Gross WPM vs Net WPM
What's the difference, and which one matters?
Gross WPM
Gross WPM is your raw typing speed with no penalty for errors. It's calculated as: (all characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes elapsed. Gross WPM tells you your maximum theoretical speed — how fast your fingers can move when you don't stop to correct yourself.
Net WPM
Net WPM deducts errors from your gross score. The standard formula is: gross WPM − (errors ÷ minutes). Net WPM is the number that actually reflects your productive output — how many correct words per minute you actually delivered.
Why Both Are Shown
Showing both metrics helps diagnose your typing. A large gap between gross and net WPM means you're making a lot of errors — the solution is to slow down and prioritize accuracy. A small gap means your errors are already minimal and the focus should shift to increasing overall speed.
Which One to Focus On
For most purposes, focus on net WPM. Employers, certification tests, and real-world typing tasks all care about correct output, not raw keypress rate. However, tracking gross WPM helps you understand your speed ceiling as you work on reducing your error rate.
Example
Suppose you type 300 characters in 60 seconds with 6 errors: gross WPM = 300 ÷ 5 = 60. Errors per minute = 6. Net WPM = 60 − 6 = 54 WPM. Your score is 54, not 60.