Typing test

A free typing test with no sign-up

This typing test shows how many words per minute you type. Common words appear on three lines, you type them, and when the time is up you get your speed in WPM, your accuracy and your characters per minute. Use it to check your typing speed before a job application or to track your progress while you learn to touch type.

The test runs in your browser, on a computer or a phone. There is no account and no leaderboard. Your scores stay on your device.

How to take the typing speed test

1. Under "Test length", pick 15 s, 30 s, 60 s or 120 s. The default is 60 s.
2. "Word language" offers French, English, Spanish, German and Italian. Tick "No accents" to remove accented letters: "señor" becomes "senor".
3. Click the text field and type the first word. The clock starts on your first key.
4. Press the space bar after each word to confirm it. Each letter turns green when it is right and red when it is wrong. Backspace fixes the current word, not the words you have already confirmed.
5. When the time is up, "Copy my score" puts your result on the clipboard. To go again, click "Restart" or press Tab then Enter. Esc abandons the current run without saving it.

How your WPM is worked out

"At" and "mountain" do not take the same effort, so the usual standard treats one word as 5 characters, spaces included. "Net speed (WPM)" only counts the characters of words typed without a mistake, plus the space after each one. A word confirmed with an error earns nothing.

Example: in a 30 second test you type 28 correct words that add up to 150 characters with their spaces. 150 ÷ 5 = 30 words in half a minute, so your net speed is 60 WPM, or 300 characters per minute.

"Raw speed (WPM)" counts every key you hit, right or wrong, except Backspace. "Accuracy" is correct keystrokes divided by total keystrokes: 190 correct out of 200 is 95%. A wrong letter that you fix afterwards still counts as one wrong keystroke.

What is a good typing speed?

Treat these figures as rough guides, not official grades:

A 15 second run flatters your score because it is a sprint. For a figure you can rely on, use 60 or 120 seconds.

Why accuracy matters more than speed

Fixing a typo costs at least two extra keystrokes, Backspace and the right letter, and it breaks your rhythm. Fast text full of errors has to be read again and repaired, which eats the time you saved. Aim for 95% or more first. Speed follows.

How to type faster

• Home row. Rest your index fingers on F and J. Both keys have a small raised bump you can feel without looking. The left hand sits on A, S, D, F and the right hand on J, K, L and the semicolon key. Thumbs take the space bar.
• Do not look at the keyboard. Keep your eyes on the screen. You will slow down for a few days.
• Keep a steady pace. An even rhythm beats bursts followed by hesitation.
• Short daily sessions. Ten minutes a day does more than an hour once a week.
• Posture and breaks. Sit upright, forearms level, wrists relaxed. Stand up for a few minutes every hour.

UK and US QWERTY layouts

The letters sit in the same places on both layouts, so your score on this test is the same on either. The differences are in the symbols. On a UK keyboard, Shift+2 gives a double quote and Shift+3 gives the pound sign. On a US keyboard, Shift+2 gives the at sign and Shift+3 gives the hash sign.

Frequently asked questions

What does WPM mean?

Words per minute. One word counts as 5 characters, so 40 WPM equals 200 characters per minute.

Why is my net speed lower than my raw speed?

Raw speed counts all your keystrokes. Net speed keeps only the words with no mistake. A wide gap means errors are holding you back.

Are my scores saved anywhere?

Only in your browser: a personal best for each test length and language, and "Your last 10 runs" with a small chart. "Clear my scores" removes everything.

Does the typing test work on a phone?

Yes. You type in a real text field, so the phone keyboard opens as usual. Thumb typing scores are not comparable with scores on a physical keyboard.