Morse Timing Calculator
Dit, dah, and word gap from WPM.
What it does
Morse speed counts PARIS words per minute, where one word spans fifty dit units. Dit length therefore sets everything: dah runs three dits, letter gaps three, word gaps seven. Faster speeds shrink all four together.
The tool above divides 1200 by WPM. At 20 WPM one dit is 60 ms with dah 180 ms and word gap 420 ms. At 13 WPM the dit stretches to 92.3 ms, while 30 WPM compresses to 40 ms. Keyers take dit milliseconds straight in.
Learners often stretch gaps without slowing characters, called Farnsworth spacing. Copy improves because ears learn full speed shapes with thinking room between. Koch order adds letters by similarity for the same reason.
This page times elements only. It does not translate dots and dashes or test copy. For sending practice, pair timings with a paddle and side tone.
How to use
- Enter the speed in WPM.
- Read dit milliseconds first.
- Read dah for long elements.
- Read word gap for spacing.
- Set keyer to the dit value.
- Practice characters before speed.
Formula
- WPM
- Words per minute on the PARIS standard.
- dit
- Short element, one unit.
- dah
- Long element of three dits.
PARIS standard timing with one dit as the unit. At zero WPM there is no rate. Farnsworth and Koch methods stretch gaps for training while keeping character dits.
Worked example
Example: 20 WPM morse
Defaults: 20 WPM with PARIS timing. One dit sets dah, gaps, and speed.
- Inputs: 20 WPM.
- Dit: 1200 / 20 is 60 ms dit.
- Dah: 3 times 60 is 180 ms dah.
- Word gap: 7 times 60 is 420 ms word gap.
- At 13 WPM the dit is 92.3 ms. Tool shows the same.
Reference table
| Speed | Dit | Word gap |
|---|---|---|
| 20 WPM | 60 ms dit | 420 ms word gap |
| 13 WPM | 92.3 ms dit | 646.2 ms word gap |
| 30 WPM | 40 ms dit | 280 ms word gap |
| 5 WPM | 240 ms dit | 1680 ms word gap |
| 60 WPM | 20 ms dit | 140 ms word gap |
Limits
- PARIS standard. Other words differ.
- Timing only. No translation.
- Ideal elements. Hand sending varies.
- No Farnsworth modeling.
Common mistakes
- Using 1000 instead of 1200 constant.
- Confusing letter gap with word gap.
- Setting dah by feel instead of 3x.
- Chasing WPM before characters stick.
- Ignoring receive practice.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
13 WPM?
Dit is 1200 / 13 is 92.3 ms with dah 276.9 ms and word gap 646.2 ms.
30 WPM?
Dit is 1200 / 30 is 40 ms with dah 120 ms and word gap 280 ms.
Questions
How is dit length figured?
Dit = 1200 / WPM. Here 60 ms dit.
How long is a dah?
Three dits. Here 180 ms dah.
How long is a word gap?
Seven dits. Here 420 ms word gap.
What does WPM assume?
PARIS standard word of 50 dits. Other standards shift WPM slightly.
What is Farnsworth spacing?
Yes. Farnsworth stretches gaps while keeping character speed for learning.
Does this decode messages?
No. This times elements only. Translation needs the code table.