Average Typing Speed: What Is a Good WPM and How to Type Faster

Typing speed is one of those skills you use every day without thinking about it — emails, assignments, code, chats. A few extra words per minute add up to hours saved each month. Here is what the research says about average speed, how tests calculate your score, and a realistic plan to get faster. You can check your current level any time with our free Typing Speed Test.

What is the average typing speed?

In 2018 researchers from Aalto University in Finland and the University of Cambridge analysed 136 million keystrokes from 168,000 volunteers who took an online typing test. According to Aalto’s summary of the study:

• Average users typed about 52 WPM.
• Most people fell between 30 and 60 WPM.
• The fastest typists reached around 120 WPM.
• Slower typists made more errors and spent longer finding and fixing them.
• Fast typists pressed the next key before releasing the previous one (“rollover”) for 40–70% of keystrokes.

One surprising finding: people who had taken a typing course used fewer fingers yet showed similar speed and error patterns, and the researchers note that self-taught techniques using fewer than ten fingers can be as fast as classic touch typing. Technique matters less than practice and keeping your eyes on the screen.

Typing speed benchmarks: what is a good WPM?

Some jobs, such as data entry or transcription, may set minimum speeds in their job adverts. Always check the specific requirement and whether it is measured as net or gross WPM.

How WPM and accuracy are measured

Typing tests treat five characters (including spaces) as one word, so short and long words count fairly. Our test calculates:

• WPM = (correctly typed characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. Mistakes are not counted, so accuracy directly affects your score.
• Raw speed = all typed characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes, right or wrong.
• Accuracy = the share of keystrokes that were correct when you pressed them. Going back to fix an error does not erase it from accuracy.

Other tests may calculate “net WPM” by subtracting errors per minute from gross WPM. The numbers are similar, but compare scores from the same test when you track progress.

How to test your typing speed

1. Open the Typing Speed Test on a computer with a physical keyboard.
2. Choose 1 minute — the most common benchmark.
3. Sit comfortably, put your fingers on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and start typing. The timer begins with your first key.
4. Take the test three times and note your average, not just your best run.

How to type faster: a 15-minute daily plan

Consistent, short practice beats occasional long sessions. Try this for two to four weeks:

1. 2 minutes — warm up slowly. Type at a relaxed pace with 98%+ accuracy.
2. 5 minutes — no-look practice. Cover your hands with a cloth or just keep your eyes on the screen. Errors will rise at first; that is normal.
3. 5 minutes — problem keys. Notice which letters you miss (often B, Y, numbers and punctuation) and type words that use them.
4. 3 minutes — one timed test. Write down your WPM and accuracy so you can see the trend.

Other habits that help: sit with your wrists level and shoulders relaxed, use all your fingers where it feels natural, and type real text — emails, notes, articles — rather than only drills. If you write a lot, our Word Counter helps you track how much you type.

Typing on a phone vs a keyboard

Phone typing is usually slower and depends heavily on autocorrect, swipe typing and screen size. A test on a phone is still useful for comparing yourself over time, but do not compare it with keyboard scores. For job applications and benchmarks, always test on a physical keyboard.

Frequently asked questions