clear and balanced:
Good: "Very Poor" to "Excellent"
Bad: "Bad" to "Perfect" (unbalanced)
Consistent: Use same labels throughout survey for similar questions.
Question Wording
Specific:
Good: "How would you rate the checkout process?"
Bad: "Rate this"
One concept per question:
Good: "Rate the food quality"
Bad: "Rate the food and service"
Advanced Features
Conditional Logic
Route based on rating:
Skip logic:
- If rating ≤ 2, show “What went wrong?”
- If rating ≥ 4, show “What did you like?”
Display logic:
- Show follow-up only for low ratings
- Show upsell for high ratings
Multiple Items
Rate several items with same scale:
Consider using Matrix/Rating Scale for:
- Multiple products
- Multiple attributes
- Side-by-side comparison
Piping
Reference the rating in follow-up:
You gave us {{Q1}} stars.
What would it take to earn 5 stars?
Analyzing Results
Metrics
Average rating:
- Mean score across responses
- Compare over time
- Benchmark against targets
Distribution:
- Count per star level
- Percentage breakdown
- Identify patterns
Standard deviation:
- Measure agreement
- Low = consensus
- High = mixed opinions
Charts
Best visualizations:
- Bar chart showing distribution
- Average with trend line
- Histogram of ratings
Interpreting Results
5-star scale benchmarks:
- 4.5+ = Excellent
- 4.0-4.4 = Good
- 3.5-3.9 = Average
- 3.0-3.4 = Below average
- Below 3.0 = Needs attention
Segmentation
Break down ratings by:
- Customer type
- Time period
- Product/service
- Demographics
Common Use Cases
Product Review
How would you rate this product?
☆☆☆☆☆
Poor Excellent
Customer Satisfaction
How satisfied are you with your purchase?
☆☆☆☆☆
Very Dissatisfied Very Satisfied
Service Rating
Rate your support experience:
☆☆☆☆☆
Content Feedback
How helpful was this article?
☆☆☆☆☆
Not Helpful Very Helpful
Quick Polls
How's your day going?
😢 😕 😐 🙂 😄
Star Rating vs. Other Scales
vs. NPS
| Star Rating | NPS |
|---|---|
| 5-point scale | 11-point scale (0-10) |
| General satisfaction | Loyalty/recommendation |
| Simple analysis | Promoter/Detractor segments |
vs. Matrix
| Star Rating | Matrix |
|---|---|
| Single item | Multiple items |
| Visual appeal | Compact for many items |
| Quick response | Comparative ratings |
vs. Slider
| Star Rating | Slider |
|---|---|
| Discrete values | Continuous scale |
| Familiar interface | Precise values |
| Clear meaning | Abstract numbers |
Mobile Optimization
Touch-Friendly
- Stars are easy to tap
- Clear touch targets
- Immediate visual feedback
Display
- Scales adapt to screen width
- Labels may stack on mobile
- Consider fewer stars for small screens
Troubleshooting
Rating Inflation
Many respondents give high ratings:
- Scale may be too small (try more stars)
- Question may be too general
- Add follow-up for specifics
Central Tendency
Most responses cluster in middle:
- Remove middle option (even scale)
- Make labels more distinct
- Ask more specific questions
Low Engagement
Respondents skip or rush:
- Question may seem unimportant
- Add context for why rating matters
- Keep survey short
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