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How to test your typing speed and understand your WPM
A typing test tells you how fast you type in words per minute (WPM) and how accurately. Job applications sometimes ask for it, and it is the simplest way to see whether practice is paying off.
The fastest way
Open the Typing Speed Test, pick a length (1 minute is standard) and start typing the words shown. The timer starts on your first keystroke. Letters turn green when they match and red when they don't, and new words keep appearing until time runs out.
How the score is worked out
- WPM: correct characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. A "word" is five characters, spaces included.
- Raw WPM: the same, but counting every character you typed, right or wrong.
- Accuracy: the share of keystrokes that were right when you typed them. A mistake you fixed with Backspace no longer lowers your WPM, but it still counts against accuracy.
What is a good speed?
Many people who type regularly land somewhere around 35 to 45 WPM. 60 WPM and above is fast, and dedicated typists pass 100. Accuracy matters as much as speed: 95% or better is a good target before you push your pace.
How to improve
- Touch type: keep your fingers on the home row and your eyes on the screen.
- Slow down until you are accurate, then speed up gradually.
- Practise for 10 to 15 minutes a day; short, regular sessions beat long ones.
- Use the same test length each time so your results are comparable.
A note on privacy
Your typing is compared to the text in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or uploaded, and paste is turned off so the result reflects real typing.