Morse Code Timing
Understand the standard Morse timing ratios behind dots, dashes, letter gaps, word gaps, and WPM. Use this page when spacing or speed is the problem.
Morse timing is measured in units
The message speed changes how long one unit lasts. The ratios stay the same unless you intentionally add Farnsworth spacing.
Standard International Morse timing uses one dot as the base unit. A dash lasts three units, a letter gap lasts three units, and a word gap lasts seven units.
In the audio tools, WPM changes the unit length. Farnsworth spacing can then widen the gaps between characters and words without changing the shape of each character.
For written Morse, the same idea becomes visible spacing. Use the word separator guide when a timed word gap needs to become a readable slash or wider copied space.
Dot unit = 1200 / WPM 20 WPM dot = 60 ms Dash = 3 dot units Letter gap = 3 dot units Word gap = 7 dot units
The basic Morse timing ratios
International Morse timing uses fixed proportions. WPM changes how long one unit lasts, but these relationships stay the same.
Dot
1 unit
60 ms at 20 WPM
The shortest signal and the base unit for the rest of the timing.
Dash
3 units
180 ms at 20 WPM
Three times as long as a dot, without changing pitch or volume.
Inside a character
1 unit gap
60 ms at 20 WPM
The silence between dots and dashes inside one letter.
Between letters
3 units
180 ms at 20 WPM
The silence after a complete character before the next one starts.
Between words
7 units
420 ms at 20 WPM
The longer silence that separates words in timed Morse audio.
Speed, duration, and export settings
Use timing settings for pace and spacing. Use tone settings for sound color. Use export settings for the downloaded file.
Character WPM
SpeedWPM changes the unit length. Faster WPM shortens dots, dashes, and standard gaps; slower WPM lengthens the whole message.
Farnsworth WPM
SpacingWhen Farnsworth WPM is lower than character WPM, dots and dashes stay crisp while letter and word gaps get wider.
Duration estimates
DurationPlayback time comes from every mark and every gap. Long text, slow speed, and extra spacing all add real runtime.
Pitch and tone
TonePitch, tone preset, volume, attack, and release change how the signal sounds, not the dot-dash timing rules.
MP3 and WAV export
ExportAudio downloads use the selected timing settings. Lower speed or lower Farnsworth WPM usually creates a longer file.
Video and flash timing
VisualVisual exports and flash practice follow the same timing idea: character speed sets marks, spacing controls pauses.
How to apply Morse timing
Use standard timing when you need to understand speed, spacing, decoding errors, or audio settings.
Who it is for
Learners, teachers, and tool users who need to understand why Morse spacing, WPM, and export duration change the result.
What it helps you do
Connect dots, dashes, letter gaps, word gaps, and WPM to the visible Morse text used across the site.
How to use it
Check the ratio table, then test the same message in the audio tools, export tools, or word separator page.
When audio sounds cramped
Keep the character speed readable, then add Farnsworth spacing if the next character arrives before you can copy it.
Open When audio sounds crampedWhen text spacing breaks
Normalize copied Morse with visible letter spaces and word separators before trying to decode it as text.
Open When text spacing breaksWhen exports feel too long
Check speed, Farnsworth spacing, and message length. Timing changes runtime before bitrate or format changes file size.
Open When exports feel too longWorked timing examples
These examples show how the unit rules explain real output.
Dot vs dash
. = 1 unit - = 3 units
A dash lasts three times as long as a dot. The character pattern changes if you shorten a dash into a dot-length signal.
Letter and word gaps
A Z .- --..
A letter gap separates completed characters. A word gap is longer, which is why copied Morse needs clear spacing.
WPM effect
10 WPM -> slower units
Higher WPM shortens every timing unit. It does not change the dot-dash pattern, only how quickly the pattern is sent.
Export duration
18/12 WPM -> longer gaps
Lower Farnsworth spacing adds silence between characters and words, so the same message creates a longer audio or video export.
Common timing mistakes
Timing mistakes usually look like spacing or decoding mistakes once Morse is copied as text.
Counting one space as a word
A letter gap and a word gap are different. Use the word separator if copied text collapses the gap.
Changing pitch for speed
Pitch changes the tone you hear. WPM changes how long each timing unit lasts.
Blaming bitrate for runtime
Bitrate changes MP3 size and quality. It does not shorten the Morse message. Adjust WPM or spacing when runtime is the issue.
Using Farnsworth by accident
Farnsworth timing intentionally widens gaps. Use the Farnsworth guide when character speed and effective speed differ.
Timing vs Farnsworth timing
Use the standard timing page for baseline rules and Farnsworth when learner spacing is intentional.
Morse Code Timing
Use this page for dot, dash, letter gap, word gap, and WPM rules.
Open Morse Code TimingFarnsworth timing
Use Farnsworth when characters stay fast but the spaces are widened for learning.
Open Farnsworth timingWord separator
Use the separator page when timing gaps need to become clean copied text.
Open Word separatorMP3 generator
Use the MP3 generator when timing choices need to become a downloadable audio file.
Open MP3 generatorBest next step after timing
Apply the timing rules in a tool where you can hear or clean up the result.
Timing FAQ
Quick answers for Morse speed, spacing, Farnsworth WPM, duration, and audio export settings.
How long is a dash compared with a dot?>
A dash is three dot units. If the dot unit is 60 milliseconds, the dash is 180 milliseconds.
How do I calculate Morse dot length from WPM?>
A common PARIS timing rule is dot length in milliseconds equals 1200 divided by WPM. At 20 WPM, one dot is about 60 milliseconds.
How many spaces go between Morse letters?>
The standard letter gap is three dot units. MorseWords represents that gap with 3 spaces in copied Morse text.
How many spaces go between Morse words?>
The standard word gap is seven dot units. MorseWords represents that gap with 7 spaces or, in some tools, a visible slash separator.
What does the PARIS standard mean for Morse speed?>
PARIS is a standard reference word used to define Morse WPM. It keeps speed comparisons consistent because dots, dashes, letter gaps, and word gaps are counted with fixed ratios.
Is timing the same as Farnsworth timing?>
No. This page explains standard timing ratios. Farnsworth timing keeps characters crisp while widening the gaps between characters and words for learners.
What do character WPM and Farnsworth WPM control?>
Character WPM controls dot, dash, and inside-character timing. Farnsworth WPM, when lower than character WPM, widens the gaps between characters and words.
Does pitch change Morse timing?>
No. Pitch changes how high or low the tone sounds. Timing is controlled by WPM, spacing, and Farnsworth settings.
Why does lower Farnsworth spacing make exports longer?>
Lower Farnsworth WPM adds extra silence between characters and words, so the same message takes longer to play and produces a longer audio or video export.
Why does incorrect spacing make decoding fail?>
Morse decoders need boundaries. If the letter or word gaps are missing, the same dot-dash stream can be split into different possible characters.
