How to read your scores
| Reading ease | Grade level | Who can read it easily |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | 5th grade | Age 11 and up |
| 80–89 | 6th grade | Easy conversational English |
| 70–79 | 7th grade | Fairly easy |
| 60–69 | 8th–9th grade | Plain English — a good target for the web |
| 50–59 | 10th–12th grade | Fairly difficult |
| 30–49 | College | Difficult |
| 0–29 | Graduate | Very difficult, for specialists |
The formulas
Flesch reading ease = 206.835 − 1.015 × (words ÷ sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables ÷ words). Higher is easier.
Flesch-Kincaid grade = 0.39 × (words ÷ sentences) + 11.8 × (syllables ÷ words) − 15.59. This is the US school grade needed to understand the text. In the UK, add five to get the reading age.
Five quick ways to make writing easier to read
- Keep most sentences under 20 words. Split anything over 25.
- Use everyday words: “use” instead of “utilise”, “help” instead of “facilitate”.
- Write in the active voice: “We sent the form”, not “The form was sent by us”.
- Put one idea in each paragraph and use headings and lists.
- Read it out loud. If you run out of breath, the sentence is too long.
Writing for search? Pair this with the word counter and the SEO snippet preview.
Readability Checker FAQs
What is a good Flesch reading ease score?
60 to 70 is plain English that most adults read easily. Aim for 60+ for websites, emails and marketing copy.
What grade level should I write at?
For a general audience, 7th to 9th grade is a good target. Even experts prefer easy-to-read text.
Why is my score different from other tools?
Tools count syllables and sentences in slightly different ways, so scores can differ by a few points. Use one tool consistently to track improvements.
Is my text saved anywhere?
No. The analysis runs in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.