WPM test
WPM means words per minute. It is the usual number for typing speed.
This page gives you the test and also shows how each number is worked out: WPM, raw WPM and accuracy.
Take the test, then read the example below to check your result.
Take the test
Click the text and type. The timer starts on your first key.
Time left: 60 s
Press Tab and then Enter to restart.
Your history
- Best WPM
- —
- Average of the last 10
- —
- Tests saved
- 0
No tests yet. Your results show here after your first test.
No weak keys in your history yet.
How to use it
- Click the text box. The timer starts on your first key.
- Type the text for the time you chose. Use backspace to fix a mistake.
- Read your WPM, raw WPM and accuracy.
- Compare the numbers with the example below.
How the score is worked out
WPM is the number of correct characters, divided by 5, divided by the minutes you typed.
What the three numbers mean
WPM counts only the correct characters in your text. It is the speed that you can use.
Raw WPM counts all the characters you typed, also the wrong ones. It is never lower than WPM.
Accuracy is the share of your keystrokes that were right. A mistake that you fix with backspace still counts as an error.
Why divide by 5? A word in a typing test is 5 characters, spaces included. This makes short and long words fair.
A worked example
You type for 60 seconds. You press 300 keys. Of these, 20 are wrong, and you do not fix them.
- WPM: 280 correct characters / 5 / 1 minute = 56.
- Raw WPM: 300 typed characters / 5 / 1 minute = 60.
- Accuracy: 280 right keystrokes of 300 = 93.3%.
A rough guide to speeds
This is a guide and not a standard. Speed depends on the text and on the person.
| Speed | Level |
|---|---|
| Under 25 WPM | Learning |
| 25 to 40 WPM | Below average |
| 40 to 60 WPM | Average to good |
| 60 to 80 WPM | Fast |
| Over 80 WPM | Very fast |
Questions
What is a good WPM?
Many people type between 35 and 45 WPM. A speed of 60 WPM is fast. A speed above 80 WPM is very fast.
Why does WPM divide by 5?
A word in a typing test is 5 characters, spaces included. This gives a fair number for short and long words.
Is accuracy part of WPM?
Not directly. WPM counts only the correct characters in the text. Accuracy shows the share of your keystrokes that were right. Look at both numbers.
Is my WPM the same on every test?
No. It changes with the text, the mode and the time. Compare tests of the same kind.