How to Measure WPM Accurately

24 Oct 2025 • 6 min read

1) The standard formula

WPM = (total characters / 5) / minutes. One word equals five characters, including spaces and punctuation.

• Gross WPM: counts all typed characters.
• Net WPM: gross WPM − error penalty (often one word per error).

2) Test length and passage

• 30–60 seconds yields more stable metrics.
• Use similar difficulty passages but avoid memorization by rotating texts.

3) Error policy

• Forced correction (like TypeSprint): you fix mistakes on the spot; net WPM tends to be more reliable.
• Free typing: errors subtract at the end; results vary more.

4) Checklist for repeatability

1. Same browser and device (keyboard latency matters).
2. Close background apps; minimize input lag.
3. Use 60s tests, take at least 3 runs, average them.
4. Keep language and passage difficulty consistent.
5. Warm up: 2–3 short trials before the measured runs.

5) Track accuracy, not just speed

WPM alone is incomplete. Pair it with accuracy percentage and pay attention to where you stumble to guide practice.

TL;DR

60s tests, WPM=(chars/5)/min, forced correction, average 3 runs. Focus on speed without sacrificing accuracy.