WPM
Words per minute
Reading speed expressed in words per minute. Easier to intuit than CPS but less consistent across languages.
In depth
WPM (words per minute) measures reading load by counting words rather than characters. It's calculated as the cue's word count divided by its duration in seconds, multiplied by 60. WPM is intuitive — most adults read silently at 200–300 WPM — but it's inconsistent across languages because word lengths vary.
When to use it
Use WPM as a sanity check alongside CPS. If your CPS is on target but WPM looks extreme, you may have unusually short or long words skewing the metric.
Frequently asked
What's a good subtitle WPM?+
Most professional standards translate to roughly 160–200 WPM for adults. Children's content drops to ~140. Short-form social can push to ~200.
Is WPM the same as reading speed?+
WPM measures the speed required by the cue. Whether viewers can keep up depends on language, font, screen size, and audience. Use WPM as a target, not a guarantee.