Readability Score Checker — Free Online Tool
Last updated: January 2025
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What is Readability Score Checker?
Readability Checker calculates Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning Fog Index to show how easy your text is to read.
When to use Readability Score Checker?
Use it for blog posts, academic papers, marketing copy, legal documents, and any content where audience accessibility matters.
How to use this tool
- 1Paste your text in the input area
- 2Click 'Analyze' to get readability scores
- 3Review grade level, reading ease, and recommendations
Examples
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| (Simple blog post) | Flesch score: 70-80 (Fairly Easy) | Grade: 6-7 |
| (Academic paper) | Flesch score: 30-50 (Difficult) | Grade: 12-16 |
| (Children's book) | Flesch score: 90+ (Very Easy) | Grade: 3-4 |
| (Legal contract) | Flesch score: 10-30 (Very Confusing) | Grade: 18+ |
| (News article) | Flesch score: 60-70 (Standard) | Grade: 8-9 |
Rules & Behavior
- Flesch Reading Ease: 100 = very easy, 0 = very difficult
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade: US school grade level to understand
- Gunning Fog: estimates years of education needed
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flesch Reading Ease?
The Flesch Reading Ease formula (206.835 - 1.015×ASL - 84.6×ASW) produces a score from 0-100. Higher scores mean easier reading. Score 60-70 is 'Standard'; most web content should target 60-80.
What is Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?
It estimates the US school grade level a reader needs to understand the text. A score of 8 means 8th grade reading level. Most online content should target grade 6-8.
What is the Gunning Fog Index?
Gunning Fog (0.4 × (ASL + 100×CW/W)) estimates the years of formal education needed to understand the text on first reading.
What readability score should I aim for?
For general web content: Flesch score 60-70, grade level 7-9. For mass market content: Flesch 70-80, grade 6-8. Academic: Flesch 40-60.
Can I improve my readability score?
Yes: use shorter sentences, simpler words (fewer syllables), active voice, and more whitespace. Shorter paragraphs also improve perceived readability.