Paste any text and get Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Reading Ease, and Gunning Fog scores — instantly.
0 words · 0 sentences
Flesch-Kincaid Grade
–
–
Reading Ease
–
–
Gunning Fog Index
–
–
Verdict
0
Words
0
Sentences
0
Syllables
0
Words / sentence
0
Syllables / word
0
Complex words
0
Paragraphs
0
Min reading time
Hard-to-read sentences
Sentences shaded red are the hardest; amber means moderately hard. Shorten or simplify them to lower your grade level.
Hard (score below 50) Moderate (score 50–60)
Scores are estimates based on sentence length and syllable counts. They stabilize with about 100+ words — on very short text, treat them as a rough guide. Abbreviations like “U.S.” may count as extra sentence breaks.
100% private
Your text is analyzed right in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.
No signup
Paste and analyze in one click. No accounts, no waiting.
Free forever
Check as many articles as you want — there are no word limits or paywalls.
How to use the readability checker
1
Paste your text
Copy your article, essay, email, or web page copy into the box. Anything from a sentence to a full chapter works.
2
Hit “Analyze readability”
The tool counts words, sentences, and syllables, then computes Flesch-Kincaid grade, Reading Ease, and Gunning Fog scores instantly.
3
Fix the highlighted sentences
Red and amber sentences are dragging your score down. Shorten them, split long clauses, or swap complex words for simpler ones — then re-check.
Features
Three proven readability formulas
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, and Gunning Fog Index — the same scores used by educators, publishers, and the US government.
Plain-English verdict
No jargon: the tool translates your grade level into who can comfortably read your text and tells you whether it is blog-ready.
Highlights hard sentences
Each sentence is scored on its own. The hardest ones are shaded red or amber so you know exactly what to rewrite.
Full text statistics
Word, sentence, syllable, and paragraph counts plus averages and an estimated reading time — everything you need for content briefs.
Live word counter
The running word and sentence count under the box updates as you type, so you always know where you stand.
Sample text included
Not sure what to test? One click loads sample copy so you can see exactly how the scores work before pasting your own writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?
It is the US school grade level a reader needs to understand your text. Grade 8 means an eighth grader (about 13–14 years old) should understand it. Most adult web content aims for grade 7–9, which is the reading level of the average American adult.
What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?
A 0–100 scale where higher is easier. Scores of 90–100 are very easy (5th grade level), 60–70 is standard plain English (8th–9th grade), and below 30 is very difficult (college graduate level). Blog posts and marketing copy usually target 60–80.
What is the Gunning Fog Index?
It estimates the years of formal education needed to understand the text on first reading. It penalizes long sentences and “complex” words (3+ syllables). A Fog index of 12 or under is ideal for general audiences; above 18 the text is considered hard to read.
What grade level should I aim for?
For blogs, landing pages, and emails, aim for grade 7–9 (Reading Ease 60–70) — that is where the average US adult reads comfortably. Instructional or technical content can go to grade 10–12; anything above grade 12 should be reserved for academic or specialist audiences.
How can I improve my readability score?
The fastest wins: split long sentences, aim for 15–20 words per sentence, replace long Latin-derived words with shorter plain ones (“utilize” → “use”), prefer the active voice, and break walls of text into short paragraphs.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. All counting and scoring runs in JavaScript inside your own browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool still works.
Why do abbreviations like “U.S.” change the score?
The tool splits sentences at periods, so abbreviations can create false sentence breaks and skew the averages. For the most accurate score, expand abbreviations or accept that the score is approximate on such text.
How accurate are the scores on short text?
These formulas were designed for passages of about 100+ words. On a few sentences the scores are a rough guide — good for comparing drafts against each other, but not precise grade assignments.
