Free Typing Test

How the typing test works

1. Choose a test length, from 15 seconds up to 5 minutes.
2. Click the text box (on a computer you can simply start typing). The timer starts with your first keystroke, not before.
3. Type the words shown and press space after each one. Letters turn black when correct and red with a wavy underline when wrong. Backspace fixes the word you are on. Once you press space, that word is locked.
4. When time runs out you get your results. Press Restart or Esc for a fresh set of words.

The words are common English words in lowercase with no punctuation, so the test measures your typing rather than how quickly you find symbol keys. Want capitals and punctuation? Try the practice paragraphs, or type your own text in the custom typing test. New to touch typing? Start with the free typing lessons. Pasting is disabled, and everything runs in your browser: nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved.

How WPM is calculated

Typing tests count a "word" as five characters, spaces included, so long and short words are treated fairly. Your score is:

WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes

Correct characters are the letters you typed correctly in the right place, plus the space after every word typed exactly right. Typing 250 correct characters in one minute scores 50 WPM, and so does 125 correct characters in a 30-second test.

Your results also show raw WPM, which counts everything you typed, mistakes included. A big gap between raw WPM and WPM means errors are costing you speed. To try other formulas, use the words per minute calculator.

How accuracy and errors are counted

Accuracy is the share of your keystrokes that were right when you pressed them. Each wrong keystroke counts as one error, even if you go back and fix it. If you press 200 keys and 10 were wrong, your accuracy is 95% with 10 errors, even if you corrected all of them. Backspace is not counted as a keystroke.

Corrected mistakes don't lower your WPM, because the fixed letters end up correct. They still cost you the time it took to fix them, and they show up in your accuracy.

What is a good typing speed?

It depends on what you need it for. Figures around 40 WPM are often quoted as an average for adults, but published numbers vary a lot with who was tested and how. Use this rough guide (not a scientific scale) to place your result:

For a closer look at averages and what employers ask for, read average typing speed: what is a good WPM?

How to improve your typing speed

• Learn touch typing. Rest your fingers on the home row (A S D F and J K L ;), use all ten fingers, and keep your eyes on the screen instead of the keys.
• Slow down to speed up. Aim for 95% accuracy or better first. Speed follows once your fingers stop making mistakes you have to fix.
• Practice little and often. A few short tests every day beat one long session a week. Typing games make the daily habit easier to keep.
• Read ahead. Look at the next word while your fingers finish the current one.
• Build stamina with longer tests. A 15-second test measures burst speed. A 5-minute test shows the pace you can actually keep up.
• Mind your posture. Keep your wrists level, your shoulders relaxed and the screen at eye height.