How the typing test works
- Pick a length: 30 seconds, or 1, 2, 3 or 5 minutes.
- Click the box under the text and start typing. The timer starts on your first key.
- Type the highlighted word and press Space to move to the next one. Letters turn green when correct and red when wrong.
- When time runs out, you get your WPM, accuracy, raw speed and how many words you got right.
Press Esc at any time to restart with new words. Tick Punctuation & capitals for a harder, more realistic test.
How WPM and accuracy are calculated
- WPM (net): correctly typed characters (including spaces) ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Dividing by 5 turns characters into “standard words”, so long and short words count fairly.
- Raw WPM: everything you typed ÷ 5 ÷ minutes, mistakes included.
- Accuracy: correct keystrokes ÷ all keystrokes.
If your raw WPM is much higher than your net WPM, slow down slightly. Fixing mistakes costs more time than typing carefully.
Typing speed benchmarks
| WPM | Level |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Beginner, often hunt-and-peck |
| 25–40 | Below average to average |
| 40–55 | Average adult typist |
| 55–75 | Fast. Comfortable for most jobs |
| 75–100 | Very fast, professional level |
| 100+ | Competitive typist |
Which length should you choose?
| Length | Measures | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds | Top speed in a short burst | (above) |
| 1 minute | The most common quick check | 1-minute test |
| 2–3 minutes | A steadier, more reliable score | 2-minute · 3-minute |
| 5 minutes | Job-style assessment length | 5-minute test |
| 7 minutes | Longer than a job-style check | 7-minute test |
| 10 minutes | Endurance and consistency | 10-minute test |
| 15 minutes | Long work sessions | 15-minute test |
How to type faster
- Learn touch typing. Rest your fingers on the home row (A S D F, J K L ;) and use the bumps on F and J to find it without looking.
- Look at the text, not the keyboard. Reading ahead keeps your fingers moving.
- Accuracy first. Practise at a speed where you make almost no mistakes, then push gradually.
- Use the right finger for each key, even when it feels slower at first.
- Practise little and often. Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
- Sit well. Keep your wrists straight and floating, with your elbows at about 90°.
Want to test raw finger speed instead? Try the keyboard CPS test. If a key keeps doubling letters, check it with the key chatter test.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good typing speed?
Around 40 WPM is a typical adult typing speed. 60–70 WPM is fast and enough for most office jobs, and 100+ WPM is competitive-typist territory. Accuracy above 95% matters as much as speed.
How is WPM calculated?
A 'word' is counted as 5 characters, including the space after it. WPM = correctly typed characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Raw WPM counts everything you typed, mistakes included.
Do mistakes count against me?
Yes. Only correctly typed words count towards your WPM, and every wrong keystroke lowers your accuracy. You can fix a word with Backspace before pressing Space.
Can I take the typing test on a phone?
Yes, it works with on-screen keyboards. Phone scores are usually much lower than keyboard scores, so compare like with like.
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