What is WPM? How Typing Speed Is Calculated
WPM means words per minute, the standard unit of typing speed. A typing test counts how much you typed in a fixed time and converts it into this number. Understanding the maths lets you compare tests, set goals and read exam notices that use other units.
Why five characters equal one word
Real words vary from two letters to fifteen, so tests use a convention: one word = 5 characters, counting letters, spaces and punctuation. This makes results comparable whatever text you type.
Gross WPM
Gross WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
Example: you type 1,250 characters in 5 minutes. 1,250 ÷ 5 = 250 words; 250 ÷ 5 minutes = 50 gross WPM.
Net WPM
Net WPM = ((characters typed − wrong characters) ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
If 50 of those characters were wrong, (1,250 − 50) ÷ 5 = 240 words; 240 ÷ 5 = 48 net WPM. Net speed is what employers and tests normally use because it reflects useful output.
Accuracy
Accuracy = correct characters ÷ total characters × 100. In the example, 1,200 ÷ 1,250 = 96%. On FastTypingTest, accuracy counts keystrokes: a mistake you correct still counts as a mistake.
CPM and keystrokes per hour
- CPM (characters per minute) = WPM × 5.
- KSPH / KDPH (keystrokes or key depressions per hour) = WPM × 5 × 60. 40 WPM is 12,000 per hour.
Data-entry jobs and some government tests quote KSPH or KDPH. See the typing speed chart for a conversion table.
Exam-style net speed
Some exams count wrong words instead of wrong characters: net speed = (typed words − wrong words) ÷ minutes. One wrong character spoils the whole word, so exam scores can be lower than character-based scores.
Calculate yours
Use the WPM calculator for any text, or take a measured 1 minute typing test. For more accurate numbers, repeat three times and take the average.