On Dancing with the Stars, each week involves two separate scores: judges’ scores and viewer votes, combined into a single total that determines who advances and who leaves the competition. Judges evaluate technique, performance quality, and choreography, while viewers vote through multiple channels, with votes typically converted into points that are mathematically blended with the judges’ scores. This guide explains how the scoring system works, how points are calculated, and how the lowest and highest totals influence elimination decisions.
How Judges Score Performances
Criteria Judges Use
Judges on Dancing with the Stars assess each routine using shared criteria that emphasize technical execution and artistic expression. They consider timing and rhythm, footwork, posture, frame, and control; musicality and interpretation of the music; choreography and pattern execution; presentation, including expression and entertainment value. Each judge assigns a score on a fixed numerical scale, and those marks are combined to form a single judges’ total for the performance.
Judges’ Influence Relative to Viewer Votes
While the exact ratio can vary by season and by network production rules, judges’ scores typically account for a fixed percentage of the overall weekly score, with viewer votes making up the remainder. In many seasons, judges’ scores represent 30 to 50 percent of the total, while viewer votes account for the remaining 50 to 70 percent. This structure ensures that both objective technique and audience preference influence the outcome.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Judges’ scoring scale | Typically 10 or 30 points per judge, depending on era and format | Network format standards |
| Judges’ weight in total | Often 30–50% of weekly score | Production rules and historical scoring breakdowns |
| Viewer vote channels | SMS, app, website, social platforms where available | Official voting rules and partner disclosures |
| Typical result timeline | Scores and results announced same night, often near the end of the episode | Episode broadcast patterns and official results posts |
How Viewer Voting Works
Available Voting Methods
Viewers can typically vote for their favorite couples through several channels, and each channel may have its own rules about how votes are counted and whether there are limits per household or device. Common methods include:
- Text messaging: short codes provided on-screen, with a cap on the number of votes per number.
- Mobile app: official ABC or network app linked to a television account or profile.
- Official website: online voting portal requiring authentication to limit duplicate votes.
- Social and partner platforms: select integrations where allowed and compliant with network policies.
Converting Votes into Points
Viewer votes are not simply counted as raw totals; they are translated into a points range that matches the judges’ scoring scale. Producers usually establish a minimum and maximum point value for viewer votes, then distribute points proportionally based on each couple’s share of the vote. For example, if the viewer portion is worth 40 points and Couple A receives 50 percent of the viewer vote, they would earn 20 points from viewers. The judges’ points and viewer points are added to produce the combined weekly score.
Weekly Score and Elimination Process
Calculating the Combined Score
Each couple receives a combined score that reflects both judges’ evaluations and viewer support. If the judges’ portion is 40 points and the viewer portion is 60 points in a given week, a couple could theoretically earn up to 100 points for that week. The running cumulative score across multiple weeks provides an overall leaderboard, but only the current week’s performance directly determines who is at risk of elimination.
Bottom Two and Elimination Mechanics
After scores are revealed, the couple with the lowest combined score typically lands in the bottom two and must face a final test in the dance-off. The other couple in the bottom two is usually the one with the next-lowest score, though producers sometimes apply special rules or exceptions. In the dance-off, the pair performs a short routine, and judges’ scores from that segment often decide who stays, with viewer votes either not counting or counting in a limited way.
Special Weeks and Adjustments
Finale Scoring Changes
During the finale, the scoring structure is adjusted to reflect the season’s conclusion. Viewer votes may carry increased weight, sometimes accounting for 50 percent or more of the total, and judges retain influence over technique and presentation. The exact formula is announced as part of the finale rules, and in some seasons, a public vote alone determines the winner, while in others, judges still have a decisive role.
Disqualifications and Rule Exceptions
In rare situations, such as serious injury, illness, or production decisions, a couple may withdraw or be disqualified, which can change how scores and eliminations are handled in that week. Producers may also adjust voting windows, point allocations, or the number of couples in the bottom two when circumstances require it. These exceptions are announced through official statements and on-air explanations.
How to Follow Scores and Voting Results
To keep up with scores as they happen, viewers can watch the announcement segments on the broadcast, check the official show website for updated leaderboards, and review verified social media posts from the network and the show’s official accounts. The recap and results shows often provide additional context, including judges’ critiques and insight into how voting trends shaped the week’s outcomes.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
| Aspect | Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Judges’ role | Evaluate technique and award points on a fixed scale | Provides an expert baseline for each performance |
| Viewers’ role | Vote via multiple channels; votes converted into points | Reflects audience preference and can shift outcomes |
| Score combination | Judges’ points plus viewer points = weekly total | Determines advancement and who faces elimination |
| Elimination rule | Lowest combined score typically lands in bottom two | competes in dance-off with potential removal|
| Finale weighting | Viewer votes often increased; judges retain some influence | Adjusts the balance for the season’s climax |
Understanding how scoring works on Dancing with the Stars makes it easier to follow each week’s drama and appreciate how judges’ expertise and audience enthusiasm combine to decide the season’s champion. Whether you are watching for the performances, the strategy, or the competition, knowing the scoring system adds clarity to every episode and every result.