Hoarder scale

About

NOTE: This page is a daughter page of: Graphic Scales

NEWSFLASH: I've also published a shorter version of this article to medium.com! Please support me by adding a "clap" at: The Besotted Scale

The 0 to 10 "Hoarder scale" below is a humorous but poignant look at how much stuff we keep “just in case.”

My Graphical Representation of the "Hoarder Scale" (0–10)

How much clutter is too much? Oscar the Grouch is a 10, obviously.

(full res image)

The idea: It’s easy to joke about that friend who keeps every receipt, broken toaster, and 1989 Ikea catalog. But behind the jokes, hoarding can impact daily life, relationships, and even health. This scale is about raising awareness—with a wink—about where helpful collecting ends and problematic clutter begins.

Inspiration

I was motivated to create this scale after watching an episode of the TV show Hoarders — both horrifying and fascinating. It made me realise: most of us know someone who’s taken clutter to an extreme. It might start with a box of old cables or a cupboard of "vintage" Tupperware, but it can spiral into a genuine health hazard.

This silly little graphic is, in some cases, a very real condition. And while laughter is a great place to start, it’s important to know there is help. If you—or someone you love—still owns every lunchbox since the 1960s, this scale might offer a gentle mirror... and maybe even a nudge toward letting go.

Me personally? I hover around a 3. I like a clean space, but I do have a soft spot for quirky stuff, and I now own a house with lots of space, so it tends to fill up. I like projects, so yeah, I could learn a lot by trying minimalism. I dated a minimalist once, and it was kind of liberating!

Using this Scale

Use this scale to assess yourself, gently tease a friend, or identify if you might be heading into “Problematic Hoarder” territory. If you’re a 5 or 6, you’re probably okay (maybe just need a weekend blitz). But if you’re an 8+, and paths in your home are forming like hedge mazes, maybe it’s time to call in a professional — or at least someone who owns a skip bin.

And if you're reading this while surrounded by 30 years’ worth of magazines, that's okay too. The first step is recognizing it... the second is realizing you're not alone, and there’s nothing wrong with getting help. Clutter doesn’t define you — but clearing it just might change your life.

Sincerely,

    Andrew Noske

See Also

• Tidiness scale – For people who vacuum religiously versus those who think brooms are decorative.
• Personal independence scale – For evaluating how well you can survive without a parent, partner, or personal assistant.