Typing 500 words takes about 12 minutes at 40 WPM, 9 minutes 37 seconds at the average speed of 52 WPM, and 6 minutes 15 seconds at 80 WPM. That is pure typing time, without pauses to think.
500 words is about 1 single-spaced or 2 double-spaced pages (12-point font, 1-inch margins; real page counts vary with font and spacing).
Time to type 500 words at every speed
| Typing speed | Time to type |
|---|---|
| 20 WPM | 25 minutes |
| 30 WPM | 16 minutes |
| 40 WPM | 12 minutes |
| 52 WPM (average) | 9 minutes 37 seconds |
| 60 WPM | 8 minutes 20 seconds |
| 70 WPM | 7 minutes 9 seconds |
| 80 WPM | 6 minutes 15 seconds |
| 100 WPM | 5 minutes |
| 120 WPM | 4 minutes 10 seconds |
Planning a real writing task
Typing speed is only part of the job. When you compose your own text you stop to think, reread and correct, so writing 500 original words usually takes several times longer than typing them from a copy. Use the numbers above as the minimum time for a clean final draft.
Type faster to save time
Going from 40 to 60 WPM cuts the time for 500 words from 12 minutes to 8 minutes 20 seconds. Start with a 1-minute typing test to find your speed, then train your weak keys with smart practice.
Other lengths
100 words 150 words 200 words 250 words 300 words 400 words 600 words 700 words 750 words 800 words 900 words 1,000 words 1,200 words 1,500 words 1,800 words 2,000 words 2,500 words 3,000 words 3,500 words 4,000 words 5,000 words 6,000 words 7,500 words 8,000 words 10,000 words 15,000 words 20,000 words 25,000 words 30,000 words 40,000 words 50,000 words 60,000 words 80,000 words 100,000 words
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to type 500 words?
Typing 500 words takes about 12 minutes at 40 WPM, 9 minutes 37 seconds at the average speed of 52 WPM, and 6 minutes 15 seconds at 80 WPM. That is pure typing time, without pauses to think.
How many pages is 500 words?
500 words is about 1 single-spaced or 2 double-spaced pages.