Proficiency Bonus by Level in 5e

What is the proficiency bonus in 5e?

Proficiency bonus is a single number that measures how much your training improves the things you're good at. Everyone in your party who is the same level has the same bonus, whatever their class. It goes up every four levels and is added to rolls you're proficient in, like attacking with your class's weapons or using a skill you trained. Most of those rolls use a d20, so the d20 roller with your total bonus in the bonus box covers them.

The rule is identical in the 2014 and 2024 Player's Handbooks.

What is the proficiency bonus at each level?

The bonus rises at levels 5, 9, 13 and 17. Level 5 is a big jump for most characters: proficiency goes up at the same time as many classes gain Extra Attack or 3rd-level spells, and damage cantrips gain their second die.

How do you calculate proficiency bonus?

Formula: divide your character level by 4, round up, then add 1.

• Level 1: 1 / 4 = 0.25, rounds up to 1, plus 1 = +2.
• Level 8: 8 / 4 = 2, plus 1 = +3.
• Level 11: 11 / 4 = 2.75, rounds up to 3, plus 1 = +4.
• Level 20: 20 / 4 = 5, plus 1 = +6.

Use your total character level, not your level in one class. A Rogue 4 / Fighter 1 is a level 5 character with a +3 bonus, even though neither class is at level 5 on its own.

What does proficiency bonus apply to?

You add your proficiency bonus to these, but only when you're proficient:

• Attack rolls with weapons: if you're proficient with the weapon. Most classes are proficient with simple weapons, and martial classes with martial weapons too.
• Spell attack rolls: always, for spells you cast. Spell attack bonus = proficiency bonus + spellcasting modifier.
• Spell save DC: 8 + proficiency bonus + spellcasting modifier. Many class features use the same pattern for their own DCs.
• Saving throws: the two your class grants, plus any from feats like Resilient. See saving throws in 5e.
• Skill checks: skills from your class, background and other sources. See skill checks in 5e.
• Tool checks: tools such as thieves' tools or a smith's tools you're proficient with.

It does not add to damage rolls, initiative (unless a feature says so) or ability checks you aren't proficient in. Some features also use your proficiency bonus as a count rather than a bonus. In the 2024 rules, for example, the Lucky feat gives you a number of Luck Points equal to your proficiency bonus.

How does proficiency bonus add up in an attack?

Here is what a typical character with a +3 ability modifier in their main stat adds to attack rolls at each tier, assuming they are proficient and their ability score doesn't change:

In real play, most characters also raise their main ability to 20 (+5) along the way, so a level 17 caster often has a spell save DC of 19 and a +11 spell attack. How ability modifiers work is covered in ability scores in 5e.

Why is proficiency bonus so small?

5e keeps numbers low on purpose, a design idea often called bounded accuracy. Instead of bonuses climbing into the dozens, a character's proficiency grows by only 4 points over twenty levels. That keeps low-level threats relevant and makes each +1 meaningful, since every point is a 5% shift on a d20.

For example, a level 1 Fighter with a +5 attack bonus hits Armor Class 13 on an 8 or higher, a 65% chance. Against AC 18, the same +5 hits only 40% of the time. By level 17, with +6 proficiency and a +5 Strength modifier, that Fighter attacks at +11 and hits AC 18 on a 7 or higher, a 70% chance. Compare your own numbers with the dice probability calculator.

How do you gain new proficiencies?

• Class: armor, weapons, two saving throws and a choice of skills at level 1.
• Background: two skills and usually a tool in both rule sets.
• Species or race: some grant a skill, such as Perception for elves.
• Feats: Skilled, Resilient and others add skills, tools or saves.
• Multiclassing: a new class gives only some of its proficiencies, and never its saving throws.

Can you add proficiency bonus more than once?

No. The rules say your proficiency bonus is applied once to a given roll or number, even if two different features would each let you add it. If you're proficient in Perception from your background and your class also offers Perception, you don't get it twice; in that case you simply choose a different skill from the class list.

Expertise and Jack of All Trades

• Expertise: doubles your proficiency bonus for a skill (or tool) you're already proficient in. Rogues and Bards get it, along with some other classes and feats.
• Jack of All Trades: a Bard feature that adds half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to ability checks that don't already include it.

These modify the bonus, but it is still applied only once.

What is a monster's proficiency bonus by CR?

Monsters have a proficiency bonus too, set by their challenge rating rather than level. It is already built into the attack bonuses and save DCs in a stat block, but DMs need it when building or adjusting monsters.

Fractional CRs (1/8, 1/4 and 1/2) use +2, the same as CR 0. Player characters top out at +6 because the level cap is 20, while the most powerful monsters reach +9.

FAQ

What is the formula for proficiency bonus in 5e?

Divide your character level by 4, round up, and add 1. For example, level 6 gives 6 / 4 = 1.5, rounded up to 2, plus 1 for a +3 bonus.

Does proficiency bonus use class level or character level?

It uses your total character level. A multiclassed Fighter 3 / Wizard 2 is level 5 and has a +3 proficiency bonus.

Can you add proficiency bonus twice?

No. Even if two features would each let you add it, you add your proficiency bonus only once to a roll. Expertise is the exception that doubles it, but it is still applied once.

What is the proficiency bonus for a CR 5 monster?

A monster of challenge rating 5 to 8 has a +3 proficiency bonus. Monsters from CR 0 to 4 have +2, and the bonus keeps rising to +9 at CR 29 and 30.

Related

• Roll a d20
• Ability Scores and Modifiers in 5e
• Skill Checks in 5e: Full Guide
• Saving Throws in 5e: Full Guide