Reading Time Calculator
A reading time calculator is a tool that estimates how long a text takes to read. Reading time equals the…
Coming 12 OctFree readability score checker
Paste your text to see four readability scores and the sentences that slow readers down.
Works best with at least 100 words of plain text. Remove menus, code and tables before pasting.
Result
0Flesch Kincaid grade
0Gunning Fog
0SMOG grade
0Words
0Sentences
0Words per sentence
Scores are estimates. Syllables are counted with a vowel group rule, so results can differ slightly from other tools.
The free readability score checker runs in your browser, needs no sign-up and never sends what you type anywhere.
Quick answer
This readability score checker calculates Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch Kincaid grade level, Gunning Fog and SMOG from your text in the browser. For most web pages, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease of 60 or higher (about an 8th to 9th grade level) and keep most sentences under 20 words.
What is a readability score checker?
A readability score checker is a tool that estimates how hard a text is to read from sentence length and word length. Flesch Reading Ease is 206.835 minus 1.015 times words per sentence minus 84.6 times syllables per word, so shorter sentences and shorter words give a higher, easier score.
How do you use the Readability Score Checker?
- Paste your article, page copy or email into the text box.
- Read the Flesch Reading Ease score at the top: 60 or more is plain English for most audiences.
- Compare the grade level scores (Flesch Kincaid, Gunning Fog, SMOG) with the reading level of your audience.
- Check the list of long sentences and split each one into two shorter sentences.
- Paste the edited text again and confirm the score moved in the right direction.
What is a good readability score for SEO?
A Flesch Reading Ease score of 60 to 70 is a good target for most web content, which roughly equals an 8th to 9th grade reading level. Google does not use a readability score as a ranking factor, but its helpful content guidance asks for content that is easy for people to read and use. Technical pages for experts can score lower and still be fine.
How is the Flesch Kincaid grade level calculated?
Flesch Kincaid grade level is 0.39 times average words per sentence, plus 11.8 times average syllables per word, minus 15.59. The result maps to a US school grade, so a score of 8 means an average 8th grader should understand the text. Syllables are estimated by counting vowel groups, so every tool gives slightly different numbers.
What reading level does WCAG recommend?
WCAG 2 success criterion 3.1.5 (level AAA) says that when text needs a reading ability beyond lower secondary education, roughly 7 to 9 years of school, you should provide supplemental content or a simpler version. That is close to a Flesch Kincaid grade of 9 or below.
Quick reference
| Flesch Reading Ease | Difficulty | Approx. school level |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | Very easy | 5th grade |
| 80 to 89 | Easy | 6th grade |
| 70 to 79 | Fairly easy | 7th grade |
| 60 to 69 | Plain English | 8th to 9th grade |
| 50 to 59 | Fairly difficult | 10th to 12th grade |
| 0 to 49 | Difficult to very difficult | College and above |
Worked example
Example
Example: a 300 word blog intro has 12 sentences and 450 syllables. That is 25 words per sentence and 1.5 syllables per word, so Flesch Reading Ease is 206.835 minus 25.4 minus 126.9, about 54.5 (fairly difficult). Splitting it into 20 sentences gives 15 words per sentence and a score of about 64.7, which is plain English.
Frequently asked questions
Does Google use readability scores to rank pages?
No. Google has not said it uses Flesch or any other readability formula as a ranking factor. Readable text still helps because visitors understand it, stay longer and are more likely to act, which supports the people first content Google describes in its guidance.
Why do readability tools give different scores for the same text?
Tools count syllables and sentences in slightly different ways. Some treat abbreviations, numbers, headings and list items differently, and syllable counting is an estimate based on vowel groups. Expect a few points of difference and use one tool consistently to track changes.
What is the Gunning Fog index?
The Gunning Fog index estimates the years of formal education needed to understand a text on first reading. It is 0.4 times the sum of average sentence length and the percentage of complex words, meaning words with three or more syllables. A score of 12 or less suits a wide audience.
What is the SMOG readability formula?
SMOG estimates the grade level from the number of words with three or more syllables. It was designed for samples of 30 sentences, so this checker scales the count to 30 sentences. On short texts the result is only a rough estimate and is best compared with the other scores.
How can I improve my readability score quickly?
Split sentences over 20 words, replace long words with shorter ones where meaning stays the same, use active voice and break walls of text into short paragraphs and lists. These edits raise Flesch Reading Ease and lower all three grade level scores.
Is my text sent anywhere when I use this checker?
No. The scores are calculated by JavaScript inside your browser. Nothing you paste is uploaded, stored or shared, so you can safely check drafts, client copy or unpublished articles.
Sources
Facts checked against these official pages. Read how I check facts in my editorial policy.
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