Test your typing speed now
Use the free typing speed test to get your WPM and accuracy score. No account required.
What WPM means
WPM stands for words per minute. In standard typing tests, a "word" is defined as five characters — including spaces, punctuation, and numbers. This standardized definition makes WPM comparable across different tests regardless of actual word length.
So if you type 200 characters in one minute, your speed is 200 ÷ 5 = 40 WPM.
What counts as a good typing speed
| WPM | Assessment | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | Below average | Hunt-and-peck typists, beginners |
| 30–50 | Average | Sufficient for most casual use |
| 50–70 | Good | Comfortable for office work |
| 70–90 | Fast | Professional typist range |
| 90–120 | Very fast | Transcriptionists, journalists, power users |
| 120+ | Exceptional | Top 1% of typists |
The average office worker types at 40–50 WPM. The average professional typist types at 65–75 WPM. 40 WPM with high accuracy is more productive than 70 WPM with 95% accuracy — correcting errors wastes more time than they save.
Accuracy matters more than speed
Most typing tests report both WPM and accuracy. Here's why accuracy is more important:
If you type at 70 WPM with 95% accuracy on a 100-word passage, you make ~5 errors. Each correction takes 1–3 seconds — that's 5–15 seconds of correction time. Effective throughput is closer to 55–60 WPM.
A typist at 55 WPM with 99% accuracy finishes the same passage faster because they rarely need to stop and correct.
Practice rule: if your accuracy drops below 97%, you are typing faster than your skill level supports. Slow down until accuracy is consistently above 97%, then gradually increase speed.
Typing speed requirements for common jobs
- Data entry: typically 50–60 WPM minimum, high accuracy required
- Administrative assistant: 60 WPM standard
- Court reporter / stenographer: 225+ WPM (specialized equipment)
- Transcriptionist: 75+ WPM with 98%+ accuracy
- Software developer: no standard — 50–70 WPM is typical, but coding involves more thinking than typing
- Writer / journalist: 60–80 WPM common; speed correlates with productivity
How to improve typing speed
- Learn proper finger placement first. The home row (ASDF JKL;) is the foundation. If you hunt-and-peck, relearning takes 2–4 weeks of consistent practice to break the habit.
- Practice for 15–20 minutes daily, not hours. Short daily sessions beat occasional long ones. Muscle memory forms through repetition over time.
- Focus on accuracy before speed. Type slowly and correctly until errors are under 3%. Then gradually increase pace.
- Practice problem keys specifically. Most typists have 3–5 keys they consistently mistype. Identify them in your test results and drill those specifically.
Summary
Test your current speed with the free typing speed test. Aim for 97%+ accuracy first, speed second. 50–70 WPM is a comfortable range for most professional work. Practice daily for 15 minutes — consistent short sessions produce faster improvement than occasional long ones.