Books get a measure
MetaMetrics analyzes a book's sentence length and vocabulary to place it on the scale. Longer sentences and rarer words push the measure up. The number describes difficulty only—not themes, content, or quality.
Books by Lexile® level
Turn a Lexile measure into their next book.
A Lexile measure puts readers and books on the same scale, from BR (Beginning Reader) past 1200L. If a school assessment sent home a number, pick the matching range below and we'll pull every book that fits.
- Scale
- BR–1385L
- Score comes from
- School assessments
- Best-fit range
- −100L to +50L
Pick a range
Lexile ranges by grade
Each range reflects where mid-year readers in that grade typically land. Choose the one that matches your reader's measure—grade is just the signpost.
How Lexile works
One scale, two sides
Lexile is unusual in that it measures readers and books with the same yardstick—which is exactly what makes matching possible.
Readers get one too
Many school assessments—MAP Growth, i-Ready, SRI, and most state reading tests—report a Lexile measure alongside their own scores. A reader at 650L is expected to comprehend about 75% of a 650L text: engaged, not frustrated.
Fit beats stretch
Aim from about 100L below their measure to 50L above it. Easier books build speed and confidence; harder ones are great as read-alouds. And always let interest overrule the number—a motivated reader out-reads their level.
Translate between systems
How Lexile compares
Schools mix systems freely—a Lexile from the state test, letters from the classroom. Here's how the scales line up, grade by grade.
| Grade level | Lexile | ATOS | Fountas & Pinnell | Browse books |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | BR40L–230L | 0.0–1.0 | A–C | Browse → |
| 1st grade | 190L–530L | 1.0–1.9 | C–I | Browse → |
| 2nd grade | 420L–650L | 2.0–2.9 | I–M | Browse → |
| 3rd grade | 520L–820L | 3.0–3.9 | M–P | Browse → |
| 4th grade | 740L–940L | 4.0–4.9 | P–S | Browse → |
| 5th grade | 830L–1010L | 5.0–5.9 | S–V | Browse → |
| 6th grade | 925L–1070L | 6.0–6.9 | V–Y | Browse → |
| 7th grade | 970L–1120L | 7.0–7.9 | Y–Z | Browse → |
| 8th grade | 1010L–1185L | 8.0–8.9 | Z–Z+ | Browse → |
| 9th–12th grade | 1050L–1385L | 9.0+ | Z+ | Browse → |
Ranges follow published grade-level charts for each system and overlap on purpose—readers rarely sit inside one tidy box. Bookroo's level filters run on Lexile measures, so ATOS and Fountas & Pinnell ranges are translated to their closest Lexile equivalents when you browse.
Good to know
Common Lexile questions
- What does BR mean on the Lexile scale?
- BR stands for Beginning Reader. It marks measures below 0L, and the number counts down toward zero—so a BR100L book is easier than a BR40L book. BR titles are a natural fit for kindergarten and early first grade.
- What range of books should my child read?
- A common starting point is the reader's Lexile measure minus 100L up to about 50L above it. Books near the bottom of that span build fluency and confidence; books near the top offer a comfortable stretch. Reading aloud together can go well above it.
- Is a higher Lexile measure better?
- Not by itself. A Lexile measure describes text difficulty, not quality or age-appropriateness—many beloved, sophisticated stories carry modest measures. The goal is fit: books your child can actually enjoy and finish.
- How does Lexile compare to ATOS or Fountas & Pinnell?
- All three describe text difficulty on different scales. ATOS uses grade-style decimals like 3.5, and Fountas & Pinnell uses letters A through Z+. The chart on this page lines all three up against grade levels so you can translate between them.
Speak your school's language
Prefer a different system?
Pre-K–12thGrade levelNo score needed—browse by the grade your child is in right now.Explore Grade levels →0.0–13.0+ATOSThe grade-decimal scale used by Accelerated Reader and STAR testing.Explore ATOS levels →A–Z+Fountas & PinnellThe A-to-Z guided-reading gradient many classrooms level with.Explore F&P levels →