This paper presents a study to derive a preference-based measure of health from the SF-36, a widely used generic measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The SF-36 was revised into a six-dimensional health state classification called the SF-6D. A representative sample of 611 UK residents valued 249 states defined by the SF-6D using standard gamble. Econometric models were estimated to predict health state valuations for all 18,000 states defined by the SF-6D. The models addressed the hierarchical nature and skewed distribution of the data. The recommended models produced significant coefficients for levels of the SF-6D, which were robust across model specifications. However, there were concerns with inconsistent estimates and over prediction of the value of the poorest health states. The results demonstrate the feasibility of estimating preference weights for measures of health-related quality and provide a method for analyzing existing SF-36 data to generate preference-based health values for cost-utility analysis.This paper presents a study to derive a preference-based measure of health from the SF-36, a widely used generic measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The SF-36 was revised into a six-dimensional health state classification called the SF-6D. A representative sample of 611 UK residents valued 249 states defined by the SF-6D using standard gamble. Econometric models were estimated to predict health state valuations for all 18,000 states defined by the SF-6D. The models addressed the hierarchical nature and skewed distribution of the data. The recommended models produced significant coefficients for levels of the SF-6D, which were robust across model specifications. However, there were concerns with inconsistent estimates and over prediction of the value of the poorest health states. The results demonstrate the feasibility of estimating preference weights for measures of health-related quality and provide a method for analyzing existing SF-36 data to generate preference-based health values for cost-utility analysis.