Reading Level Checker
Flesch–Kincaid grade and reading ease for your text
Readability decides whether your audience finishes the book. A middle-grade novel written at a college reading level will lose its readers, and a business book buried in long sentences feels harder than it is. Paste a passage and this tool scores it against the standard readability tests.
What reading level should my book be?
Most commercial fiction and general non-fiction aim for a Flesch-Kincaid grade of 6 to 8, which is roughly a Reading Ease of 60 to 70. That is not writing down to readers, it is the level at which prose feels effortless. Literary fiction and academic work sit higher, children's and middle-grade lower.
What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?
It runs from 0 to 100, where higher is easier. A score above 60 is considered plain English that most adults read comfortably. It is calculated from average sentence length and average syllables per word, so the two fastest ways to make text easier are shorter sentences and simpler words.
How do I lower my reading level?
Cut sentence length first, since it moves every score the most. Break long sentences at the natural join. Then replace multi-syllable words where a shorter one carries the same meaning. Read a flagged paragraph aloud, and wherever you run out of breath, add a full stop.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Flesch-Kincaid grade level for a novel?
Grade 6 to 8 suits most commercial fiction. It reads smoothly for a wide adult audience without feeling simplistic.
Is a lower reading level worse writing?
No. Clear, low-friction prose is a craft skill. Most bestsellers score in the plain-English range, and difficulty is not a mark of quality.
What does the Flesch Reading Ease number mean?
It is a 0 to 100 scale where higher is easier to read. Above 60 is plain English; below 30 is difficult, college-and-up text.
Does this tool store my text?
No. The analysis runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you paste is sent anywhere or saved.