Typing speed test

How WPM is calculated

Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM). To make results comparable across short and long words, one “word” is counted as five characters, spaces included. Typing 250 correct characters in one minute is 50 WPM.

• WPM counts only the characters of words you typed correctly, plus the spaces between them. It is the number to compare with others.
• Raw WPM counts every character you typed, mistakes included. The gap between raw and WPM shows how much your errors cost you.
• Accuracy is the share of your key presses that were right. A mistake you fix still counts against accuracy, because it took time.
• Errors is the number of wrong characters you typed during the test.

The timer starts with your first key, not when the page opens, so you can read the first words before you begin.

Tips to type faster

• Keep your fingers on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and return to it after each key.
• Look at the screen, not at the keyboard. It feels slower at first, then much faster.
• Aim for accuracy first. Speed comes on its own once your fingers stop making corrections.
• Type in a steady rhythm instead of fast bursts followed by pauses.
• Practise a little every day: ten minutes daily helps more than an hour once a week.
• Sit upright with relaxed shoulders and keep your wrists level, not resting on the desk edge.

A typical adult types around 40 WPM. 60 WPM is a good speed for office work, and above 80 WPM is fast.

Typing in your language

The test has common-word lists in 20 languages and starts in the language of this page. Change it with the language menu above the words. Arabic, Persian and Urdu run from right to left, just like on your keyboard.

Japanese and Chinese are written through an input method that turns letters into characters, which would slow a speed test down. That is why Japanese is practised in rōmaji and Chinese in pinyin. Korean and Thai use their own letters.

FAQ