About this tool
Typing Speed Test
Typing Test measures words per minute and accuracy over 30, 60 or 120 seconds, with word lists, quotes, or your own custom text to type.
How to use it
- Choose a mode: Words, Quotes, or Custom text.
- Pick a duration of 30, 60 or 120 seconds.
- Start typing. Errors are marked as you go.
- Read your WPM and accuracy at the end.
How WPM is actually calculated
A word in typing measurement is defined as five characters, including spaces. Your gross WPM is the number of characters typed divided by five, divided by the minutes elapsed. That standard exists so that typing hello and typing internationalisation are scored proportionately.
Net WPM subtracts errors. This is why accuracy matters more than raw speed: at 90 percent accuracy you are spending a tenth of your effort producing text that has to be fixed, and in real work the correction costs more time than the typing saved.
Worked example
Working out a score:
- Characters typed300
- Divided by 560 words
- Time60 seconds
Result: 60 WPM gross. Average adult typing is about 40 WPM, and professional typists run 70 to 90.
When it helps
- Measuring a baseline before practising.
- Tracking improvement over weeks.
- Practising on your own text, which is more useful than random word lists.
- Preparing for a job that tests typing speed.
Common mistakes
- Practising speed at the expense of accuracy. Speed built on errors does not transfer to real work.
- Testing for 30 seconds only. Short tests flatter you, because everyone can sprint briefly.
- Looking at the keyboard. It caps your ceiling permanently, however fast you get in the short term.