WPM calculatorWords per minute, net WPM and accuracy
What it calculates
Turn characters, time and errors into gross WPM, net WPM, accuracy and characters per minute — with the formulas shown.
The formulas
A "word" is five characters, spaces and punctuation included: the long-standing convention for comparing speed across texts with different word lengths.
Gross WPM
characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes
Net WPM
gross WPM − uncorrected errors ÷ minutes
Never below zero.
Accuracy
(characters − incorrect characters) ÷ characters
Characters per minute
characters ÷ minutes = WPM × 5
Net WPM rewards accuracy: two uncorrected errors in a one-minute test cost two words per minute.
Measure it instead
The fastest way to get these numbers is to take a test: TypeTrance's typing test measures speed, accuracy and consistency for you, and explains every number on the methodology page.
Race Grand Prix now
The official one-minute format on the 1,000 most common English words. No account needed: the run is saved on this device.
Race Sprint now
The official 15-second format on the 1,000 most common English words. No account needed: the run is saved on this device.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a "word"?
For speed measurement a word is a fixed unit of five characters, including spaces and punctuation, so typing 250 characters in one minute is 50 words per minute whatever the actual words were.
What is the difference between gross and net WPM?
Gross WPM counts everything you typed. Net WPM subtracts the uncorrected errors left in your text, one word per minute for each error per minute — so accuracy matters as much as speed.
Why is my TypeTrance score different from this calculator?
TypeTrance scores only words typed exactly right, which is stricter than subtracting errors. Both are valid ways to measure; they are just not the same rule.