Typing Speed Test
Take a free typing speed test: type a short passage and get your net words per minute, gross WPM, accuracy, and error count, scored with the standard 5-characters-per-word formula.
This typing test starts the clock on your first keystroke and scores you live as you type. Net WPM uses the standard typing-test formula — (characters typed ÷ 5, minus errors) ÷ minutes — so speed only counts when it is accurate. Six original passages, per-letter highlighting, and a results card that shows gross WPM, net WPM, accuracy, and errors.
The market opens before the sun is fully up, and the first shoppers arrive with lists written on the backs of envelopes. Farmers arrange tomatoes in neat rows while bakers stack warm bread on wooden shelves. By eight o'clock the narrow lanes are full of neighbors greeting each other and arguing cheerfully about the price of peaches.
0.0
Net WPM
100.0%
Accuracy
0
Errors
0.0s
Time
How to use this calculator
- Pick a passage from the dropdown — six original practice texts are included.
- Click into the typing box and start typing the passage exactly as shown; the timer starts on your first keystroke.
- Watch the passage highlight: green letters are correct, red letters are mistakes. Live net WPM and accuracy update as you go.
- Finish the passage to see your results card: net WPM, gross WPM, accuracy, errors, and total time.
- Press Restart to retry the same passage, or switch passages for a fresh test.
The formula
Net WPM = ((characters typed ÷ 5) − errors) ÷ minutes typed. Gross WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes typed. Accuracy = correct characters ÷ total characters typed.
Worked example
Type 250 characters in 60 seconds with 10 errors: gross WPM = (250 ÷ 5) ÷ 1 = 50. Net WPM = 50 − 10 = 40. Accuracy = 240 ÷ 250 = 96%. These exact numbers come from the scoring function this page uses and are covered by its unit tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is typing speed (WPM) calculated?
Typing tests treat one 'word' as 5 characters, including spaces. Gross WPM is (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. Net WPM subtracts your errors first: ((characters typed ÷ 5) − errors) ÷ minutes. Net WPM is the fairer score because fast-but-sloppy typing gets penalized.
What is a good typing speed?
Average office typing is around 40 WPM. Professional typists and data-entry workers typically reach 65–75 WPM, and speeds above 100 WPM are expert level. Accuracy matters as much as raw speed — most employers would rather see 50 WPM at 98% accuracy than 70 WPM at 90%.
Why did my WPM drop when I made mistakes?
Because this test reports net WPM: every error subtracts from your score before it is divided by time. Ten errors in a one-minute test cost you 10 WPM. Slow down slightly and type clean — your net score usually goes up, not down.
Can I paste text into the typing box?
No — pasting is disabled on purpose. A typing test only means something if every character comes from your own fingers, so the box ignores pasted text.
How can I improve my typing speed?
Practice a little every day with all ten fingers, keep your eyes on the passage instead of the keyboard, and prioritize accuracy first — speed follows accuracy. Short daily sessions of ten minutes beat one long session a week.