The Meaning of Poop Colors, Shapes, Sizes, and Consistency
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What are the different types of poop?
A person’s poop can vary depending on diet, hydration, and health status. A stool that is hard, runny, or has an unusual color may indicate a health problem that needs attention. Poop is typically medium to dark brown in color.
Sometimes, poop can vary in color, texture, amount, and odor. These differences can be concerning, but usually, these changes are not significant and will resolve in a day or two. Other times, however, changes in poop indicate a more serious condition.
Keep reading to discover more about the different types of poop, including what is and is not typical.
Devised by doctors in the Bristol Royal Infirmary, England, and based on the bowel movements of nearly 2,000 people, the Bristol stool chart characterizes the different types of poop.
Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, types 3 and 4 are healthy stool, while types 5–7 suggest diarrhea and urgency.
Poop is generally:
- Medium to dark brown: It contains a pigment called bilirubin, which forms when red blood cells break down.
- Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement emit gases that contain the unpleasant odor associated with poop.
- Pain-free to pass: A healthy bowel movement should be painless and require minimal strain.
- Soft to firm in texture: Doctors consider poop passed in one single piece or a few smaller pieces to signify a healthy bowel. The long, sausage-like shape of poop is due to the shape of the intestines.
- Passed once or twice daily: Most people pass stool once a day, although others may poop every other day or up to three times daily. At a minimum, a person should pass stool three times per week.
- Consistent in its characteristics: A healthy poop varies from person to person. However, people should monitor any changes in the smell, firmness, frequency, or color of poop as it can indicate an issue.
How long should a poop take?
It should take 10–15 minutes to pass the stool.
People who take longer than this may have constipation, hemorrhoids, or another condition.
While brown poop is considered the “usual” color of poop, some greenish-brown hues may also be acceptable.
Poop can be other colors too, such as:
- Black:Black stools, especially if they have the appearance of tar, suggest gastrointestinal bleeding. Eating large quantities of black-colored foodstuffs may also cause it.
- White: If stools are white, gray, or pale, a person may have an issue with the liver or gallbladder, as pale stools suggest a lack of bile. Some antidiarrhea medications cause white stools.
- Green: Spinach, kale, or other green foods can cause green poop. However, a green-colored stool may signify too much bile and insufficient bilirubin in the poop.
- Red: Poop that is red-colored may be the result of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the stool can indicate hemorrhoids. Red colored foodstuffs may also cause red poop.
- Orange:Blocked bile ducts or certain medications, including some antacids and the antibiotic rifampin, can cause orange poop. Consuming many orange-colored foods, which are rich in a pigment called beta-carotene, causes orange stool.
- Yellow: If stool appears yellow or greasy-looking, the poop contains too much fat. This may result from absorption issues or difficulty producing enzymes or bile.
However, anyone who experiences changes in poop color that last 2 or more weeks or has red or black stool should consult a doctor.
There is a range of reasons why a person may experience poop that is different from usual, including:
Stress
Stress can trigger and exacerbate digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can affect how quickly food moves through the body, which can cause either diarrhea or constipation for some people.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to move more easily through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration.
Lack of dietary fiber
Fiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems.
Food intolerances and allergies
People with an intolerance or allergy to certain foods can often experience diarrhea, constipation, or other traits of abnormal poop when they consume problematic food.
For example, people with lactose intolerance often experience diarrhea if they have dairy, while those with celiac disease will have an adverse reaction to gluten.
Medical conditions
Certain conditions can cause constipation, diarrhea, or other poop abnormalities. Examples of such conditions include:
- depression
- cancer
- an overactive or underactive thyroid
- inflammatory bowel disease
- IBS
- Parkinson’s disease
Constipation
A person may have constipation if they:
- have difficulty emptying the large bowel
- are straining when pooping
- are passing less stool than usual
- the stool is lumpy, dry, or hard
Alongside the above causes of constipation, it may also result from lifestyle or routine changes such as physical inactivity or the overuse of laxatives.
A person should contact a doctor if changes to poop persist for 2 weeks or more.
People should seek immediate medical treatment if the stool is bright red, black, or a tarry substance. These symptoms suggest blood loss, which could become a medical emergency if left untreated.
How to ensure healthy bowels
To help ensure healthy bowel function and healthy poops, people can follow the tips below:
- Eat enough fiber: Aim to get the recommended minimum daily amount of fiber, which is 22–34 grams (g) for adults, depending on age and sex.
- Drink plenty of water: A reasonable amount is about 8 glasses (64 ounces) per day. It is especially important to stay hydrated when consuming more fiber.
- Take probiotics: Probiotics may help restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. Although some yogurts and drinks can also provide probiotics, these beneficial bacteria are in capsule form.
- Try magnesium: Magnesium hydroxide often treats constipation. It is safe for most people, although doctors do not recommend it for people with renal insufficiency.
- Lifestyle changes: This may include stopping smoking, type, and level of exercise, and anxiety management to help control a person’s bowel movements.
