What is a good typing speed?
A rough guide to words per minute (WPM), and how to find out where you are.
| Net WPM | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Hunting for keys, often with two or three fingers. Touch-typing lessons help most here. |
| 25–40 | Everyday typing. Many people who never learned touch typing sit here. |
| 40–60 | Comfortable and above average; fine for most office and school work. |
| 60–80 | Fast. Common among people who type all day, such as programmers and writers. |
| 80–100 | Very fast; the level many transcription and data-entry jobs look for. |
| Over 100 | Expert or competitive typist. |
These bands are a common rule of thumb, not an official standard; job requirements vary.
Accuracy comes first
Aim for at least 95% accuracy before chasing speed. Every mistake costs a Backspace and a retype, so a careful 50 WPM often beats a sloppy 70. TypingStreak's lessons ask for 90–92% accuracy to pass, and give three stars at 98%.
How to measure it
Take a one-minute typing test three times and use the average. Then read how to type faster.
Average typing speed
Most adults type at roughly 35 to 45 words per minute. People who learned touch typing usually reach 50 to 70 WPM, and professional typists often pass 80 WPM. The biggest jump comes from learning to type without looking: touch typing lessons take most people from the 30s into the 50s.
Typing speed by age
| Age | Typical speed |
|---|---|
| 7–8 | 5–15 WPM |
| 9–11 | 15–25 WPM |
| 12–14 | 20–35 WPM |
| 15–18 | 30–45 WPM |
| Adults | 35–45 WPM on average |
Children should aim for accuracy above 90% before speed. See typing practice for kids.
Typing speed for jobs
| Job | Speed often asked for |
|---|---|
| Office and admin | 40–50 WPM |
| Customer support (chat and email) | 50–60 WPM |
| Legal and medical secretaries | 60–75 WPM |
| Transcription | 60–80 WPM or more |
| Data entry (numbers) | 8,000–10,000 keystrokes per hour, see the 10-key test |
Employers usually test for three to five minutes and look at net WPM with accuracy. A typing certificate shows both.
WPM and keystrokes per hour
One word counts as five keystrokes, so keystrokes per hour (KPH) is WPM × 300: 40 WPM is about 12,000 KPH and 60 WPM about 18,000 KPH.
Common questions
Is 40 WPM a good typing speed?
Yes, 40 WPM is about average and enough for most school and office work. With touch typing practice most people can reach 50 to 60 WPM within a few months.
Is 60 WPM good?
Yes, 60 WPM is fast, well above average, and meets the typing requirement of most office and many transcription jobs.
Is 100 WPM fast?
Yes, 100 WPM is very fast; only a small share of typists reach it. Accuracy above 95% matters more than the last few words per minute.
How do I convert WPM to keystrokes per hour?
One word is five keystrokes, so multiply WPM by 300: 40 WPM is about 12,000 keystrokes per hour and 60 WPM about 18,000. Data-entry tests often ask for 8,000 to 10,000 keystrokes per hour on numbers.