Typing Speed Test
Measure your typing speed in words per minute (WPM) and accuracy with an interactive test. Simply read the sample text displayed on screen and type it as quickly and accurately as possible — the timer starts on your first keystroke and stops the moment you finish.
WPM is calculated using the standard formula: net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ elapsed minutes, where five characters represent one average word. Accuracy is the percentage of correctly typed characters out of the total characters you entered. Regular practice lowers your error rate and builds muscle memory for faster, more confident typing.
How it works
Net WPM = (Correct Characters ÷ 5) ÷ (Elapsed Time in Minutes). Accuracy % = (Correct Characters ÷ Total Characters Typed) × 100. The divisor of 5 represents the average word length in English.
Use cases
- Benchmarking your typing speed before applying for data-entry or administrative jobs
- Tracking improvement over time as you practise touch-typing techniques
- Warming up before a long writing or coding session
- Comparing typing performance across different keyboards or layouts
- Identifying whether accuracy or raw speed is your main bottleneck
Frequently asked questions
How is WPM calculated in a typing test?
Net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ elapsed time in minutes. Every five correctly typed characters count as one standard word, so typing 300 correct characters in 2 minutes gives (300 ÷ 5) ÷ 2 = 30 WPM. Mistyped characters are excluded, which is why errors lower your score.
What is a good typing speed in words per minute?
It depends on what you type for: casual use, office work, and professional data entry all set different bars, and job postings that require typing usually state their own minimum. Rather than chasing a universal number, benchmark yourself with a first test and track your improvement over repeated sessions — consistent gains in speed while keeping high accuracy are the real sign of progress.
Why does a typing test count a word as 5 characters?
Real words vary in length, so tests use a fixed convention of five characters per word to make scores comparable across different texts and different tests. This standardization means your WPM on a passage full of short words can be fairly compared with your WPM on one full of long words.
What is the difference between gross WPM and net WPM?
Gross WPM counts every character you typed, right or wrong, while net WPM counts only the correct characters. Net WPM is the more meaningful measure because it penalizes errors — a fast typist with many mistakes can have a lower net score than a slower but precise one. This test reports net WPM together with an accuracy percentage.
How can I improve my typing speed and accuracy?
Prioritize accuracy first: since only correct characters count toward net WPM, reducing errors often raises your score more than typing faster. Learn touch typing so each finger covers fixed keys, keep your eyes on the screen instead of the keyboard, and practice in short, regular sessions to build muscle memory.