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Check Text Reading Level — Flesch-Kincaid

Built by Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds · Verified formula

Paste text to calculate its reading grade level. Flesch-Kincaid and Flesch Reading Ease scores.

📅 Updated April 2026 ✅ Formula verified 📖 4 min read 🆓 Free · No sign-up

In this article

Understanding Readability Scores
Optimal Reading Levels by Content

Understanding Readability Scores

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: The US school grade needed to understand the text. Grade 8 means an 8th grader can read it. Most popular content targets grade 6-8. Flesch Reading Ease: 0-100 scale where higher = easier. 60-70 = standard, 70-80 = easy, 80+ = very easy. The average American reads at a 7th-8th grade level.

Optimal Reading Levels by Content

Marketing copy: Grade 6-7 (easy to scan). Blog posts: Grade 7-9. News articles: Grade 8-10 (NYT averages grade 10). Academic papers: Grade 12-16. Legal documents: Grade 14+ (notoriously difficult). For maximum reach, aim for grade 7-8 — this is not "dumbing down" your content, it is respecting your reader's time and attention.

⚡ CalcWolf Insight

Amazon product descriptions target grade 6-7. Apple marketing copy averages grade 4-5. The most successful copywriters in history (David Ogilvy, Claude Hopkins) wrote at grade 6-8. Simple writing is not lazy — it is the hardest kind to produce and the most effective at persuading.

Frequently asked questions

What reading level should I write at?▾

For maximum audience reach: grade 6-8. Hemingway wrote at grade 4-5. Academic journals are grade 12-16. The lower the grade level, the more accessible your writing — and accessibility is not a sign of simplicity, but of clarity.

How do I lower my reading level?▾

Use shorter sentences (15-20 words average). Choose common words over fancy ones ("use" not "utilize"). Break long paragraphs. Use active voice ("the dog bit the man" not "the man was bitten by the dog"). Read your text aloud — if you stumble, simplify.

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Kevin Glover · @gloverbuilds

Founder, CalcWolf · GLVTS · Blickr

All formulas sourced from primary references — IRS publications, peer-reviewed research, and official standards. Results are tested against independent reference calculators before publishing. Rates and brackets updated when official sources change. Editorial policy →