Morse Code Speed Calculator

Set a speed in words per minute to see how long a dot, a dash and every gap last, and how long your message takes to send.

20 WPM
20 WPM
Standard word

Words per minute

Morse speed is measured by sending one standard word over and over. With PARIS, the most common standard, one word is exactly 50 units long including the gap after it, so at W words per minute one unit lasts 1200 ÷ W milliseconds: 60 ms at 20 WPM. CODEX is a second standard word, 60 units long, which gives a slightly shorter unit at the same WPM.

Farnsworth spacing

Set the overall speed below the letter speed and the letters keep their full speed while only the gaps between letters and words stretch. The calculator uses the ARRL formula, which is based on PARIS. This is how most learners start: they hear each letter as a real-speed sound and get extra time to recognise it.

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