A well-functioning digestive system is essential for health and well-being. It also suggests that a person is eating a balanced diet.
Poop abnormalities that persist can lead to complications. For example, ongoing diarrhea can result in nutritional deficiencies or, in severe cases, malnutrition, while constipation can cause bowel obstructions.
Below are frequently asked questions relating to the different types of poop.
What are the seven types of stool?
The seven types of stool are:
- separate hard lumps
- a lumpy, sausage-like clump
- a sausage shape with cracks
- smooth sausage-shaped
- soft blobs with clear edges
- a mushy, ragged mass
- liquid
What type of stool is concerning?
Hard or lumpy stool indicates that a person has constipation, while mushy or liquid-like stool may indicate inflammation in the bowel and diarrhea.
What is the healthiest type of stool?
Smooth, sausage-shaped stool is typically the healthiest type of stool. These usually indicate proper bowel function. However, a person should contact a doctor if they notice changes in their stool or bowel habits.
What is type 5 stool consistency?
Stool type 5 on the Bristol Stool Chart refers to stool that consists of soft blobs with clear-cut edges. This might indicate that a person is lacking fiber.
What causes type 6 poop?
Stool type 6 refers to stool that has a mushy consistency with ragged edges. This might indicate that inflammation is present.
What is an unhealthy stool color?
Stool is typically brown in color. Other colors – such as red, black, yellow, green, orange, white, or pale – can indicate an underlying condition. A person should contact a doctor if they experience changes in the color of their bowel movements.
A person’s poop tends to be brown, soft to firm in texture, and easy to pass. If someone experiences changes in poop, they should monitor them and consult a doctor if the issue does not resolve within 2 weeks.
To encourage bowel function, a person should eat a fiber-rich diet, exercise regularly, reduce stress, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
- Nutrition / Diet
How we reviewed this article:
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Dietary guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. (2020).
https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf - Gordon, B. (2020). How much water do you need?
https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/healthy-eating/how-much-water-do-you-need - It’s important to know what healthy poo looks like. (n.d.).
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bristol-stool-chart-for-carer-web-version.pdf - Larson, H. (2021). Easy ways to boost fiber in your daily diet.
https://www.eatright.org/food/vitamins-and-supplements/types-of-vitamins-and-nutrients/easy-ways-to-boost-fiber-in-your-daily-diet - Probiotics. (2018).
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/probiotics - Stress effects on the body. (2018).
https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body - Your digestive system and how it works. (2017).
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
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Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on January 24, 2024
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The Meaning of Poop Colors, Shapes, Sizes, and Consistency
Your poop (stool) can reveal information about your health. Your diet can lead to typically temporary changes in poop color or shape, but so can a range of health conditions that cause poop to be pale or dark, turn green, become runny, or contain mucus.
Keeping an eye on the color, shape, and texture of poop can help you to know when there is a change. For example, the Bristol chart illustrated below is a tool that healthcare providers use to describe poop.
When changes persist over time, or you also have symptoms like pain and bleeding, contact your provider for a diagnosis.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
What Does the Color of Your Poop Mean?
Normal, healthy stool ranges from various shades of brown to greenish brown. This may vary if you eat lots of colorful foods.
Unhealthy stool can look like any poop color change that can’t be tied to your diet, and that is a reason to call your healthcare provider.
Poop color that suddenly changes without an obvious reason may indicate an issue, especially if you have other unusual symptoms like pain or bleeding. Red or maroon stool as well as black or tarry stool requires immediate medical attention.
Pale Poop Color
Bile salts in the intestines give stool its usual brown color. If your poop color is light (either pale, white, grey, or clay-colored), there could be a lack of bile in the stool. A blockage of the bile ducts from gallstones, or a condition affecting your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas, can cause decreased bile output.
Poop that is pale or light-colored could also mean there is excessive fat in the poop—a condition called steatorrhea .
This can be caused by anything that disrupts the intestinal lining, such as celiac disease or disorders that affect the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder.
Steatorrhea
Steatorrhea means there is excessive fat in your stool. Your stool may be pale or yellow as well as shiny or greasy, foul-smelling, or frothy. It may float in the toilet bowl and it often sticks to the side of the bowl and is difficult to flush away.
Additionally, stool may become temporarily pale after a barium enema test.
If you notice that your poop color is white, clay-colored, or chalky grey, you should see your healthcare provider, especially if the new poop color continues beyond a few days.
Yellow Poop Color
There are a few different possible causes of yellow poop, and the significance of yellow poop ranges widely.
Having yellow poop may simply mean that you’ve been eating yellow food items, like sweet potatoes, carrots, turmeric, or yellow food coloring. In addition, people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and those taking medication for GERD sometimes have yellow poop.
Sudden yellow poop can also be a sign of an infection that affects the intestines, particularly if you also have diarrhea, fever, flu-like symptoms, or stomach cramps.
Yellow poop after COVID-19 infection has been reported. And, Giardiasis, a small intestine infection caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, can also lead to yellow poop or diarrhea.
