WPM Calculator
Work out gross and net words per minute, accuracy, characters per minute and keystrokes per hour from any typing sample.
- Gross WPM
- 50
- Net WPM (correct chars ÷ 5)
- 50
- Accuracy
- 99.4%
- Characters per minute
- 250
- Keystrokes per hour
- 15,000
How WPM is counted, step by step
Target sentence
The quick river carried small stones down to the sea.
- Characters typed (spaces count)51
- ÷ 5 = standard "words"10.2
- ÷ 0.20 minutes = gross WPM51
- Correct characters only ÷ 5 ÷ minutes = net WPM15
- Alternative: gross − (uncorrected errors ÷ minutes)0
Two common net formulas give slightly different results. This site uses correct-characters ÷ 5, which rewards every right keystroke; the error-penalty formula subtracts one word per error per minute and is harsher on short tests.
The formulas
- Gross WPM = (all characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
- Net WPM = gross WPM − (uncorrected errors ÷ minutes)
- Accuracy = correct characters ÷ all characters × 100
- CPM = characters ÷ minutes, so WPM × 5
- KPH = characters ÷ minutes × 60, so WPM × 300
For 10 key and data entry work, see the keystrokes per hour converter. Or skip the maths and take the typing test, which does all of this live.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate words per minute?
Count every character typed, including spaces, divide by 5 to get standard words, then divide by the time in minutes. For net WPM, count only correct characters, or subtract uncorrected errors per minute from gross WPM.
Why is a word 5 characters?
Using a fixed 5-character word makes scores comparable across texts. Without it, a passage of short words would give a higher WPM than one with long words at the same finger speed.
How do I convert CPM to WPM?
Divide characters per minute by 5. For example, 250 CPM is 50 WPM.
How do I convert WPM to keystrokes per hour?
Multiply WPM by 5 to get keystrokes per minute, then by 60. So 50 WPM is 15,000 KPH.