What is the PSL scale?
PSL is short for the names of three online forums where the scale was popularized. It rates faces from 1 to 8 rather than 1 to 10, and its users treat the middle of the scale, around 4, as average, so a “PSL 5” is meant to be above average. People apply it to celebrities and to themselves in looksmaxxing communities, often with lists of features such as canthal tilt, jaw width and midface length.
Why we do not give a PSL rating
The PSL scale is built on forum opinion, not on measurement. Two raters can give the same photo different numbers, and the same face can move a full point between photos with different light and angles. A single number also hides what actually varies between faces. We think that is a bad trade, especially for teenagers, so this page shows the measurements and leaves out the score.
The measurements PSL discussions use
- Canthal tilt: the angle from the inner to the outer corner of the eye. See the canthal tilt guide.
- fWHR (facial width-to-height ratio): cheekbone width divided by the height from brows to upper lip.
- Midface ratio: pupil distance divided by the height from pupils to upper lip.
- Eye spacing: the gap between the eyes compared with eye width.
- Jaw to cheekbone width and facial thirds: see facial thirds.
- Symmetry: see the face symmetry test.
All of these change with camera distance and head angle, which is a big reason forum ratings of the same person disagree.
A healthier way to use these numbers
Use measurements to understand photos and style, not to rank yourself. A face that is “off” on one ratio often reads as distinctive and attractive in person, and the research on attractiveness gives expression, skin, grooming and confidence a large role. If looksmaxxing content is making you feel worse about yourself, take a break from it and talk with someone you trust.
Privacy
Your photo is processed by a model running in this browser tab. It is never uploaded, and we never see it. See the privacy and biometric notice.