Use it to check whether a page, an email, a contract clause or a school handout is pitched at the right audience. Most public-facing web copy should aim for grades 7-9. For the same passage, the Syllable Counter shows the underlying syllable counts.
Calculator
Formula used
Flesch = 206.835 − 1.015(w/s) − 84.6(syl/w) · FK grade = 0.39(w/s) + 11.8(syl/w) − 15.59
How to use the Reading Level Checker
- Paste the passage you want to measure.
- The scores update as you type - no button needed.
- Compare Flesch Reading Ease with the Flesch-Kincaid grade.
- Check the structure table to see what is driving the score.
About this tool
The Reading Level Checker is built for speed and accuracy: every calculation runs in your browser, so your data never leaves your device and the result updates as you type. It works equally well on a phone, a tablet or a desktop, and it is free to use as many times as you like.
Common use cases
- Simplifying web copy for a wider audience.
- Checking a school handout against a reading age.
- Editing a contract clause for plain English.
- Comparing two drafts for readability.
Tips for the best result
- Use the latest figures you have - even a small change in rate or term can shift the outcome by hundreds.
- For annual figures, divide by 12 to get a monthly number you can compare with the result.
- Bookmark this page and revisit the calculation as the inputs change.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Flesch score?
60-70 is "plain English" and the usual target for public-facing web copy. News sites often sit at 50-60; academic papers at 30-40.
Do the formulas work for non-English text?
No. They are calibrated for English syllable and sentence patterns. Other languages need their own readability formulas.
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