Some people develop yellow poop after gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy). This is because there is a larger amount of bile moving directly into your intestines, resulting in watery diarrhea that is often yellow.
In some cases, yellow poop can also mean you have excess fat in your stool.
Yellow Poop in Babies
Loose, yellow stools in a breastfed baby are normal, as breastmilk passes quickly through their digestive system. The yellow poop color is from bile. It is also normal for formula-fed babies to pass yellow stools, but their stool is usually less runny than that of a breastfed baby.
Once you start to incorporate solid foods into your baby’s diet, their poop should start to become more solid and brown.
Green Poop Color
There are some common reasons for a green poop color. Eating lots of leafy vegetables like kale or spinach can cause a greenish poop color. But this is normal, and it shouldn’t stop you from getting your fill of these antioxidant-rich foods. Iron supplements and food coloring, including green, purple, and blue dye, can also turn feces an emerald color.
Conditions that speed up intestinal activity, such as pregnancy, a bowel disorder, or food poisoning, can also lead to a green poop color or green diarrhea.
Click Play to Learn More About Green Stool
Bright Red Poop Color
A bright red poop color can be caused by beets, cranberries, tomato juice or soup, or products containing red food coloring, like Kool-Aid or red licorice. Red medicines, such as amoxicillin, may also turn your poop color red.
If there is blood in your stool, the poop color depends on where the bleeding takes place in the digestive tract. Blood from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or esophagus, will look dark by the time it exits the body as a bowel movement.
Blood that is bright red is more likely to come from the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum. Bright red blood in poop may be caused by conditions such as:
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Ulcerative colitis
- Diverticulosis
- Colon cancer
Blood in the stool doesn’t always look obvious. Blood may be also present but not visible—this is known as “occult” blood. The fecal occult blood test is a common test used to detect hidden blood in the stool.
Black or Dark Poop Color
Certain foods, supplements, and medications can temporarily cause a black poop color, such as:
- Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate)
- Iron supplements
- Activated charcoal supplements
- Dark foods, such as black licorice, grape juice, Oreo cookies, blackberries, or blueberries
Stool can also appear darker with constipation. Dark green stool from bile that hasn’t had time to break down may appear to have a black poop color in certain lighting.
A poop color that is almost black, dark, or tar-like with a thick consistency may mean there is bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Medical conditions that can cause dark, tar-like stool include:
- Duodenal or gastric ulcers
- Esophageal varices
- Mallory-Weiss tear
- Gastritis
If your poop color is black and it is not from food or supplements, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
What Are the Different Types of Poop?
Occasional changes in your poop’s consistency are also normal and usually result from the nutritional content in your food. However, if the change in consistency persists after a few bowel movements, it’s best to contact your health provider for an evaluation.
These changes can include:
- Stool that sinks quickly. Although normal stool shape and frequency vary from person to person, if your stool sinks quickly, you may not be getting enough fluids or fiber in your diet. This type of stool often has a darker color because it stays in the intestines longer.
- Floating stool. If your stool floats every now and then, it’s probably not something to worry about. Most likely, the stool just has an increased amount of gas in it. This can happen after consuming carbonated drinks, beans, and sugary foods. Some gastrointestinal disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause floating stool as well, as can steatorrhea.
- Pebble stool. Stool excreted in small pieces is sometimes called pebble or pellet stool. Upping your fiber intake may help; to do this, slowly increase your intake to the recommended daily value of 28 grams. If you are finding it difficult to consume this amount with fiber-rich foods, consider adding a fiber supplement.
- Pencil thin stool. Excessive straining leads to thin stools when the anal muscle narrows the opening of the anus as you bear down. Stool that is squeezed through the narrowed opening is thin. Consistently thin stools, however, could signal a medical problem, including polyps or cancer.
- Loose stool. Diarrhea lasting a couple of days or less is common and usually isn’t serious. It can be triggered by a number of different foods, supplements, and medications. For example, consuming too much fructose—a sugar found in honey and many soft drinks and processed foods—can cause loose stool. Another common cause is a gastrointestinal infection (stomach flu).
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
It’s normal for bowel movements to vary from day to day depending on what you eat and drink, and most changes aren’t a cause for worry. Your poop color should generally be some shade of brown.
Stools should leave the body with little straining or discomfort, have a toothpaste-like consistency, and look more like a banana than a pencil.
Be sure to see your healthcare provider right away if your poop color is bright red, black, pale, or accompanied by mucus or pus, or if you have any new or unusual symptoms like pain.
Summary
A number of factors could be causing variations in the appearance of your stool. Some factors, such as your daily eating and drinking habits, are less concerning than others.
However, keep in mind that seemingly harmless changes in your poop’s color, shape, or consistency, like stool that is pencil-thin, can actually be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Consult your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your stool, or if you notice any changes in your bowel habits or additional symptoms.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Cathy Wong
Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman’s World, and Natural Health.
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