Flesch Reading Ease Calculator
The Flesch Reading Ease score puts a number on how hard a passage is to read, on a scale where higher means easier. It depends on just two ratios: average words per sentence, and average syllables per word. This calculator applies the exact published formula. Enter your word, sentence, and syllable counts directly for a defensible score, or paste text to use the optional approximate syllable counter. The result includes the reading-level band so you can tell at a glance whether your writing is plain English or graduate-level.
Flesch Reading Ease formula
Score = 206.835 - 1.015 * (words / sentences) - 84.6 * (syllables / words)
Higher scores indicate easier reading. The two driving ratios are average sentence length (words per sentence) and average word length in syllables. Shorter sentences and shorter words both raise the score.
Worked example
A passage with 120 words, 8 sentences, and 180 syllables. Words per sentence = 120 / 8 = 15. Syllables per word = 180 / 120 = 1.5. Score = 206.835 minus 1.015 times 15 minus 84.6 times 1.5 = 206.835 minus 15.225 minus 126.9 = 64.71. That falls in the 60 to 70 band, plain English.
Flesch Reading Ease: frequently asked questions
What is the Flesch Reading Ease formula?
The Flesch Reading Ease score is 206.835 minus 1.015 times (words divided by sentences) minus 84.6 times (syllables divided by words). Higher scores mean easier reading. A score of 60 to 70 is plain English; 90 to 100 is very easy, suitable for an average 11-year-old.
What do the score bands mean?
The commonly cited bands are: 90 to 100 very easy, 80 to 90 easy, 70 to 80 fairly easy, 60 to 70 plain English, 50 to 60 fairly difficult, 30 to 50 difficult, and 0 to 30 very difficult (college graduate level). Scores can fall below 0 or above 100 for extreme texts.
How do I count syllables for the formula?
Count the spoken syllables in each word and total them across the passage. This calculator includes an optional approximate counter when you paste text, but syllable counting by rule is imperfect for English, so enter your own verified syllable total for an exact, defensible score.
Where does this formula come from?
The Flesch Reading Ease test was developed by Rudolf Flesch and is one of the most widely used readability tests. The U.S. government references the Flesch family of readability measures in plain-language guidance, and the closely related Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is built into many word processors.
Sources and method
- Formula: the published Flesch Reading Ease equation, 206.835 minus 1.015 times (words/sentences) minus 84.6 times (syllables/words).
- Plain-language and readability guidance, U.S. government: plainlanguage.gov.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.