Typing Test

Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), where one word is five characters. The average in a 2018 Aalto University study of 168,000 volunteers was about 52 WPM.

Dawntype is a free typing test in the browser. Measure your words per minute (WPM) and accuracy, track your progress over time, climb the leaderboard, and duel other players by typing spell names.

How the test works

The timer starts with your first keystroke. Type the words shown; mistakes are marked as you go and you can fix them with Backspace. Choose a mode:

• Timed: type as many words as you can in 15, 30, or 60 seconds, or 3 minutes.
• Classic: type a full passage from start to finish.
• Word count: type a fixed number of words as fast as you can.
• Zen: type without a timer or score pressure.

Every run reports gross and net WPM, accuracy, and a running WPM graph. Runs are saved locally and synced to your account when signed in, so your stats and personal bests follow you.

What is WPM?

Words per minute counts every five typed characters, including spaces, as one word, so results compare fairly across short and long words. Typing 250 characters in one minute is 50 WPM.

Gross vs net WPM

Gross WPM is your raw speed from every character you typed. Net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each error you left uncorrected, so it rewards typing accurately. Accuracy is the share of characters that are correct in your final text. The leaderboard ranks net WPM.

How your percentile is estimated

The "faster than about N% of typists" line after each run is an estimate. It places your net WPM on a bell curve with the average (51.56 WPM) and spread (standard deviation 20.2 WPM) measured from 168,000 volunteers in a 2018 Aalto University study, "Observations on Typing from 136 Million Keystrokes" by Dhakal et al. Real typing speeds have a longer fast tail than a bell curve, so read it as accurate to within a few points.

Improve your typing speed

Accuracy comes first: slow down until you rarely need Backspace, then build speed. Keep your fingers on the home row and look at the screen, not the keyboard. Short daily sessions help more than occasional long ones. Classic mode gives you full passages for longer practice, and My stats shows which keys you miss most.

Try a Duel

In Duels, two wizards fight in an arena by typing spell names. Prepare spells like Fireball or ChainLightning by typing their names, choose targets, and dodge incoming attacks. Play solo against a bot, challenge a friend with an invite link, or search for a ranked duel against another online player.

Frequently asked questions

Is 40 WPM good?

40 WPM is a solid everyday speed, a little below the roughly 52 WPM average in a 2018 Aalto University study of 168,000 volunteers. Most people in that study typed between about 30 and 70 WPM.

How many words per minute is good?

Around 50 WPM is average for people who take typing tests, based on a 2018 Aalto University study of 168,000 volunteers. 60 to 70 WPM is fast, and above 80 WPM is well above average.

Is 100 WPM fast?

Yes. 100 WPM is about twice the roughly 52 WPM average in a 2018 Aalto University study of 168,000 volunteers, where the fastest typists reached 120 WPM or more.

What is gross vs net WPM?

Gross WPM counts every character you typed. Net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each uncorrected error, so it reflects both speed and accuracy.