What this calculator does
Typing speed is measured in words per minute, where a word is defined as five characters including the space. The convention exists so that speeds are comparable regardless of what was typed, since counting real words would make a passage of short words score higher than one of long words at the same actual speed.
Gross speed ignores mistakes. Net speed subtracts one word per error per minute, which is the standard penalty and a harsh one by design: a test taken fast and sloppily scores worse than the same speed typed cleanly. Accuracy is reported separately, and it is usually the more useful number to work on.
The formula
The characters typed are divided by five to give words, and those words divided by the minutes taken give gross words per minute. Net speed subtracts the errors per minute from the gross figure, which is the standard scoring used by typing tests. Accuracy is the share of words typed correctly, and the result is floored at zero rather than allowed to go negative.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Word | Five characters including spaces and punctuation, the standard unit for typing measurement. |
| Gross WPM | Raw speed with no penalty for mistakes. |
| Net WPM | Gross speed less one word per error per minute, the figure typing tests usually report. |
| Accuracy | Correct words as a percentage of words typed. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Characters typed | Total characters typed, counting spaces and punctuation. |
| Time taken (minutes) | How long the sample took, in minutes. A one-minute sample is standard but a longer one gives a steadier figure. |
| Incorrect words | How many words came out wrong. Count words rather than characters, since the scoring penalty is per word. |
When to use it
Scoring your own typing test
A character count and a stopwatch are all a test needs. Working the score out this way gives the same figure an online test would report, without one.
Tracking progress over time
Net speed is the figure to watch, because it moves when either speed or accuracy improves. Recording it from the same length of sample each time keeps the comparison fair.
Checking a speed requirement
Roles that specify a typing speed almost always mean net words per minute. Gross speed will flatter you by several words a minute, so check against the net figure.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
What do different typing speeds look like?
A one-minute sample with two mistakes, across a range of character counts.
| Characters typed | Net words per minute | Gross words per minute | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 28.0 wpm | 30.0 wpm | 93.3% |
| 200 | 38.0 wpm | 40.0 wpm | 95.0% |
| 250 | 48.0 wpm | 50.0 wpm | 96.0% |
| 300 | 58.0 wpm | 60.0 wpm | 96.7% |
| 400 | 78.0 wpm | 80.0 wpm | 97.5% |
How much do errors cost?
The same 50 words typed in a minute, with increasing numbers of mistakes.
| Incorrect words | Net words per minute | Gross words per minute | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 50.0 wpm | 50.0 wpm | 100.0% |
| 2 | 48.0 wpm | 50.0 wpm | 96.0% |
| 5 | 45.0 wpm | 50.0 wpm | 90.0% |
| 10 | 40.0 wpm | 50.0 wpm | 80.0% |
Questions
Why is a word defined as five characters?
To make scores comparable. If real words were counted, a passage of short common words would produce a higher score than a passage of long ones typed at exactly the same speed. Fixing a word at five characters removes the text being typed from the measurement.
What is a good typing speed?
Around 40 words a minute is a common average for someone who types regularly without formal training. Sixty to seventy is comfortably fast and is roughly what most jobs specifying a speed are looking for. Above about 100 is unusual and generally means touch typing practised deliberately.
Should I try to type faster or more accurately?
Accuracy, almost always. Errors cost a full word each in the scoring and cost more than that in real work, where a mistake has to be found and fixed rather than simply counted. Speed tends to follow accuracy rather than the other way round.
Does the net figure count a fixed typo as an error?
That depends on the test. Most count a word as wrong if it was wrong when submitted, so a typo caught and corrected costs you the time but not the penalty. The calculator takes whatever error count you give it, so apply whichever convention you are scoring against.
For converting a word count into speaking or reading time, see the reading and speaking time calculator. For words per minute applied to speech rather than typing, see the words per minute calculator.