Typing95
Average Typing Speed: What Is a Good WPM?
Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM). Here's what counts as average, good and fast, and how to see where you stand. Try the quick 1-minute test first, then read on.
Quick 1-Minute Typing Test
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What is the average typing speed?
You will often see figures around 40 WPM quoted as the average typing speed for adults. Treat that as a rough guide rather than a hard fact. Published averages come from different groups of people, different tests and different scoring rules, so they don't agree exactly. A test of simple common words for 30 seconds will produce higher numbers than five minutes of text with punctuation.
What matters more than the average is your own speed on a test that matches what you need, and whether it's going up over time.
What is a good WPM?
Use this rough guide (not a scientific scale) to place your net WPM from a 1- to 3-minute test:
| Speed | Level | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 WPM | Beginner | Still finding the keys. Typing often slows down your thinking. |
| 30–40 WPM | Getting there | Fine for chat and short messages; long documents feel slow. |
| 40–50 WPM | Typical | Around the speed often quoted as average. Comfortable for most everyday work. |
| 50–70 WPM | Fast | Typing rarely holds you back. A solid speed for office jobs. |
| 70–90 WPM | Very fast | Usually the result of touch typing and years of regular practice. |
| 90+ WPM | Exceptional | Typical of dedicated typists and transcription professionals. |
Is my typing speed good?
Is 40 WPM a good typing speed?
Yes. 40 WPM is around the speed most often quoted as average, and it's enough for school, email and most everyday computer work. It's also a common first goal for people learning to touch type.
Is 50 WPM a good typing speed?
Yes, 50 WPM is a good, above-average speed. At around 50 WPM, typing stops being the bottleneck for most writing tasks.
Is 60 WPM a good typing speed?
60 WPM is fast. It usually means you type without looking at the keys, and it is quick enough for most office work.
Is 70 WPM a good typing speed?
70 WPM is very fast for everyday typing. Reaching it usually means solid touch typing and good accuracy.
Is 90 WPM a good typing speed?
90 WPM is excellent, beyond what most jobs ask for, and hard to keep up over several minutes.
Is 100+ WPM a good typing speed?
Over 100 WPM is elite territory, usually reached on short tests with common words. Keeping it up for five minutes is rarer still.
What typing speed do jobs require?
It varies by role and employer, so always check the job listing. Roles built around typing, such as transcription, data entry and some administrative jobs, are the most likely to name a minimum speed and to test you. When a listing does give a number, also look for how it is measured: net or gross WPM, how long the test is, and what accuracy is required. A 3-minute typing test is good preparation for most of these, and for number-heavy jobs try the 10-key test.
Speed vs. accuracy
A fast score with poor accuracy isn't a good score. Every error has to be found and fixed later, which usually costs more time than typing carefully. Aim for 95% accuracy or better and let your speed grow from there. Our test counts every wrong keystroke as an error, even one you fix, so your accuracy figure is an honest one.
How to type faster
- Learn to touch type with all ten fingers, starting from the home row.
- Practice for 10–15 minutes a day; consistency beats long sessions.
- Mix it up with typing games and challenges so practice doesn't get boring.
- Measure progress with the same test length each time.
More free typing tests and games
- Typing Test – Take a free online typing test in 15 seconds to 5 minutes. See your words per minute, accuracy and errors instantly. No sign-up needed.
- 3-Minute Test – Take a free 3 minute typing test, the length many job applications use. Get your net WPM, accuracy and errors, plus tips for longer tests.
- Challenges – Take on free typing challenges: the 50 WPM Club, No Backspace, Sudden Death and more. Beat the goal to earn a retro 88x31 badge.
- WPM Calculator – Free words per minute calculator: work out gross and net WPM from characters, errors and time, and convert WPM to keystrokes per hour.