Typing ToolkitWords per minute (WPM) test
Find your typing speed in words per minute. Choose a duration, click the box and start typing. The clock starts on your first keystroke.
Put your fingers to work.
How your score is calculated
Typing tests count five characters, including spaces and punctuation, as one "word". This makes results comparable between passages with long and short words. Typing Toolkit reports:
| Number | How it is worked out |
|---|---|
| WPM | Correct characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes elapsed. Mistakes do not count towards speed. |
| Raw WPM | All characters typed ÷ 5 ÷ minutes, including mistakes. Shown in the result. |
| Accuracy | Correct characters ÷ characters typed × 100. |
| Errors | Characters that do not match the passage at the moment the test ends. |
Example: in a one-minute test you type 230 characters and 220 are correct. WPM is 220 ÷ 5 ÷ 1 = 44, raw WPM is 46 and accuracy is 96%. The clock starts on your first keystroke, so you can read the passage and settle your hands first.
Which duration should you choose?
- 15 or 30 seconds: a quick burst. Scores run higher because there is no time to tire, so do not compare them with longer tests.
- 1 minute: the standard for most online tests and many job screenings. Best for tracking progress.
- 2 or 5 minutes: closer to real work. Endurance and concentration matter, and most people score a few WPM lower.
The passage keeps extending as you type, so even a five-minute test never runs out of text.
Getting a reliable result
- Sit comfortably with your fingers resting on the home row.
- Take two or three tests at the same duration and use your average, not your best run.
- Do not fix every mistake mid-test if you are measuring raw speed, but for job tests practise correcting as you go.
- Retest at the same time of day to compare fairly. Most people are slower when tired.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good WPM?
A large 2018 study of 168,000 online typists found an average of 52 WPM, with most people between 30 and 60. See average typing speed for what the numbers mean.
Does pressing Backspace hurt my score?
Correcting a mistake costs a little time but turns an error into a correct character, which counts towards WPM and accuracy.
Is my typing stored?
Only your scores are saved, in your own browser, so the progress page can show your trend. The text you type is not stored or sent anywhere.
Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction