Readability Score Checker
Analyze pasted text for readability with Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau and Automated Readability Index scores, plus word/sentence/syllable counts.
Input
Output
Readability Scores
| Metric | Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| No data yet | ||
Text Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| No data yet | |
Guides
What does this readability checker measure?
Paste any text and instantly get six widely-used readability formulas, plus the word, sentence and syllable counts behind them:
- Flesch Reading Ease — a 0–100 score where higher means easier to read. 60–70 is considered plain, everyday English; below 30 is roughly "graduate level" writing dense with long words and long sentences.
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level — the U.S. school grade a reader needs to follow the text on first read (e.g. 8.0 ≈ eighth grade).
- Gunning Fog Index — estimates years of formal education needed, weighted toward "complex" words (three or more syllables). General-audience writing usually aims below 12.
- SMOG Index — predicts grade level from the proportion of polysyllabic words; commonly used for health and safety literature where under- or over-estimating difficulty carries real consequences.
- Coleman-Liau Index — grade level derived purely from letters-per-word and sentence length, with no syllable counting at all.
- Automated Readability Index (ARI) — grade level from characters-per-word and words-per-sentence, another syllable-free formula, useful as a cross-check against the syllable-based scores.
Because the formulas weigh sentence length and word length differently, they won't always agree — that spread is informative. If Coleman-Liau and ARI (both syllable-free) diverge sharply from Flesch and Fog (both syllable-based), the text likely has many long-but-simple words (brand names, numbers) rather than genuinely complex vocabulary.
How syllables are counted
None of these formulas work without an estimate of syllables per word, and English spelling doesn't map cleanly to pronunciation. This tool uses a vowel-group heuristic (count runs of vowels, adjusting for a trailing silent "e" and endings like "-ed"/"-es") rather than a dictionary lookup — the same class of approximation most readability tools use. It's accurate for the large majority of ordinary English words but can misjudge irregular words, contractions, and loanwords. Treat the syllable count, and anything derived from it (Flesch, Flesch-Kincaid, Fog, SMOG), as a close estimate rather than an exact figure.
Who is it for?
- Writers and editors checking a draft reads at the level intended for its audience.
- UX and technical writers keeping instructions, help docs, and consent text within a target grade level.
- Students benchmarking essays against assignment readability guidelines.
- SEO content teams who want copy to score well before publishing.
How to use it
- Paste or type your text — scores update live as you type.
- Read the Readability Scores table: each row pairs a score with a plain-language assessment (Very Easy → Very Difficult).
- Check Text Statistics for the raw counts (words, sentences, syllables) and estimated reading time.
- Copy or download the scores table as CSV for a style-guide review or content audit.
What's a "good" score?
There's no universal target — it depends on your audience. General consumer web copy usually aims for a Flesch Reading Ease around 60–70 (Grade 7–8), while technical or academic writing routinely scores in the 30s or lower. Aim the score at the audience, not at a single "correct" number.
Does this tool store or upload my text?
No — everything runs in your browser (and, if you call the API, on the request only). Your text isn't saved or logged.