Typing Speed Test: Words Per Minute and Accuracy
Type the words as they appear. The timer starts on your first keystroke and you get net WPM, raw WPM and accuracy the moment time runs out.
Your result
Speed through the test (WPM each second)
Typing speed shapes how much you get done every single day, from emails and reports to code and chat in the middle of a game. Yet most people have never measured it properly. This typing speed test gives you a stream of common English words and a clock. Choose 15, 30, 60 or 120 seconds, type as many words as you can, and get your words per minute, accuracy and characters per minute the moment time runs out.
Random common words are the fairest way to measure raw typing ability because there is no punctuation, no capital letters and no unusual vocabulary to trip over. It isolates your finger speed and accuracy, and makes your results comparable from day to day.
How to take the typing speed test
- Pick a duration. One minute is the standard for comparing typing speeds, while 15 seconds suits a quick warm up.
- Click the input box below the words. The timer starts with your first keystroke.
- Type the highlighted word, then press Space to move on. Letters turn green when correct and red when wrong.
- Keep going until the timer reaches zero. The words scroll automatically so you never run out.
- Read your net WPM, raw WPM, accuracy and characters per minute, and see how your speed changed across the test in the graph.
Press New words or Escape at any time to restart with a fresh set.
How typing speed is calculated
The standard word
Typing tests define a word as five characters, including spaces. This keeps results fair, because typing “internationally” counts for more than typing “at”. Your speed is the number of those five character words you type per minute.
Net WPM versus raw WPM
Raw WPM counts every character you typed, right or wrong. Net WPM counts only characters in words you typed correctly, which is the number that reflects useful output. The gap between them tells you how much speed you lose to errors.
Accuracy per keystroke
Accuracy is measured on every key you press, not just on the final text. If you type a wrong letter and fix it with backspace, the word may end up correct but the mistake still counts against accuracy. That is deliberate: corrections cost time, and a real accuracy figure shows you where it goes.
Characters per minute and the speed graph
Characters per minute is the same measurement as net WPM without the division by five, and some employers and exams prefer it. The graph plots your running net speed at the end of each second. A line that climbs and levels off is healthy. A line that peaks early then sinks means you started too hard, while repeated sharp drops usually line up with a string of corrections. Looking at it after each attempt shows what to fix far better than the final number alone.
What is a good typing speed?
| Net WPM | Level |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Beginner, often still looking at the keys |
| 25 to 40 | Average for casual computer users |
| 40 to 60 | Above average, comfortable for most office work |
| 60 to 80 | Fast, typical of people who type all day |
| 80 and above | Very fast, usually trained touch typists |
Aim for 95 percent accuracy or better. A fast score at 85 percent accuracy means you spend a lot of real world time fixing mistakes, and in most jobs clean text matters more than raw speed.
Short tests versus long tests
15 and 30 seconds
Short tests measure peak speed. You can hold full concentration, so scores run higher. They are great for warming up and for drilling.
60 and 120 seconds
Longer tests reveal endurance and consistency. The speed graph often shows a dip in the middle where focus slips. Two minute scores are the closest to real sustained typing.
If you want something that feels more like real writing, the WPM test uses complete passages with punctuation and capital letters and times you until you finish.
How to type faster
- Learn touch typing. Keep your fingers on the home row and stop looking down. It feels slower for a week or two, then overtakes your old method.
- Slow down to speed up. Practice at a pace where you make almost no errors. Speed follows accuracy.
- Read ahead. Look at the next word while finishing the current one so your fingers are already preparing.
- Practice little and often. Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
- Relax your hands. Tension makes fingers slower and less precise, and increases the risk of strain.
- Track your weak keys. Notice which letters you miss most often and type words full of them on purpose for a few minutes each session.
A reliable keyboard helps too. If a key feels inconsistent, check it with the keyboard tester, and if you type fast enough to press several keys together, confirm your board keeps up with the ghosting test. For a break from words, the spacebar counter and the reaction time test measure raw speed in a different way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
Most adults type between 35 and 45 words per minute. People who type for work often reach 60 to 80 WPM, and trained touch typists can exceed 100 WPM.
Why is my net WPM lower than my raw WPM?
Net WPM only counts correctly typed words. The difference between the two numbers is speed lost to errors, so improving accuracy is the quickest way to close the gap.
Do mistakes I fix still lower my accuracy?
Yes. Accuracy is measured per keystroke, so a corrected mistake still counts as a wrong key press. That mirrors how corrections slow you down in real typing.
Which test length should I use?
One minute is the standard for comparing speeds. Use 15 or 30 seconds for quick practice and 120 seconds to test endurance.
Can I take the typing test on a phone?
Yes, the input box works with on-screen keyboards, but scores are usually much lower than on a physical keyboard.
What is a good typing speed?
Around 40 WPM is average. 60 to 80 WPM is fast for most jobs, and above 100 WPM is considered very fast.
How is accuracy calculated?
Accuracy is the share of characters you typed correctly out of all characters typed, including corrected mistakes.
Should I look at the keyboard while typing?
Try not to. Touch typing is slower at first but becomes much faster and more accurate with practice.
How often should I practise?
Ten to fifteen minutes a day of focused practice improves speed faster than occasional long sessions.
Related tools
Random words prove speed. Real text proves skill.
Punctuation, capitals and full sentences are where fast typists slow down. See your true WPM on complete passages.