Flesch-Kincaid Reading Score
Calculate reading ease and grade level using Flesch-Kincaid formulas. Suggestions included. Free.
How to use
Flesch Reading Ease
Score 90-100: 5th grade reading level, very easy. 60-70: 8-9th grade, "plain English" — what most journalism and online content targets. 30-50: college level, technical or academic prose. 0-30: very difficult, scholarly publications. The classic 1948 Flesch formula uses: 206.835 − (1.015 × words/sentence) − (84.6 × syllables/word).
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
Returns a US grade-level number directly. A score of 8.2 means the text is at roughly 8th-grade reading level. Most plain-language guidelines target 6-8. Government plain-language laws often mandate grade 8 or below. Reader's Digest is around grade 7; Harvard Business Review is around grade 12.
How to improve a score
Shorten sentences (aim for 15-20 words average). Use shorter words where possible — "use" not "utilise", "help" not "facilitate". Break long paragraphs into shorter ones. Avoid passive voice. Read aloud — anything you stumble on usually scores worse on readability.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?
A score from 0 to 100 where higher is easier to read. Scores of 60-70 are considered plain English, and below 30 is very difficult.
What is the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?
It converts sentence length and syllables per word into a US school grade. A score of 8 means an eighth grader should understand the text.
How can I improve my score?
Use shorter sentences, choose simpler words and break long paragraphs into smaller ones.