TypeSprintAverage typing speed by level
| Speed | Level | Share of typists faster |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 WPM | Beginner | about 80% |
| 25–40 WPM | Average | 50–80% |
| 40–60 WPM | Above average | 10–50% |
| 60–80 WPM | Fast | 1–10% |
| 80+ WPM | Very fast | under 1–2% |
Percentages are approximate and based on a typical spread of results around a 40 WPM average.
Typing speed by age
Children's speed rises steadily through school as their hands grow and they practice more. These are typical ranges for children who have had some keyboarding lessons:
| Age | Typical speed |
|---|---|
| 6–8 | 5–15 WPM |
| 9–10 | 10–20 WPM |
| 11–12 | 15–30 WPM |
| 13–14 | 20–40 WPM |
| 15–18 | 30–50 WPM |
| Adults | 35–45 WPM on average |
Kids can measure themselves with the typing test for kids, which uses easy words and big letters.
Typing speed requirements by job
| Job | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| General office, retail, customer service | 30–40 WPM |
| Receptionist, administrative assistant | 40–50 WPM |
| Executive or legal assistant | 50–70 WPM |
| Data entry | 8,000–10,000 keystrokes per hour |
| Transcriptionist | 60–80 WPM or more |
| Court reporter (stenotype machine) | 225 WPM |
Job tests usually measure net WPM over three to five minutes, often with an accuracy minimum. Practice with the 3-minute and 5-minute tests, and use the number typing test for data entry roles.
What affects your typing speed?
- Technique: touch typists with all ten fingers are usually much faster than people who look at the keys.
- The text: common words are faster than technical text, capitals, numbers or punctuation. The paragraph test is typically 5–10 WPM slower.
- Test length: short tests give higher scores than long ones.
- Keyboard and device: an unfamiliar keyboard, a laptop or a phone all lower your speed.
- Practice: regular, short practice is the biggest factor you control.
How to get above average
If you are below 40 WPM and still look at the keyboard, learning touch typing is the fastest route: our free typing lessons take about two weeks at 15 minutes a day. If you already touch type, focus on accuracy (aim for 97%), keep a steady rhythm, and take a short typing test every day to track progress.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
Most large studies put the average adult typing speed at around 40 words per minute on a computer keyboard, with typical results between 35 and 45 WPM.
Is 60 WPM good?
Yes. 60 WPM is clearly above average — faster than roughly 85–90% of typists — and meets the requirement of almost all office and administrative jobs.
What is the fastest typing speed ever recorded?
Competitive typists have sustained well over 200 WPM in short tests on standard keyboards. For longer texts, top professional speeds are around 150 WPM.
How fast do people type on phones?
Studies of smartphone typing found an average of about 36 WPM on phones, with the fastest users above 80 WPM.
How do I convert WPM to characters or keystrokes per minute?
Multiply WPM by 5 for characters (or keystrokes) per minute, and by 300 for keystrokes per hour. 40 WPM ≈ 200 characters per minute ≈ 12,000 keystrokes per hour.