Readability Score Checker
Flesch-Kincaid, Coleman-Liau, and Gunning Fog Index — instantly.
What is readability?
Readability measures how easy a piece of text is to read and understand. Most formulas estimate the US school grade level required to comprehend the text. Lower grade levels mean easier reading; higher means the text requires more education.
Scoring methods explained
Flesch Reading Ease (0–100) — The higher the score, the easier the text. 60–70 is plain English suitable for most adults.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level — Corresponds to US grade levels. Grade 8 = middle school; Grade 12 = high school senior.
Coleman-Liau Index — Uses character counts instead of syllables, producing a similar grade-level estimate.
Gunning Fog Index — Estimates years of formal education needed to understand the text on first reading.
Frequently asked questions
What Flesch score should I aim for?
For general audiences, aim for 60–70 (plain English). Marketing copy and web content often targets 70–80. Academic and legal writing typically scores 30–50.
How accurate are these formulas?
Readability formulas are approximations. They use sentence length and word complexity as proxies for difficulty. They don't account for prior knowledge, context, or vocabulary familiarity. Use scores as a guide, not a definitive verdict.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. All analysis runs locally in your browser. Nothing is transmitted or stored.
