Reading Level Calculator
Find the US grade level of any piece of writing in one click. Our reading level calculator combines six published readability formulas — Flesch-Kincaid, Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, and the Automated Readability Index — into a single consensus grade you can act on.
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What "reading level" actually means
Reading level is a US school-grade estimate of how hard a piece of writing is to read. A reading level of 8 means about 8th grade. A reading level of 14 means college level.
The number comes from two measures: average sentence length and word length, counted in syllables or letters. Formulas weight these differently, so the same passage gets a different grade from each one.
This calculator shows a consensus grade, an average across the formulas, alongside the six individual scores.
Reading level targets by audience
| Audience preset | Flesch-Kincaid grade | Flesch Reading Ease |
|---|---|---|
| Children K–6 | 6 or below | 80 or more |
| Middle school | 7–8 | 65 or more |
| General public | 7–9 | 60 or more |
| Legal / compliance | 11 or below | 45 or more |
| Technical / professional | 14 or below | 30 or more |
| Academic | 16 or below | 20 or more |
These are the audience presets in the calculator on the home page. They are this site's rules of thumb, not study results or legal limits. Pick a preset and each score row shows whether it is in target.
About one in six American adults has weak literacy skills, according to the OECD's Survey of Adult Skills. That survey reports skill levels, not school grades. Plain, short writing helps the widest range of readers.
When reading level matters most
- Healthcare and patient information — The most widely cited target is 6th grade, attributed to the AMA. Federal rules for Summary of Benefits and Coverage forms set no grade. They require "terminology understandable by the average plan enrollee."
- Government communications — The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write clearly. It sets no grade level.
- Web content for SEO — Google lists no reading-level ranking factor. Writing at your readers' level is still worth doing for them.
- Insurance policies — some US states set a minimum Flesch Reading Ease score. Florida requires 45 (Fla. Stat. 627.4145).
- Internal corporate writing — operational manuals, SOPs, and policy documents that need to be followed correctly the first time.
Which formula gives the most accurate reading level?
No single formula is "most accurate" for every type of writing. Each was built from a different sample of text and a different test of understanding.
- Flesch-Kincaid is widely used, and Microsoft Word reports it.
- SMOG was found best suited to health care in a 2013 review. It is set to complete comprehension, a stricter standard than Flesch-Kincaid uses.
- Gunning Fog uses sentence length and the share of words with three or more syllables.
- Coleman-Liau counts letters instead of syllables.
- Automated Readability Index also counts characters. This calculator rounds it up to a whole grade.
- Flesch Reading Ease uses the same two inputs as Flesch-Kincaid (sentence length and syllables per word) with different weights. It reports a 0–100 score where higher means easier.
A practical approach is to score against several formulas at once and look at where they agree. The calculator on the home page shows all six scores side by side, with an average grade level.
How to lower your reading level (without dumbing it down)
Lowering reading level isn't the same as making writing worse. A few tactics that lower most of the six scores:
- Cut sentences over 25 words. Most can be split in two.
- Prefer short verbs. "Use" over "utilise." "Help" over "facilitate." "Show" over "demonstrate." Shorter words lower every syllable-based score.
- Replace nominalisations. "Made the decision" → "decided." "Reached an agreement" → "agreed." Verbs are shorter than verb-noun phrases.
- Cut adjectives and adverbs that don't carry weight. If "very," "really," or "clearly" can be deleted without losing meaning, delete it.
- Read aloud. If you stumble, your reader will too. The places you stumble are the places to revise.
- Check several formulas. If one disagrees with the rest, look at what it counts before you trust or dismiss it.
Frequently asked questions
What reading level should a government document be?
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write clearly, but it sets no grade level. Federal plain language guidance tells writers to match the level to their audience. Some agencies and states set their own targets, so check the one that applies to you.
What grade level should a business document be written at?
No standard sets a grade for business writing. Pick a level your readers can follow, then check a draft with someone from that audience.
How do you calculate reading level?
Reading level is calculated from sentence length and word length with one of several formulas. Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog, SMOG, Coleman-Liau and the Automated Readability Index each return a US grade level. This calculator also shows a consensus grade, an average across the formulas.
What reading level is healthcare content supposed to be?
No federal rule sets one grade. The targets most often cited are a 6th-grade level, attributed to the American Medical Association, and an 8th-grade level, attributed to the National Institutes of Health. FDA guidance on consumer medication information suggests sixth to eighth grade.
What reading level are most adults?
The OECD's Survey of Adult Skills reports skill levels, not school grades. It found that about 36 million US adults, one in six, have weak literacy skills.
Which reading level formula is most accurate?
No single formula is most accurate for every text. Each was built from a different sample of text. Score against several and look at where they agree.