⌨️ Typing Speed Calculator
Typing speed is expressed in words per minute (WPM), but errors count against you. Enter how many words you typed, in how much time, and with how many errors to see both your gross and your true (net) speed and accuracy.
Net typing speed
48 wpm
Gross typing speed
50 wpm
Accuracy
96%
Gross speed: words ÷ minutes: 250 ÷ 5 = 50 wpm
Net speed: gross − (errors ÷ minutes): 50 − (10 ÷ 5) = 48 wpm
Formula
Net WPM = (words ÷ minutes) − (errors ÷ minutes)
Gross speed counts everything you typed, regardless of errors. Net speed subtracts one word per error, per minute, giving a fairer picture of your real typing skill. Accuracy expresses what percentage of your words were error-free: (words − errors) ÷ words × 100.
Steps
- 1Type a piece of text for a fixed amount of time and note how many words you typed.
- 2Count the number of errors (mistyped or missing words) and enter it along with the time.
- 3Review your gross and net WPM and your accuracy percentage.
Typing speed benchmarks
| Level | Speed (WPM) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | < 30 | Still hunting for the keys |
| Average | 40–60 | Typical speed of an everyday computer user |
| Skilled | 60–80 | Lots of typing experience, fluent touch typing |
| Professional | 80–100+ | Typist, transcriptionist or competitive typer |
Guideline values based on common typing tests; language and keyboard layout affect the result.
commonMistakes
- Only reporting gross speed, which makes an inaccurate typist look faster than they are.
- Using too short a test duration, so random spikes distort the result too much.
- Not counting errors, when net speed actually gives the best picture of usable typing skill.
useCases
- Tracking your progress while practising typing.
- Testing candidates for a role where typing speed and accuracy matter.
- Comparing different keyboards or typing methods against each other.