WPM explained: how typing speed is measured

Last reviewed October 24, 2026

Every typing program shows a number called WPM, and kids love watching it go up. But what does it actually measure? And should you care? Here's a plain-English explanation.

What WPM means

WPM stands for words per minute. It's how fast someone types.

There's a catch: a "word" in typing doesn't mean a real word. Long words and short words would make the numbers unfair, so typing programs use a standard size instead. One "word" is five characters typed, including spaces and punctuation. Shift and arrow keys don't count as characters.

Typing.com, for example, explains it this way on its help page: WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ time in minutes.

A quick example

Say your child types for 2 minutes and types 300 characters.

• 300 ÷ 5 = 60 "words"
• 60 ÷ 2 minutes = 30 WPM

That's it. You can work it out yourself with a timer and a short passage.

Gross WPM vs. net WPM

You'll sometimes see two kinds of WPM:

Programs calculate net speed in different ways, and some don't show it at all. Typing.com's help page says its WPM is a gross speed and that it shows accuracy as a separate number. That's why scores from two different programs aren't always comparable.

What accuracy means

Accuracy is the share of characters typed correctly, shown as a percentage. If your child types 300 characters and makes 15 mistakes, that's 5% errors, or 95% accuracy.

Why accuracy matters more than speed for kids

For kids who are learning, accuracy is the number to watch:

• Speed built on mistakes doesn't last. A child who races and makes lots of errors is practicing the errors.
• Racing leads to peeking. Kids who chase speed often start looking at their hands again, which undoes touch typing.
• Speed comes on its own. When the fingers know where to go, speed rises without pushing it.

A helpful rule at home: slow down until it's accurate, then let speed creep up. If accuracy drops a lot when speed goes up, ease off.

When to start checking WPM

Not on day one. While kids are learning the rows, timed tests mostly add pressure. Once they know every letter and type without looking, a short timed check every week or two is a nice way to see progress. Write it down with the date and the accuracy, so they can see how far they've come.

So what's a "good" WPM?

It depends a lot on age and how long they've been practicing. We've collected published benchmarks from two typing programs in our guide to typing speed by age. Treat them as rough guides, not targets.

Tips for an honest home typing test

1. Use a passage your child hasn't practiced.
2. Time one or two minutes. Longer tests mostly measure stamina.
3. Note both WPM and accuracy.
4. Test the same way each time, so the numbers are comparable.
5. Celebrate improvement, not the number itself.

Where Home Row Mojo fits

Home Row Mojo teaches with guided lessons, then drills with words, phrases, and sentences. We'd suggest using it the same way this page describes: accuracy first, then speed. The 12 arcade games are a fun way to practice once the basics are in place.

You can try it free as a guest. Chicken Run and Checkers are free to play. The full version is $29 once for the whole family, with no subscription and no ads.