Why does a word count as 5 characters?

Words differ in length, so counting real words would make a text of long words look slow and a text of short words look fast. Typing-test convention fixes this by defining one “word” as five characters, spaces and punctuation included, so a score depends on how many keystrokes you made and not on which passage you got.

What is the difference between gross and net WPM?

Gross WPM counts everything you typed, right or wrong. Net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each error you left uncorrected, so a passage full of typos scores lower than a clean one at the same pace. Net can never go below zero.

How is accuracy worked out?

Accuracy is the correct characters divided by the typed characters in the box when the test ends. A mistake you fixed with Backspace is not in the box any more, so it does not lower accuracy; it only costs you the time you spent fixing it.

When does the timer start?

On your first keystroke, or when you start composing a character with an input method editor. Clicking the box, reading the passage or changing the length does not start it. Backspace on an empty box does not either.

Why can’t I paste into the box?

A speed test measures your typing, and pasted text would score thousands of words per minute. Pasting and dropping text are blocked, with a note when you try.

Does it work with an on-screen keyboard or an input method editor?

Yes. While a composition is in progress (for example a Japanese or Chinese input method, or an accent being built) nothing is scored; the characters count once you confirm them. The passage itself is English words, so you need to be able to type Latin letters.

Where do the words come from, and is my score saved?

The passage is picked from a list of everyday English words written for this site, using a seeded generator, so the same seed always gives the same text. Nothing you type is uploaded. If you tick “Remember my best score on this device”, your best net WPM for each length is kept in this browser’s storage until you press “Forget saved scores”.

Why is my score different on another site?

Sites differ in how they treat mistakes, whether deleted characters count, and what text they use. This one counts the characters in the box at the end, uses 5 characters per word, and subtracts uncorrected errors per minute.

Typing Speed Test

Choose 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 2 minutes and start typing: the clock starts with your first keystroke. Speed is counted in words per minute (WPM) where a word is 5 characters, spaces included. For example, 300 characters in 60 seconds with 6 still wrong scores 60 gross WPM, 54 net WPM, 98% accuracy and 300 characters per minute. The words come from a built-in list, nothing you type leaves your browser, and pasting is turned off.

Updated 2026-10-17Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is uploadedHow this tool works

Test length

30 s60 s2 min

Seconds left: 60
Net WPM (live): 0
Accuracy: —

Passage

wall mushroom badge waltz bold aunt kind block carpet chest pair ocean relating ladder pastel crab notebook danger spice clock umbrella oyster campfire nest music kitten road football umbrella saddle leopard face journey cucumber plan form flame boot post doorbell cook video salad hope breeze fork sport pocket garden thunder towel novel cook juice slide pillow fountain soap brick wallet banana mountain weekend ship rocket game summer ginger farmer lemonade salmon ladder raven ticket back plate edge window kayak flow violin thumb parrot bear horn turkey lime sunny flower kitchen jungle chair peach carpet autumn chef weather cold needle tennis echo cupcake starfish exit leopard leafy ceiling path door waltz pear near path shoelace waltz block tune potato helmet heat snowball vest orchard kite lantern keyboard carrot mist room tulip knot farmer concert scarf fair tile medal cabbage hook stove volcano basket shell relating cube flamingo theater dozen novel eagle

Type here

Start typing to begin. The clock starts with your first keystroke.

Pasting is turned off: a speed test only means something if you type the text yourself. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Remember my best score on this device

How scoring works

A word is 5 characters, spaces included, so every passage is scored the same way.
Gross WPM = (typed characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes.
Net WPM = gross WPM − uncorrected errors ÷ minutes.
Accuracy = correct characters ÷ typed characters. CPM = typed characters ÷ minutes.
Example: 300 characters in 60 s with 6 wrong is 60 gross, 54 net, 98% accurate, 300 CPM.

How each number is calculated

Worked example: 300 characters in 60 seconds with 6 still wrong.
Measure	Formula	Example
Gross WPM	(typed characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes	(300 ÷ 5) ÷ 1 = 60
Net WPM	gross WPM − uncorrected errors ÷ minutes	60 − 6 ÷ 1 = 54
Accuracy	correct characters ÷ typed characters	294 ÷ 300 = 98%
CPM	typed characters ÷ minutes	300 ÷ 1 = 300

Characters needed for a given speed

Gross characters to type in each test length at 5 characters per word.
Speed	30 s	60 s	2 min
30 WPM	75	150	300
40 WPM	100	200	400
60 WPM	150	300	600
80 WPM	200	400	800
100 WPM	250	500	1000

How to take the typing speed test

Pick a length. Choose 30 seconds, 60 seconds or 2 minutes. Changing the length gives a passage of the right size.
Click the typing box. Click or tab into the box under the passage. The clock does not start until you press your first key.
Type the passage. Type the words as shown, spaces included. Wrong characters are marked in the passage; Backspace fixes them. Pasting is blocked.
Read your result. When time runs out (or you reach the end of the passage) the result card shows net WPM, gross WPM, accuracy and characters per minute. Press Try again for a new passage.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a word count as 5 characters?: Words differ in length, so counting real words would make a text of long words look slow and a text of short words look fast. Typing-test convention fixes this by defining one “word” as five characters, spaces and punctuation included, so a score depends on how many keystrokes you made and not on which passage you got.
What is the difference between gross and net WPM?: Gross WPM counts everything you typed, right or wrong. Net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each error you left uncorrected, so a passage full of typos scores lower than a clean one at the same pace. Net can never go below zero.
How is accuracy worked out?: Accuracy is the correct characters divided by the typed characters in the box when the test ends. A mistake you fixed with Backspace is not in the box any more, so it does not lower accuracy; it only costs you the time you spent fixing it.
When does the timer start?: On your first keystroke, or when you start composing a character with an input method editor. Clicking the box, reading the passage or changing the length does not start it. Backspace on an empty box does not either.
Why can’t I paste into the box?: A speed test measures your typing, and pasted text would score thousands of words per minute. Pasting and dropping text are blocked, with a note when you try.
Does it work with an on-screen keyboard or an input method editor?: Yes. While a composition is in progress (for example a Japanese or Chinese input method, or an accent being built) nothing is scored; the characters count once you confirm them. The passage itself is English words, so you need to be able to type Latin letters.
Where do the words come from, and is my score saved?: The passage is picked from a list of everyday English words written for this site, using a seeded generator, so the same seed always gives the same text. Nothing you type is uploaded. If you tick “Remember my best score on this device”, your best net WPM for each length is kept in this browser’s storage until you press “Forget saved scores”.
Why is my score different on another site?: Sites differ in how they treat mistakes, whether deleted characters count, and what text they use. This one counts the characters in the box at the end, uses 5 characters per word, and subtracts uncorrected errors per minute.

How it works

The passage is a run of lowercase words drawn without repeating the previous word, from a fixed word list, with a seeded random generator; a longer test gets a longer passage (150 words per minute of test). Each time you type, the box is compared with the passage one character (Unicode code point) at a time: a match is correct, a difference is an error, and anything beyond what you have typed is not counted. Gross WPM is typed characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes, net WPM is gross minus errors ÷ minutes (not below zero), accuracy is correct ÷ typed, and CPM is typed ÷ minutes. The timer measures from the first keystroke with the browser’s monotonic clock; the live number uses at least one second of elapsed time so the first letters do not read as an absurd speed. If you reach the end of the passage early, the score uses the time you actually took. Anonymous usage statistics record only that a test started or was restarted.

Sources

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