What's a Good Typing Speed?
The average typing speed is around 40 words per minute (WPM) for an adult using a keyboard casually. But "good" depends entirely on what you're doing — a data-entry job, a novelist and a competitive typist all have very different bars.
Typing speed benchmarks
- 0–30 WPM — Beginner / hunt-and-peck. Common if you look at the keys while typing.
- 40 WPM — Average adult. Perfectly fine for everyday use.
- 50–60 WPM — Good. You touch-type and rarely look down.
- 65–75 WPM — Professional. The typical requirement for admin, support and transcription roles.
- 80–95 WPM — Fast. Strong touch-typist territory.
- 100+ WPM — Excellent / competitive. World-record holders push well past 200 WPM in short bursts.
How is WPM measured?
By convention, one "word" = five characters (including spaces), so speed isn't skewed by long or short words. Two numbers matter:
- Gross WPM — raw speed, before mistakes.
- Net WPM — gross speed minus a penalty for errors. This is the number that actually reflects useful output, because fast typing full of typos isn't fast.
That's why a good test reports accuracy alongside speed. Aim for accuracy above about 95% — chasing raw speed at 80% accuracy usually makes you slower once you count the time spent fixing mistakes.
What speed should you aim for?
If you type for work, 60+ WPM at 95%+ accuracy is a great, realistic target that keeps up with your thinking. For most people, getting from 40 to 60 WPM is the highest-value improvement — it's the difference between the keyboard slowing you down and disappearing.
How to type faster
- Touch-type. Learn the home row (ASDF / JKL;) and stop looking at the keys. This is the single biggest jump.
- Accuracy first, speed second. Slow down until you're accurate; speed follows naturally as the movements become automatic.
- Use all ten fingers and let each finger own its columns.
- Fix your posture — wrists neutral, feet flat, screen at eye level. Comfort sustains speed.
- Practice little and often. Short daily sessions beat rare long ones. Re-test weekly to see progress.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
About 40 words per minute for a casual adult typist. Professional roles usually expect 65–75 WPM.
Is 60 WPM good?
Yes — 60 WPM at high accuracy is a solid, professional-level speed that keeps up with most writing and data-entry work.
How is a 'word' counted?
By the standard of five characters (including spaces) per word, so your score isn't affected by word length.
Does accuracy matter more than speed?
They work together. Net WPM subtracts an error penalty, so accuracy above ~95% is what makes high speed actually useful.