Readability score
Paste your text and instantly find out how easy it is to read. You get a 0 to 100 score, the reading level and tips to simplify. No sign up, right in your browser.
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Your readability score shows up here as soon as you type.
The scale is an approximation and works best to compare versions of the same text.
Everything about readability: scale, SEO and how to improve
The readability index turns how easy your text is to read into a number from 0 to 100: the higher the score, the simpler and more direct the content. The most used measure is the Flesch Reading Ease, which combines sentence length and the number of syllables per word. Paste your text above and see the score instantly, with the reading level and the averages behind the result.
What readability is
Readability is how easily someone understands a text on the first read, without rereading. It depends on three things: sentence length, word complexity and clarity of ideas. A readable text reaches more people, in less time and with less effort.
On the web, almost no one reads word by word. Classic usability research shows the average visitor reads only about 20% to 28% of the text on a page. The higher the readability, the more information that quick scan can capture.
How the 0 to 100 scale works
The Flesch Reading Ease places any text on a scale from 0 to 100. High scores mean easy reading; low scores mean dense reading. A text scoring 70 is understood comfortably by someone who finished middle school; a text scoring 30 usually requires a college education. The table below shows each band and its target audience.
| Score | Reading level | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | Very easy | Anyone, instant reading |
| 70 to 89 | Easy | Broad audience, smooth reading |
| 60 to 69 | Standard | Ideal for blogs and brand content |
| 50 to 59 | Medium | Average reader, some focus needed |
| 30 to 49 | Hard | Skilled reader or technical content |
| 0 to 29 | Very hard | Specialists, dense reading |
The formula behind the score
The score comes from two simple averages: the number of words per sentence and the number of syllables per word. Long sentences and long words pull the score down; short sentences and common words push it up. In practice, you improve readability by shortening sentences and swapping fancy terms for everyday ones.
Why readability matters for SEO and conversion
Easy text keeps readers on the page longer, and dwell time is a signal that tends to track good Google rankings. Clear content is also easier to cite: both readers and AI search, like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, pull answers more easily from short, direct sentences.
- More time on page: reading flows, bounce drops and engagement signals improve.
- More conversion: readers who grasp the offer fast move on to the action you want.
- More AI citations: short, clear answers are easier to extract and quote.
- More reach: accessible text includes people reading on mobile, in a hurry or in a second language.
How to make your text easier to read
- Short sentences: one idea per sentence, around 15 to 20 words.
- Common words: choose the everyday term over the fancy one.
- Active voice: say who does the action instead of using passive forms.
- Lean paragraphs: 2 to 3 sentences per block read better on screen.
- Subheadings and lists: break the text into scannable sections with h2 and h3.
- Clear connectors: guide the reader from one idea to the next.
Scannability: write for people who skim
Before reading, people scan the page for what matters. Descriptive subheadings, lists, bold on key points and short paragraphs turn an intimidating block into text that invites reading. Scannability and readability work together: one makes content easy to find, the other makes it easy to understand.
Common questions about readability
What is a readability score?
It is a 0 to 100 score that shows how easy a text is to read. The higher it is, the simpler and more accessible the reading.
How is the score calculated?
The formula combines the average sentence length and the average syllables per word. Short sentences and simple words raise the score; long sentences and long words lower it.
What score should I aim for?
For general audiences, aim for 60 to 80. Technical topics tend to score lower, and that is fine when the audience is specialized.
Does readability affect SEO?
Indirectly. Google does not use a readability score as a direct factor, but easy text increases time on page and the chance of being cited, signals that tend to track well-ranked pages.
Does the calculation work for any language?
The formula was built for English, so syllable counting in other languages is an approximation. Treat the score as a comparative guide between versions of the same text.
Is my text stored on a server?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser, the text is never sent to any server.
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