How to Find a Book’s Level

How to Find a Book’s Reading Level

(For Readers Who Have Cracked the Code)

Knowing a book’s reading level is important—but leveled books should only be used once a child has mastered decoding skills and can accurately read unfamiliar words. I advocate for leveled texts only for readers who have cracked the reading code, meaning they have strong phonics knowledge and do not rely on guessing or pictures to read.

When used appropriately, reading levels can support book selection and reading growth for fluent readers.

Why Knowing a Book’s Reading Level Matters

For children who already decode well, reading levels can help with:

Reading Enjoyment and Confidence

Choosing books that match a child’s reading ability helps fluent readers enjoy reading and build confidence without frustration.

Monitoring Reading Progress

Reading levels can be one tool educators use to track progress over time after foundational skills are secure.

Matching Books to Skill Level

Leveled texts can help match reading material to a child’s current comprehension and fluency level—not to teach decoding.

Avoiding Frustration

Books that are too difficult can overwhelm readers, while books that are too easy may lead to boredom.

Matching Content to Maturity

Reading level alone does not account for subject matter. A child may decode a text but not be developmentally ready for its themes.

Important Note on Reading Levels and the Science of Reading

Reading levels are often determined using readability formulas that analyze sentence length, vocabulary, and text complexity. However, reading levels do not measure whether a child can decode words.

Beginning and struggling readers should receive:

  • Explicit, systematic phonics instruction

  • Decodable texts aligned to taught phonics patterns

Leveled books are not recommended for students who have not yet mastered decoding, as they may encourage guessing rather than accurate word reading.

How to Find a Book’s Reading Level

Once a child is a fluent decoder, you can use the following tools to find book and text levels:

1. Book Leveling Websites

2. Book Leveling Apps

3. Readability Formula Tools

If a book is not listed:

  • Copy a 100-word sample into Readable or Readability Formulas

  • Use the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level as an estimate
    (Some tools may charge a fee; others are free.)

4. Website Readability Levels

To determine the readability of a website or online article:

5. Fry Readability Graph (Old-Fashioned Method)

If digital tools fail, use the Fry Graph to estimate grade level based on sentence length and syllables. Look here.

Common Readability Tests Explained

Some widely used readability formulas include:

These formulas estimate text difficulty, not decoding ability.

Lexile Levels: Another Measurement Tool

You can also find reading levels using Lexile.com:

  1. Click Lexile Tools

  2. Select Find a Book

  3. Enter a book title to see the Lexile level
    Many results also suggest vocabulary words to teach.

You can analyze your own text by pasting it into the Lexile Analyzer. Read about what the Lexile levels mean.

Typical Lexile Reader Measures by Grade

Grade Typical Lexile Range (25th–75th Percentile)
1 Up to 280L
2 230L–580L
3 360L–720L
4 480L–830L
5 620L–950L
6 690L–1020L
7 780L–1090L
8 820L–1140L
9 880L–1170L
10 920L–1200L
11 940L–1210L
12 950L–1220L

Additional Resources

Edited on 12/13/2025
Copyscape alerts me to duplicate content. Please respect my original work.

 

 

 

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