Case 1
- How many words did you type?
- 300words
- How many minutes did it take?
- 5min
60.00WPM
Open with these valuesTyping Speed Calculator
60.00WPM
Result: 60.00 WPMWords divided by minutes: 300 words in 5 minutes is 60 WPM. In a typing test a word means five keystrokes including spaces, so count characters and divide by five rather than counting real words. This is gross speed — net WPM would subtract your uncorrected mistakes.
Worked examples
Case 2
- How many words did you type?
- 200words
- How many minutes did it take?
- 5min
40.00WPM
Open with these valuesCase 3
- How many words did you type?
- 250words
- How many minutes did it take?
- 4min
62.50WPM
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
WPM = words ÷ minutes
- StepCount the words: characters including spaces, divided by five.
- StepEnter the time in minutes — 30 seconds is 0.5.
- ResultRead the gross speed in words per minute.
What this number means
A word here means five keystrokes
Typing tests standardise a word as five characters, spaces and punctuation included. Under that rule the phrase 'I run' counts as one word and 'rhinoceros' counts as two.
Gross speed, with no penalty for errors
This is words divided by minutes and nothing else, so it says little on its own. Net WPM subtracts every uncorrected mistake, and a fast but sloppy run scores far lower there.
Count characters, then divide by five
Counting real words gives a different number, because word lengths vary. The five-character rule is what keeps test scores comparable at all.
Where the comparison figures come from
The transcription average of 32.5 WPM and the 43 to 80 WPM band for professional typists come from the linked Wikipedia article. They are measured speeds, not targets you have to hit.
Commonly misread
A word in WPM is a real word.
It is five keystrokes including spaces and punctuation. A long word therefore counts more than once, which is why 'rhinoceros' scores as two.
60 WPM means 3,600 words typed in an hour.
That is the arithmetic — 60 × 60 — but nobody types for an hour without pausing. Sustained output stays well below the burst rate.
A high gross WPM means the typing was accurate.
Gross speed ignores mistakes entirely. Two typists both at 60 WPM can be far apart once uncorrected errors are subtracted.
Reference table
| Words, minutes | Where that lands | WPM |
|---|---|---|
| 100, 3 | near the 32.5 WPM transcription average | 33.33 |
| 200, 5 | the fast group of that same study | 40.00 |
| 350, 7 | inside the professional 43–80 band | 50.00 |
| 300, 5 | inside the professional 43–80 band | 60.00 |
| 250, 4 | inside the professional 43–80 band | 62.50 |
| 80, 1 | top of the professional band | 80.00 |
Questions
How do I calculate my typing speed?
Divide the words you typed by the minutes it took. Typing 300 words in 5 minutes is 300 ÷ 5 = 60 WPM.
What counts as a word in WPM?
Five characters including spaces and punctuation, which is the standard that keeps test scores comparable. Under it the phrase 'I run' counts as one word while 'rhinoceros' counts as two.
What is a good typing speed?
One study of ordinary computer users found 32.5 WPM for transcription, with the fast third at 40 WPM. Professional typists work at 43 to 80 WPM, and dispatch or other time-critical posts often require 80 to 95.
What is the difference between gross and net WPM?
Gross WPM is raw speed, words divided by minutes, and that is what this calculator reports. Net WPM subtracts a penalty for every uncorrected mistake, so a fast but sloppy typist scores far lower on it.
How do I convert to words per hour?
Multiply by 60. A steady 60 WPM is 3,600 words an hour, though nobody types without pausing for a full hour.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.