About this tool
Flesch-Kincaid readability analysis for any text.
The Readability Score tool calculates multiple readability indices from any text. The Flesch Reading Ease score (0–100, higher = easier) indicates how easy the text is to read. The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level shows the US school grade required to understand it. Also included: Gunning Fog index, SMOG index, average sentence length and average word length.
Example
Input: "The cat sat on the mat."
Flesch Reading Ease: ~116 (Very Easy) · Grade Level: K (Kindergarten)
How to use
- Paste or type your text.
- Scores calculate automatically.
- Compare against target grade levels.
- Use the suggestions to simplify or enrich writing.
Features
- Flesch Reading Ease score
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
- Gunning Fog Index
- SMOG Index
- Average sentence and word length
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flesch Reading Ease?+
A score from 0–100. Higher scores mean easier reading. 60–70 is plain English for most adults. Under 30 is academic-level writing.
What grade level should I target?+
Web content typically targets grade 6–8 (US). News articles aim for grade 8–10. Academic papers are 12+.
Why is my score low?+
Long sentences and long words reduce readability. Try breaking complex sentences into shorter ones and replacing jargon with simpler synonyms.
How much text is needed?+
At least a few complete sentences are required for reliable scores. Very short texts produce unstable results.
What Flesch score should a blog post target?+
60–70 is ideal for general web content. Under 30 is academic-level writing. Over 80 reads like a children's book.
Why do lists improve readability scores?+
Lists break up long sentences and reduce average sentence length, which directly improves Flesch and Fog index scores.