Readability Checker
Score your writing with Flesch Reading Ease, grade level and Gunning Fog.
About the Readability Checker
Find out how easy your text is to read before you publish it. Paste an article, essay, email or web page and instantly get its Flesch Reading Ease score, Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Gunning Fog index, plus average sentence length and a list of long sentences worth simplifying.
Readable content keeps visitors on the page longer, works better on small mobile screens and gets your message across to more people.
How to use the Readability Checker
- 1Paste or type your text into the box.
- 2Read your Flesch Reading Ease score and what it means.
- 3Check the grade level and Gunning Fog index for a second opinion.
- 4Shorten the long sentences listed, then check again.
Flesch Reading Ease score chart
Higher scores mean easier text. Most web content should aim for 60 or above:
- 90–100: Very easy — understood by an average 11-year-old
- 80–89: Easy
- 70–79: Fairly easy
- 60–69: Plain English — understood by 13- to 15-year-olds
- 50–59: Fairly difficult
- 30–49: Difficult — college level
- 0–29: Very difficult — university graduate level
How to improve readability
Small edits make a big difference:
- Keep most sentences under 20 words.
- Choose short, everyday words over long, formal ones.
- Write in the active voice.
- Split long paragraphs into two or three sentences.
- Use headings and bullet lists to organize ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Flesch Reading Ease score calculated?
206.835 − 1.015 × (words ÷ sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables ÷ words). Longer sentences and longer words lower the score.
What is a good readability score for SEO?
Readability isn’t a direct Google ranking factor, but clear writing improves engagement. A Flesch score of 60–70 (roughly 8th–9th grade) suits most blogs and business websites.
How accurate is the syllable count?
Syllables are counted with an English-language algorithm that’s right for most words but can miss on unusual names and abbreviations, so treat the scores as a guide.
Is Readability Checker free to use?
Yes — Readability Checker is completely free with no signup, no limits and no hidden costs.
Is my data private and secure?
Everything runs entirely in your browser — your files and text never leave your device, ensuring complete privacy.
Related tools
Explore more free text & writing or browse all 80 tools.