Readability Score Calculator

Analyze your text with Flesch-Kincaid & Gunning Fog

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
0.0
Waiting for input…
0 Flesch Reading Ease (0-100)
0 Gunning Fog Index
0 Total Words
0 Sentences
0 Total Syllables
0 Complex Words (3+ Syllables)

Why Readability Affects SEO & Conversions

You might have the best ideas in the world, but if your writing is too complex, your audience will bounce. Readability measures how easy it is for people to read your text. In the digital age, attention spans are short.

Google has also indicated that content should be accessible. If users spend more time reading your content (because it’s easy to digest), your “Time on Page” metrics improve, sending positive signals to search engines. This Readability Score Calculator helps you find the sweet spot.

🎯 The Goal: For general web content, aim for a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 6 to 8. This ensures your content is understood by the widest possible audience (comparable to Harry Potter or Time Magazine).

Understanding the Scores

Metric What it Means Good Score
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Corresponds to US school grade levels. (e.g., 8.0 = 8th grader). 6.0 – 8.0
Flesch Reading Ease A 0-100 scale. Higher is easier. Lower is harder. 60 – 70
Gunning Fog Estimates years of formal education needed to understand the text. 8 – 10

How the Calculation Works

This tool analyzes three core components of your text:

  • Sentence Length: Long sentences are harder to follow. (Formula looks at Words per Sentence).
  • Word Complexity: Long words with many syllables slow readers down. (Formula looks at Syllables per Word).
  • Complex Words: The Gunning Fog index specifically penalizes words with 3 or more syllables.

3 Tips to Improve Readability

1. Shorten Your Sentences

Try to keep sentences under 20 words. If you see a comma, consider if it could be a period. Break one complex thought into two simple ones.

2. Use Simple Words

Why say “utilize” when you can say “use”? Why say “facilitate” when you can say “help”? Simple vocabulary reduces cognitive load.

3. Use Active Voice

Passive voice is often wordy and vague.
Passive: “The ball was thrown by the boy.” (7 words)
Active: “The boy threw the ball.” (5 words)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does a lower Grade Level mean my content is “dumb”?

Not at all. Ernest Hemingway wrote at a 4th-grade level, yet his work is profound. Low grade level simply means “high clarity.” It respects your reader’s time.

How accurate is the syllable counter?

Our tool uses a heuristic algorithm to estimate syllables based on vowel patterns. While it is highly accurate for English text, it may have slight variations compared to a dictionary-based check.

Is readability a Google ranking factor?

Indirectly, yes. While Google hasn’t confirmed it as a direct ranking signal, readable content leads to lower bounce rates and higher dwell time, which are ranking factors.