WPM stands for words per minute. To keep scores fair, a word is defined as five characters, including spaces - so long and short words are counted equally.
How WPM is calculated
Net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. Raw WPM counts all characters you typed, including mistakes. If you type 300 correct characters in one minute, that's 300 ÷ 5 = 60 WPM.
Accuracy is the percentage of keystrokes that were correct, including mistakes you fixed with backspace.
Average WPM by group
The average adult types about 40 WPM. Students often type 30-40 WPM, office workers 45-60 WPM and professional typists 65-90 WPM. Read our guide to average typing speed for a full breakdown by age and job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good WPM?
Above 50 WPM is good, above 70 is fast and above 100 is exceptional. Average is around 40 WPM.
What is the fastest WPM ever recorded?
Top competitive typists have been recorded at over 200 WPM in short bursts, and around 170 WPM over longer passages.
Is WPM the same as typing speed?
Yes - WPM is the standard unit for typing speed. Some data entry jobs use keystrokes per hour instead.