Paste your text to check its readability score and reading level. You get Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Gunning Fog, all worked out in your browser.
A readability score of 60 to 70 and a grade level of 6 to 8 suit most website text. If you run a bakery, a salon or a plumbing firm, your customers should understand your page the first time they read it.
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See our SEO & GEO servicesHow to use the readability score checker
- Paste your text: a web page, email, menu description, flyer or any other copy.
- Read the statistics: words, sentences, syllables and reading time update as you type.
- Check the three scores: Flesch Reading Ease, grade level and Gunning Fog each look at your text a little differently.
- Edit and re-check: shorten long sentences and swap long words for short ones until the score improves.
What is a good readability score?
Flesch Reading Ease runs from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the easier the text. Here is how to read your result:
| Score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | Very easy | Short, chatty text. Good for social posts. |
| 80 to 89 | Easy | Conversational. Good for emails and menus. |
| 70 to 79 | Fairly easy | Good for most blog posts and web pages. |
| 60 to 69 | Standard | Plain English. The target for most website text. |
| 50 to 59 | Fairly difficult | Reads as formal. Fine for professional services. |
| 30 to 49 | Difficult | College level. Too hard for most customers. |
| 0 to 29 | Very difficult | Academic or legal writing. |
What the three scores mean
- Flesch Reading Ease (0 to 100, higher is easier): the most common readability score. Aim for 60 to 70 for website text. Academic papers usually score below 30.
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: the US school grade needed to understand the text. Grade 8 means an 8th grader can follow it. Aim for grade 6 to 8 for customers.
- Gunning Fog Index: the years of schooling a reader needs on a first read. Most popular sites and newspapers sit between 8 and 12.
Why readability matters for a small business website
- Customers read quickly: most people skim a page on their phone, so plain words get your offer across before they leave.
- Clear pages get more enquiries: if a visitor understands your prices and services at once, they are more likely to call or book.
- Easier for everyone: simple writing helps people who read English as a second language and anyone reading on a small screen.
- SEO plugins check it: Yoast SEO and Rank Math both include readability checks, so a good score here helps you pass them.
Example: Rosa runs a flower shop. Her About page scored 38, so she split her longest sentences and cut the jargon, and it now scores 66. Want a website that explains what you do in plain words? See our website building services.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good readability score?
For most website text, a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60 to 70 is a good target. Emails and social posts can go higher, up to 80. Scores below 30 are hard going for most readers.
What is a good reading level for a website?
Grade 6 to 8 works for most business websites. That is close to the level of popular newspapers. Professional and B2B pages can go up to grade 10 to 12.
How do I improve my readability score?
Cut sentences over 20 words in two. Swap long words for short ones, for example use “buy” instead of “purchase”. Keep paragraphs to 2 or 3 lines.
What is the difference between Flesch Reading Ease and grade level?
Both use sentence length and word length. Reading Ease gives a score from 0 to 100 where higher is easier. Grade level gives a US school grade where lower is easier.
How accurate is the syllable count?
The tool estimates syllables with a standard English rule. It is accurate for common words but can miscount names and unusual terms, which has little effect on the overall score.
Does this tool store my text?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your text is never sent to a server or saved.
Is the readability checker free?
Yes. It is free, with no account and no usage limit.
Sources
- Wikipedia, “Flesch-Kincaid readability tests“, accessed October 2026.
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