BACKGROUND: Social sciences and western psychology have long emphasized the value of a positive attitude toward oneself. Previous research developed psychometric tools such as the Self-Compassion Scale assessing self-compassion, defined as being open to and moved by one’s own suffering. However short version of psychometric tools might be particularly useful in settings where time constraints make the use of the long form less feasible or advisable. The Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF) was developed in order to overcome these limitations. METHODS: We validated the Italian version of the SCS-SF in a relatively large Italian non clinical sample (n = 321). RESULTS: We found that the scale retained a one-factor structure. The SCS-SF showed sound psychometric properties and good convergent validity, since it was found to show very strong correlations with the Unconditional Self-Kindness Scale and the Reassure Self subscale of the Forms of Self-criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS). In addition, the SCS-SF showed good discriminant validity, since it was found to show a strong negative correlation and a very strong negative correlation with the HS subscale and with the IS subscale of the FSCRS, respectively. Finally, the SCS-SF showed good test–retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The use of the SCS-SF is promoted in clinical and research settings in which the assessment of a positive attitude toward oneself is of interest.