How to Test and Improve Your Typing Speed
Typing is one of the few skills that pays off every single workday. Going from 30 to 60 WPM saves you real hours over a year — and most of that gain comes from practice technique, not natural talent. Here's how to measure your baseline and improve it systematically.
What's a "good" typing speed?
- 20–35 WPM: beginner — typing is a deliberate, hunt-and-peck process.
- 40–60 WPM: average for a professional who types daily.
- 60–80 WPM: above average — comfortable for most jobs.
- 80–120+ WPM: fast — common among programmers, writers, and transcriptionists.
Accuracy matters more than raw speed. 50 WPM at 99% accuracy beats 80 WPM at 94%, because fixing errors costs more time than it saves.
How WPM is calculated
In a standard typing test, one "word" is five characters (including spaces). Your score is the number of correct words typed per minute. If your WPM figure doesn't match how fast you think you type, that's usually the reason — it counts correct output, not keystrokes.
Step-by-step: measure your baseline
- Open Typing Speed Test.
- Set a duration — 60 seconds gives a realistic reading; shorter tests flatter you.
- Type the given text at a comfortable, accurate pace. Don't smash the keys to inflate the score.
- Note your WPM and accuracy. Take the test three times and use the average.
A proven practice routine
- Warm up for 5 minutes with a 30-second test at a slow, deliberate pace to build finger-to-key memory.
- Do 3 focused 60-second tests, trying to type faster than last time without dropping below 98% accuracy.
- Repeat 3–4 times a week. Consistency beats long once-a-week marathons.
- Re-measure your baseline monthly to confirm real gains.
Quick wins that help immediately
- Fix your posture. Wrists straight, fingers resting on the home row (A S D F / J K L ;).
- Don't look at the keyboard. Cover your hands or use a blank-keyboard layout.
- Learn the punctuation positions — they're half of what slows people down.
- Use a good keyboard. A mechanical or comfortable membrane board with real key travel helps.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100 WPM realistic for me?
Yes, but it takes months of consistent practice for most people. Focus on steady, measurable improvement — 5 WPM per month is an excellent, sustainable pace.
Does accuracy or speed matter more?
Accuracy. Slower, accurate typing produces more usable work than fast, error-prone typing that requires constant correction.