Flesch-Kincaid Readability & Grade Checker
Analyze your article or landing page copy against standard readability formulas. Optimize sentence lengths and vocabulary to hit Google's recommended 60–70 reading ease sweet spot.
Article or Page Copy
Paste your copy below for real-time readability evaluation:
Text Density Metrics
- Total Sentences: 10
- Total Syllables: 230
- Avg Syllables per Word: 1.62
- Complex Words (3+ syllables): 22 (15.5%)
Checking Whether Your Copy Is Actually Readable
Most drafts read fine to the person who wrote them. This checker scores your text with the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level formulas, then shows which sentences are dragging the score down — usually the long ones carrying three clauses and a semicolon.
Paste an article, a landing page, or a single paragraph into the box above. You get the reading ease score, the US grade level, average sentence length, and the share of words carrying three or more syllables, updating as you type.
🛠️ Practitioner Pro Tip: The Syllable Density & Conversion Sweet Spot
Flesch Reading Ease penalizes words with 3 or more syllables and sentences exceeding 20 words. Empirical conversion rate studies across SaaS landing pages show that copy written at a 60.0 to 70.0 Reading Ease (equivalent to an 8th-grade reading level) delivers the highest conversion rates, communicating complex ideas with zero cognitive friction.
What the Readability Scores Mean
Flesch Reading Ease runs from 0 to 100, and higher means easier. Most web copy aims for 60 to 70, which sits around a Grade 8 reading level. Legal and academic writing often lands below 30 — fine for that audience, a problem for anyone else.
Both formulas are driven by sentence length and syllable count, so the fastest way to lift a score is to split long sentences and swap multi-syllable words for shorter ones. The tool highlights both rather than just handing you a number.
Reading Ease Score Bands
For more detailed technical walkthroughs, explore our in-depth article on Words to Minutes Presentation Timing Guide. You can also browse our full directory of 18+ free web utilities on the SBS ToolBench homepage.
Readability Questions Writers Ask
What is a good readability score for web content?
Aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score between 60 and 70. This ensures average adult web users can scan, comprehend, and take action effortlessly.
How does Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level differ from Reading Ease?
Reading Ease is a 0-100 scale (higher is easier). Grade Level corresponds to US school grade levels (e.g. 8.2 means understandable by an 8th grader).
How can I quickly improve my text readability score?
Break long complex sentences into two shorter sentences, replace Latinate words with plain Anglo-Saxon equivalents, and eliminate passive voice.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Score: How Reading Ease Impacts Google Rankings (2026)
Target 60-70 Reading Ease and Grade 7-8 readability to maximize dwell time and satisfy Google Helpful Content criteria.
Read Full Technical Guide & Documentation →