Readability Score Checker
Paste or type any text and this tool scores how easy it is to read
Paste or type any text and this tool scores how easy it is to read
How to use Readability Score Checker
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Read your Flesch Reading Ease score and the average grade level shown below it.
- Simplify long sentences and complex words, then recheck until you hit your target level.
About Readability Score Checker
Paste or type any text and this tool scores how easy it is to read. It calculates the Flesch Reading Ease score (0–100, where higher is easier) alongside five grade-level formulas: Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, and the Automated Readability Index. It also breaks down the raw numbers behind those scores — word count, sentence count, syllable count, words per sentence, and how many complex (three-or-more-syllable) words appear.
The formulas rely on counting syllables, sentences, and letters. Syllables are counted with an English-language heuristic based on vowel groups rather than a full pronunciation dictionary, so the scores are close estimates rather than exact figures — accurate enough to compare drafts and hit a target reading level, but not authoritative to the decimal. Very short passages score less reliably because the formulas assume several full sentences; SMOG in particular is designed for longer samples.
Everything runs live in your browser as you type. Nothing is uploaded, stored, or sent anywhere, so you can safely check drafts, client copy, or unpublished content in private.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good readability score?
- For a general web audience, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease of 60 or higher and a grade level around 7 to 9. Technical or academic writing naturally scores higher (harder); marketing and consumer content usually reads best in the grade 6 to 8 range.
- Which readability formulas does it use?
- It computes Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, the Gunning Fog Index, the SMOG Index, the Coleman-Liau Index, and the Automated Readability Index, plus an average grade level across the five grade formulas.
- How accurate are the scores?
- The formulas themselves are standard and exact, but they depend on syllable counting, which this tool estimates with an English heuristic instead of a dictionary. Expect scores within about a grade level of dictionary-based tools — good for comparing drafts and hitting a target, not for decimal-precise reporting.
- Is my text private?
- Yes. All analysis happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never uploaded, saved, or transmitted, so unpublished or confidential content stays on your device.
- Why do very short texts give odd results?
- Readability formulas assume several complete sentences. A single sentence or fragment can produce extreme or misleading scores. Paste at least a full paragraph — ideally 100+ words — for a meaningful reading level.
- Does it work for languages other than English?
- No. The syllable, sentence, and word rules are tuned for English. Other languages will produce inaccurate scores because the formulas and syllable heuristic assume English spelling and structure.