How to use the typing speed test
- Pick a test length: 15 s, 30 s, 1 min (the default), 2 min or 5 min. A 1 minute typing test is the usual benchmark; longer tests give a steadier, more realistic number.
- Optionally switch on Punctuation (capital letters, commas, full stops and question marks) or Numbers.
- Click or tap the text and start typing. The timer starts with your first key. Press Space after each word. Correct letters turn dark, mistakes turn red, and extra letters you add are shown in red after the word.
- Use Backspace to fix mistakes. You can go back to the previous word only if it contains an error, just like in most popular typing tests.
- When the time is up you see your WPM, Raw WPM, Accuracy, correct and incorrect characters, Consistency, a speed-over-time chart and your Most missed keys. Press New test, Tab or Esc to go again with fresh words.
How words per minute is calculated
Typing tests do not count real words, because "a" and "information" would then be worth the same. Instead, every 5 characters count as one word, including spaces and punctuation. This long-standing convention makes results comparable between texts.
- Raw WPM (also called gross WPM) = all characters you typed ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. It counts every key that produced a character, including ones you later deleted, so it shows how fast your fingers move.
- WPM (net WPM) = correct characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Wrong letters, extra letters and letters you skipped do not count, so this is the number to quote. Some older tests instead subtract uncorrected errors per minute from gross WPM; both approaches punish mistakes, but the exact numbers can differ slightly.
- Accuracy = correct keystrokes ÷ all keystrokes. A mistake you fix still lowers accuracy, because it cost you a keystroke.
- Consistency = how even your speed was from second to second (100% minus the coefficient of variation of your per-second speed). Steady typists score higher; bursts and long pauses lower it.
Example: in a 1 minute test you type 300 characters and 285 of them are correct. Raw WPM is 300 ÷ 5 = 60, net WPM is 285 ÷ 5 = 57 and accuracy is 95%.
What is a good typing speed?
There is no official scale, but these rough bands are widely used. Many casual typists land somewhere around 35 to 45 WPM on a test like this.
| Net WPM | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Beginner, often looking at the keyboard or typing with a few fingers |
| 30–50 | Average everyday typing |
| 50–70 | Above average; comfortable for most office work |
| 70–100 | Fast, usually a practised touch typist |
| Over 100 | Very fast; typical of people who practise or compete |
Common words are easier than real prose and phone typing is usually slower, so average a few tests.
Typing tests for jobs
Many employers check typing speed for administrative, data entry, transcription and secretarial roles. Requirements vary widely: general office roles often mention a minimum of roughly 40 WPM, while transcription and typist roles tend to ask for more and also look closely at accuracy. Data entry tests may measure keystrokes per hour on numbers instead of words. If a job asks for a number, check whether it means net or gross WPM and how long the test lasts, then practise with the same length here. Preparing a CV for such a role? Check it with the ATS CV checker.
Touch typing tips: how to type faster
- Use the home row. Rest your left fingers on A S D F and your right fingers on J K L ;. The small bumps on F and J let you find them without looking.
- One finger per column. Each finger covers the keys above and below its home key; thumbs handle the space bar.
- Don't look down. Looking at the keyboard caps your speed.
- Accuracy first, then speed. Aim for 95% accuracy or more; speed follows once the movements are automatic.
- Practise little and often. Ten to fifteen minutes a day works better than one long session. Target the keys in your Most missed keys list, then switch on Punctuation and Numbers.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens when I type: click or tap the text first so it has focus; the box gets a blue outline when it is ready.
- The keyboard does not open on my phone: tap directly on the words. If words get changed as you type, turn off autocorrect or predictive text for this test.
- A key seems to be missing or doubling: check it with the keyboard tester.
- The test stopped: it resets if you switch to another tab mid-test, so that a background tab can't skew your result.
Privacy: the test runs entirely in your browser. What you type is never sent anywhere; only your settings and personal best per test length are kept in this browser's local storage. More checks for your keyboard, mouse and screen are on the device tests page, including the CPS test and the reaction time test. To count words in your own writing, use the word counter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
There is no single official figure, but many casual typists score roughly 35 to 45 words per minute on a test of common words. Trained touch typists commonly reach 60 to 80 WPM or more, and very fast typists exceed 100 WPM.
How is WPM calculated?
Every 5 characters, including spaces, count as one word. Net WPM is the number of correct characters divided by 5, divided by the test time in minutes. Raw or gross WPM uses all typed characters instead of only the correct ones.
What is the difference between net WPM and gross WPM?
Gross (raw) WPM measures how fast you press keys regardless of errors. Net WPM only counts what you typed correctly, so it is lower whenever you make mistakes. Employers and most typing tests quote net WPM.
Is a 1 minute typing test accurate?
A 1 minute test is the standard quick benchmark and gives a fair idea of your speed. Short tests of 15 or 30 seconds tend to give higher numbers because you can sprint, while 2 or 5 minute tests are closer to real, sustained typing.
What is a good typing speed for a job?
It depends on the role. General office jobs often ask for around 40 WPM or more, and transcription or typist roles usually ask for higher speeds with high accuracy. Always check the employer's own requirement and whether it is net or gross WPM.
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