Improve your content's readability

The Flesch-Kincaid readability score (also called Flesch Reading Ease) is a formula that measures how easy a piece of text is to read. It produces a score from 0 to 100, where higher scores mean easier reading. The formula considers average sentence length and average syllables per word to estimate the reading difficulty.

The Flesch-Kincaid grade level converts the readability score into the U.S. school grade level needed to understand the text. For example, a grade level of 8 means the text is suitable for an 8th grader. It uses the same factors as the reading ease score—sentence length and syllable count—but outputs a grade level instead of a 0–100 score.

For general audiences, aim for a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60–70 (8th–9th grade level) or higher. For consumer content and marketing, 70–80 (7th grade) is often recommended. Technical or academic writing may appropriately score lower. Many organizations target 6th–8th grade for maximum accessibility.

To improve readability: use shorter sentences, choose simpler words with fewer syllables, break up long paragraphs, and avoid jargon. Replace complex words with common alternatives where possible. Our calculator helps you measure your current score so you can track improvements as you revise.

Flesch Reading Ease gives a score from 0–100 (higher = easier). Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level gives a U.S. school grade (e.g., 8th grade). Both use the same inputs—sentence length and syllables per word—but present the result differently. Grade level is often preferred when you need to match content to a specific audience education level.