Readability Score Checker — Test How Easy Your Text Is to Read
Free online readability checker that calculates six readability scores simultaneously: Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, SMOG Index, Coleman-Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index. Shows grade level, reading time estimates, vocabulary diversity, top keywords, and specific improvement suggestions. Results appear automatically as you type.
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How to Check Text Readability
- 01
Paste your text
Paste any article, blog post, or document into the input area. The word and sentence count updates in real time.
- 02
Get scores
Results appear automatically after a short pause. Six readability formulas are calculated simultaneously with a prominent grade level summary.
- 03
Follow suggestions
Review improvement tips tailored to your text — long sentences, complex vocabulary, or sentence structure issues.
Readability Formula Reference
| Formula | Scale | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flesch Reading Ease | 0–100 (higher = easier) | General content | Most widely used |
| Flesch-Kincaid Grade | Grade level (0–18+) | Educational content | Used by US DoD |
| Gunning Fog Index | Grade level (0–20+) | Business writing | Penalizes jargon |
| SMOG Index | Grade level | Health literacy | Needs 30+ sentences |
| Coleman-Liau Index | Grade level | General purpose | Uses characters, not syllables |
| Auto. Readability | Grade level (1–14+) | General purpose | Uses characters per word |
Features
- ✓6 readability formulas calculated simultaneously
- ✓Grade level with audience description and color coding
- ✓Flesch Reading Ease on 0–100 scale
- ✓Full text statistics: words, sentences, syllables, paragraphs
- ✓Vocabulary diversity percentage (unique words)
- ✓Reading time at 3 different speeds (silent, aloud, speed)
- ✓Top 10 most frequent non-stop words
- ✓Actionable improvement suggestions based on your score
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a readability score?
- A readability score measures how easy a piece of text is to read and understand. Most formulas analyze sentence length and word complexity (syllable count or character count) to estimate the US grade level a reader needs to comfortably understand the text. A lower grade level means the text is accessible to more people.
- What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?
- Flesch Reading Ease is a 0–100 scale where higher scores mean easier reading. A score of 60–70 is considered standard and suitable for the general adult public. Scores above 80 are very easy (5th–6th grade), scores below 30 are very difficult (professional/academic). Most blog posts and news articles target 60–70.
- What Flesch Reading Ease score should I aim for?
- For general web content and blog posts, aim for 60–70 (standard). For marketing copy and social media, aim for 70–80 (fairly easy). For educational content for children, aim above 80. Academic papers and legal documents often score 20–40, but for maximum audience reach, keep it above 60.
- What is the difference between Flesch-Kincaid and Gunning Fog?
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and Gunning Fog both estimate the US grade level required to understand text, but use different formulas. Flesch-Kincaid uses average sentence length and average syllables per word. Gunning Fog counts "complex words" (3+ syllables) explicitly. Fog tends to give higher (harder) scores for technical writing.
- How do I improve my readability score?
- The most effective improvements are: (1) Shorten sentences — aim for 15–20 words per sentence. (2) Use simpler words — prefer "use" over "utilize", "start" over "initiate". (3) Break up long paragraphs. (4) Use active voice instead of passive. (5) Replace complex multi-syllable words with shorter alternatives where possible.
- Is my text sent to a server for analysis?
- No. All readability calculations happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never uploaded, stored, or processed on any server. The tool works completely offline once the page has loaded.