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Net Promoter Score (NPS): Complete Guide to Measuring Loyalty

8 min read
Updated 2026-02-01
Guide

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is the world's most popular metric for measuring customer loyalty and predicting business growth. With a single question, NPS segments customers into Promoters, Passives, and Detractors.

Key Takeaways

  • NPS measures likelihood to recommend on a 0-10 scale
  • Promoters (9-10) minus Detractors (0-6) equals your NPS (-100 to +100)
  • Above 0 is acceptable, above 50 is excellent, above 70 is world-class
  • Always follow up with "Why?" to get actionable feedback
  • Track trends over time rather than obsessing over absolute scores

What Is Net Promoter Score?

NPS measures how likely customers are to recommend your company. The question: "On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend [Company] to a friend or colleague?"

Promoters (9-10): Loyal enthusiasts. Passives (7-8): Satisfied but unenthusiastic. Detractors (0-6): Unhappy customers.

How to Calculate NPS

NPS = % Promoters - % Detractors

Example: 60% Promoters, 25% Passives, 15% Detractors → NPS = 60 - 15 = +45

NPS Benchmarks by Industry

Consulting: 62, Technology: 58, E-commerce: 45, Financial Services: 44, Healthcare: 38, Telecom: 24. General: Below 0 needs work, 0-30 good, 30-70 great, 70+ world-class.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quarterly for relational NPS, within 24-48 hours for transactional NPS. Don't survey the same customer more than once per quarter.
Above 0 is acceptable, above 30 is good, above 50 is excellent. Compare to your industry benchmarks.

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