Glossary
WPM — Words Per Minute
The standard unit for measuring typing speed.
What Does WPM Mean?
WPM stands for words per minute and is the standard unit for measuring typing speed. In most typing tests, a "word" is defined as five characters — including letters, spaces, punctuation, and numbers. This standardized definition lets you compare results across tests with different word lengths.
How WPM Is Calculated
The formula is: (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes elapsed. So if you type 250 characters in one minute, your WPM is 250 ÷ 5 = 50 WPM. This is why typing tests count characters, not words directly.
Gross WPM vs Net WPM
Typing tests typically show two WPM figures:
- Gross WPM — raw speed including all characters, even incorrect ones.
- Net WPM — speed minus errors. Net WPM = gross WPM − (errors per minute). This is the score that matters for most purposes.
What Is a Good WPM Score?
| WPM range | Level |
|---|---|
| 1–25 | Beginner / two-finger typist |
| 26–50 | Average casual user |
| 51–70 | Above average |
| 71–90 | Proficient / professional level |
| 91–120 | Fast — top 10% |
| 120+ | Very fast — top 1% |
The average office worker types around 40 WPM. Most data-entry and administrative roles expect 50–70 WPM. Transcriptionists and court reporters often work at 100+ WPM.
See it in action. Take a free typing test and watch your WPM and accuracy update live.
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