Readability Checker

Free readability checker

A readability checker estimates how easy your writing is to read. This one calculates the Flesch Reading Ease score, the Flesch–Kincaid grade level and the Gunning Fog index from your text, using sentence length and word length.

Readable writing keeps visitors on the page, helps non-native speakers and busy readers, and is easier to scan and share. The scores will not tell you whether your text is good, but they quickly point to sentences and words that make it harder than it needs to be.

How to use it

1. Paste your text into the box. The score updates as you type.
2. Read the Flesch Reading Ease score and the plain-language verdict above the box.
3. Press "More scores" to see the grade level, the Gunning Fog index and the average sentence length.
4. Shorten long sentences and swap long words for shorter ones, then check the score again.

How to read the Flesch Reading Ease score

• 90 to 100: very easy, about 5th grade.
• 80 to 89: easy, about 6th grade.
• 70 to 79: fairly easy, about 7th grade.
• 60 to 69: plain English, about 8th to 9th grade. A good target for most web content.
• 50 to 59: fairly difficult, about 10th to 12th grade.
• 30 to 49: difficult, college level.
• 0 to 29: very difficult, college graduate level.

Common uses

• Bloggers and SEO writers match the writing level to their audience.
• Students check essays for overly complex sentences.
• Business writers make emails, reports and policies clearer.
• Teachers choose reading material at the right level.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?

Scores run from 0 (very hard) to 100 (very easy). Most web content aims for 60 to 70, which is plain English that a 13 to 15 year old can follow. Technical, legal and academic writing often scores lower, and that can be fine for expert readers.

What is the difference between Reading Ease and Grade Level?

Both use the same two inputs, words per sentence and syllables per word. Reading Ease gives a score where higher means easier. Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level converts the result into a US school grade, so 8 means roughly eighth-grade reading level.

How accurate is the readability score?

It is a rough guide. The formulas only look at sentence and word length, not vocabulary, structure or topic, and syllables are estimated automatically. Very short texts give unstable scores, so paste at least 100 words for a meaningful result.

Does it work for languages other than English?

The formulas were designed for English, so scores for other languages are not reliable. The word and sentence counts are still correct.

Privacy

Everything runs locally in your browser. Your text is never uploaded, stored or shared.

Related tools: Sentence Counter · Word Counter · Word Frequency Counter · Reading Time Calculator