WPM Converter: Words, Characters & Keystrokes
Convert typing speed between words per minute, characters per minute, keystrokes per hour, and words per hour. Type into any field below and the rest update instantly.
Typing speed converter
Based on the standard typing-test definition: one "word" = five characters, including the space that follows it. Figures are rounded to whole numbers.
The formulas
- WPM → CPM: multiply by 5 (60 WPM = 300 CPM)
- WPM → KPH: multiply by 300 (40 WPM = 12,000 KPH)
- WPM → words per hour: multiply by 60 (60 WPM = 3,600 words/hour)
- CPM → WPM: divide by 5
- KPH → WPM: divide by 300
Every conversion runs through the same idea: a "word" is five characters, and an hour is sixty minutes. Once you know your WPM, every other unit is a single multiplication.
Which unit do you actually need?
WPM
The default for typing tests, school benchmarks, and most job descriptions that mention typing at all.
KPH
Common in data-entry and transcription listings, where requirements are often quoted as 8,000–15,000 keystrokes per hour.
CPM
Used by some international typing tests and tools, and handy when you want a per-character view of your speed.
Raw speed vs. net speed
Converting units is the easy part; the number you feed in matters more. Raw speed counts every keystroke, mistakes included. Net speed counts only what you got right, which is why it's the figure most tests report and the one worth improving.
Type Fast counts only correctly typed characters toward WPM, and its practice modes don't allow backspace — the cursor advances only on the right key — so the speed you see is already accuracy-adjusted. If your converted KPH looks lower than you expected, the fix is usually accuracy, not raw hand speed. See how to type faster for the practical route, or check what counts as a good WPM.
Converter FAQ
How do you convert WPM to CPM?
Multiply words per minute by five. Typing tests define a "word" as five characters, including the space, so 60 WPM equals 300 characters per minute.
What is KPH and how does it relate to WPM?
KPH is keystrokes per hour, commonly used in data-entry job listings. Multiply WPM by 300 to get KPH: 40 WPM is about 12,000 KPH, and 50 WPM is about 15,000 KPH.
Why is a word counted as five characters?
Real words vary in length, so scores would depend on which words appeared in the test. Fixing a "word" at five characters, including the following space, makes results comparable between different tests and passages.
Does this converter account for accuracy?
No — it converts raw speed between units. Net WPM, which subtracts errors, is what most tests report. Type Fast counts only correctly typed characters toward your WPM, so the score you see is already accuracy-adjusted.