Typing Speed Calculator: Gross WPM, Net WPM, Accuracy and KPH
Turn characters (or words) typed and the time taken into gross and net words per minute, accuracy, characters per minute and keystrokes per hour, with the standard 5-character word, an error rate, a speed level and the time to type a document.
How it works
Words = characters ÷ 5 · Gross WPM = words ÷ minutes · Net WPM = gross WPM − uncorrected errors ÷ minutes · Accuracy = (characters − errors) ÷ characters × 100 · CPM = characters ÷ minutes · KPH = CPM × 60
Typing tests count a standard “word” of five characters, spaces and punctuation included, so the score does not depend on whether you typed short or long words. Gross WPM is all characters ÷ 5 ÷ the minutes taken. Net WPM then subtracts the uncorrected errors per minute, so a fast but careless typist scores lower; it is the same as (characters ÷ 5 − errors) ÷ minutes. Accuracy is the share of keystrokes that were correct, counting corrected mistakes too if you enter them under More options. Characters per minute and keystrokes per hour (KPH) are the units used for data entry, where 8,000 to 10,000 KPH is a common job requirement. Choose Words if you only know a word count; the calculator converts it at 5 characters per word. The document estimate divides a word count by your net speed, which gives the pure typing time without pauses to think or format.
Worked example
Typing 250 characters in 60 seconds with 5 uncorrected errors: words = 250 ÷ 5 = 50 in 1 minute, so gross speed is 50 WPM. The error rate is 5 per minute, so net speed is 50 − 5 = 45 WPM. Accuracy is (250 − 5) ÷ 250 = 98.0%, the pace is 250 characters per minute or 15,000 keystrokes per hour, and a 1,000-word document would take about 22 min 13 s at 45 WPM.
Sources: Speed Typing Online: Typing equations (gross WPM, net WPM, accuracy) · Wikipedia: Words per minute (5-character word, typing speeds, KPH)
Frequently asked questions
How is typing speed (WPM) calculated?
Divide the characters typed by 5 to get standard words, then divide by the minutes taken. 200 characters in 30 seconds is 40 words in 0.5 minutes, or 80 WPM gross. Net WPM then subtracts the uncorrected errors per minute.
What is the difference between gross and net WPM?
Gross WPM counts everything you typed. Net WPM subtracts one word for each uncorrected error per minute: 80 gross WPM over 2 minutes with 8 errors left in is 80 − 8 ÷ 2 = 76 net WPM. Corrected errors are not subtracted, because fixing them already slowed you down.
What is a good typing speed?
Research puts the average computer user at about 33 WPM when copying text, and professional typists at about 43–80 WPM. As a rough guide, 40 WPM is a solid everyday speed, 60–80 WPM is fast, and above 80 WPM is very fast. Accuracy of 97% or more matters as much as speed.
How do I convert WPM to keystrokes per hour?
Multiply WPM by 5 for characters per minute, then by 60 for keystrokes per hour. 40 WPM is 200 characters per minute or 12,000 KPH. Data-entry roles often ask for 8,000 to 10,000 KPH, which is about 27 to 33 WPM of numeric entry.
Why is a word counted as 5 characters?
It is the long-standing typing-test convention: five keystrokes, letters plus the space, approximate one average English word. It makes scores comparable whatever text is used, and it is why words typed in Spanish or code still convert the same way.
How is typing accuracy calculated?
Accuracy is the correct characters divided by all characters typed. With 90 correct out of 100 typed, accuracy is 90%. Unlike net WPM, accuracy counts every mistake, corrected or not.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.