How to use the Typing Speed Test
- Choose a test length: 1, 2 or 5 minutes. Longer tests give a steadier result.
- Click the typing box and start typing the passage. The timer starts with your first keystroke.
- Watch the highlighting: correct characters turn dark, mistakes turn red. Use Backspace to fix errors; uncorrected errors lower your net score.
- When time runs out, read your net WPM, accuracy and characters per minute. Your best score for each length is saved on this device.
Features
- Eighteen original passages on everyday topics
- 1, 2 and 5-minute tests with a live countdown
- Live net WPM, accuracy and characters per minute
- Per-character green and red highlighting with a moving cursor
- Net and gross WPM using the standard five-character word
- Personal bests saved locally; works with phone and tablet keyboards
How typing speed is measured
Typing tests count speed in words per minute (WPM), but they do not count actual words, because “a” and “extraordinary” would then be worth the same. Instead, every five characters, including spaces and punctuation, count as one standard word. That makes scores comparable across different texts.
- Gross WPM = (all characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. It measures raw speed.
- Net WPM = gross WPM − (uncorrected errors ÷ minutes). Each mistake you leave in costs you one word per minute, so net WPM rewards accuracy.
- Accuracy = correct keystrokes ÷ total keystrokes. Mistakes you later fix with Backspace still count against accuracy, because they slowed you down.
- Characters per minute (CPM) = correctly typed characters ÷ minutes, a finer-grained speed figure.
Worked example
In a 1-minute test you type 260 characters and leave 4 errors uncorrected. Gross speed is 260 ÷ 5 = 52 WPM. Net speed is 52 − 4 = 48 WPM. If you pressed 270 keys in total and 13 of them were wrong at the moment you typed them, accuracy is 257 ÷ 270 ≈ 95.2%.
What is a good typing speed?
| Net WPM | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Still learning the keyboard, often looking at the keys |
| 25–40 | A common speed for casual typists |
| 40–60 | Comfortable for office work, study and most jobs |
| 60–80 | Fast; useful for writing-heavy and support roles |
| 80+ | Very fast, typical of experienced touch typists |
Some jobs, such as data entry, transcription or customer support, list a minimum speed. Employers usually mean net WPM with a minimum accuracy, often around 90–95%.
How to type faster
- Learn touch typing. Rest your fingers on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and let each finger own its keys. It feels slower at first but pays off within weeks.
- Accuracy before speed. Every error costs time to notice and fix. Slow down until you rarely make mistakes, then build speed gradually.
- Look at the screen, not the keyboard. Read a few words ahead so your fingers always know what comes next.
- Practice little and often. Ten to fifteen minutes a day improves speed more than an occasional long session.
- Sit comfortably. Keep your wrists straight and relaxed, with the keyboard at elbow height.
The 1-minute test is great for quick practice, while the 5-minute test shows your sustainable speed, which is the more honest number for job applications. Pasting is disabled during the test, and nothing you type is sent anywhere. To check the keys themselves, try the Keyboard Tester.
Frequently asked questions
How is WPM calculated?
Every five characters, including spaces, count as one word. Gross WPM is characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes; net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each error you leave uncorrected.
What is the average typing speed?
Many casual typists land somewhere around 35 to 45 WPM, while trained touch typists often exceed 60. Accuracy matters as much as speed, so aim for 95% or better.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap the typing box to bring up your keyboard. Autocorrect and autocapitalization are switched off for the box so your score reflects what you actually type.
Why is my accuracy lower than expected?
Accuracy counts every key you pressed, including mistakes you fixed with Backspace. Fixing errors helps your net WPM, but the original slip still counts against accuracy.
Are my results saved?
Your best net WPM for each test length is saved in your browser so you can track progress. Nothing is uploaded, and Clear bests removes them.