What Is a Typing Speed Test?
A typing speed test measures how many words you can type per minute (WPM) and how accurately you type them. It's a quick way to benchmark your typing skills, whether you're improving for work, checking progress after practice, or just curious how you compare to the average typist.
How to Use the Typing Speed Test
- Click inside the text box below the sample paragraph.
- Start typing the sample text exactly as shown - the timer starts on your first keystroke.
- Keep typing until you've completed the full sentence.
- Your WPM and accuracy are calculated automatically.
How It Works
The test starts timing the moment you type your first character and stops once you've matched the length of the sample text. Words per minute is calculated using the standard formula: total characters typed divided by 5 (the average word length), divided by time elapsed in minutes. Accuracy compares each character you typed against the original sample.
Understanding Your Results
| WPM Range | Typical Level |
|---|---|
| Below 30 | Beginner / hunt-and-peck typing |
| 30–50 | Average typist |
| 50–70 | Above-average / proficient |
| 70–100+ | Fast / professional-level typist |
Accuracy matters as much as speed - a high WPM with low accuracy usually means you'll spend more time correcting mistakes than you saved by typing fast.
Benefits
- Track typing improvement over time.
- Useful for jobs requiring fast, accurate typing.
- Helps confirm your keyboard isn't slowing you down with missed keys.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing and ignoring accuracy - a slower, more accurate pace often gives a better real-world WPM.
- Not using proper finger placement - touch-typing technique has a bigger long-term impact on speed than any single test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good typing speed?
Around 40 WPM is considered average, while 65+ WPM is considered fast and is often a requirement for professional typing or data-entry roles.
Does capitalization and punctuation count toward accuracy?
Yes, this test compares your typed text character-by-character against the sample, so capitalization and punctuation both affect your accuracy score.
Can I retake the test with a different sample?
Click "Reset" to restart the same test. Refreshing the page will also give you a fresh attempt.
Is my typed text stored anywhere?
No, everything is calculated locally in your browser and nothing you type is saved or transmitted.
Conclusion
This typing test gives you an instant, accurate read on your typing speed and accuracy. If you want to first rule out a hardware issue affecting your results, run the Keyboard Tester before retaking this test.