Readability Score
Check the reading level and complexity of your text.
How to Use the Readability Score Tool
Paste your text into the box and click Analyse. Three readability scores are calculated instantly, along with a breakdown of the metrics they're based on.
Readability Scores Explained
Flesch Reading Ease
Scores text from 0 to 100. Higher scores mean easier to read. Most web content targets 60–70. Academic writing typically scores 30–50. A score above 70 is appropriate for general audiences; below 30 is very difficult.
| Score | Reading level |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | Very easy — 5th grade |
| 70–90 | Easy — 6th grade |
| 60–70 | Standard — 7th–8th grade |
| 50–60 | Fairly difficult — 9th–10th grade |
| 30–50 | Difficult — college level |
| 0–30 | Very difficult — professional/academic |
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
Outputs a US school grade level. Grade 8 means the text is appropriate for an average 8th grader. Most general-audience web content should target Grade 6–8.
Gunning Fog Index
Estimates the years of formal education needed to understand the text on first reading. A score of 12 corresponds to high school graduation level. Most business writing targets 10–12; technical documentation can reach 15+.
What Affects Readability?
- Sentence length — shorter sentences are easier to read
- Word length/syllable count — longer words reduce readability scores
- Complex words — polysyllabic words (3+ syllables) drive the Fog Index up
Privacy
All calculations run locally in your browser. No text is sent to a server.