Readability Calculator
The Flesch reading ease and Flesch-Kincaid grade level scores estimate how hard a passage is to read. Enter the counts from your text and both scores update.
- Free
- Works offline after your first visit
- Saves on this device
- No sign-up
- Updated
How it works
Reading ease uses two averages, words per sentence and syllables per word: 206.835, minus 1.015 times words per sentence, minus 84.6 times syllables per word. Higher means easier, on a scale that runs from 0 to 100.
Grade level uses the same two averages: 0.39 times words per sentence, plus 11.8 times syllables per word, minus 15.59. It estimates the US school grade a reader would need to follow the text.
Worked example
A passage of 250 words in 12 sentences scores 57 for reading ease, about grade 10.5.
Questions
How do I count syllables?
Count the vowel sounds in each word, and do not count a silent e. A word processor or a counting tool can speed this up.
What is a good score?
Higher reading ease means easier text. Public documents often aim for plainer language, but the right target depends on the audience.
Does this work for other languages?
No. These formulas were written for English, so the scores mean little for other languages.
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