How to Check Your Website Reading Level (and Improve It) in 2026

Is your website easy to read? In 2013 we checked our website reading level with a Google search filter that sorted results into Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Google removed that filter years ago, but reading level still matters: most people skim on phones, and simple, clear writing keeps them reading. Here is how to check your website reading level in 2026, and how to improve it.

Quick answer: Paste your page URL or text into a free readability checker such as the WebFX Readability Test, Hemingway Editor or Readable. Look at the Flesch Reading Ease score (60 to 70 is plain English) and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (aim for grade 7 to 9 for most websites). Then shorten long sentences, use common words and break up long paragraphs.

What happened to Google’s reading level filter?

Google once let you add “Reading level” to search tools and see how much of a site was Basic, Intermediate or Advanced. Back then QuickOnlineTips came out mostly Intermediate, Reddit was mostly Basic and Stack Overflow was more Advanced. Google quietly removed the feature around 2015, so you now need a readability tool to measure it.

How to check your website reading level

• WebFX Readability Test: enter a URL or paste text to get Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid grade, Gunning Fog and other scores.
• Hemingway Editor: highlights long, hard-to-read sentences, passive voice and complex words, and shows a grade level as you edit.
• Readable: detailed readability scores and keyword checks, with a free trial.
• Microsoft Word: turn on “Show readability statistics” in Options > Proofing to see Flesch scores after a spelling check.
• WordPress SEO plugins: Yoast SEO includes a readability analysis, and Rank Math flags long paragraphs and sentences while you write.

Understanding readability scores

• Flesch Reading Ease: 0 to 100. Higher is easier. 60 to 70 is plain English that most adults read easily. Below 30 is very difficult.
• Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: the US school grade needed to understand the text. Most popular websites aim for grade 7 to 9.
• Gunning Fog Index: estimates years of education needed. Under 12 is good for a general audience.

Technical topics will score harder, and that is fine. The goal is to remove unnecessary difficulty, not to dumb down expert content.

How to improve your website reading level

1. Keep most sentences under 20 words.
2. Use short paragraphs of two to four sentences.
3. Choose everyday words: “use” instead of “utilise”, “help” instead of “facilitate”.
4. Write in active voice: “We tested the app” instead of “The app was tested”.
5. Add headings, lists and tables so readers can scan.
6. Explain jargon the first time you use it.
7. Make text easy to see as well as read. See how to optimize legibility with CSS.

Does reading level affect SEO?

Readability scores are not a Google ranking factor. But clear writing helps readers understand and stay on your page, earns more shares and links, and makes it easier for search engines and AI answers to pick out your main points.

FAQ

What is a good reading level for a website?

Around grade 7 to 9, or a Flesch Reading Ease score of 60 or higher, suits most general audiences.

Can I check the reading level of a competitor’s site?

Yes. Tools like the WebFX Readability Test accept any public URL.

Is there a free reading level checker?

Yes. The WebFX tool and the Hemingway Editor website are free to use. For more help, see these online resources for better writing.

What reading level does your site score? Share it in the comments.