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What WPM actually measures
WPM — words per minute — uses a standardized “word” of five characters (including spaces), so “words per minute” really means characters per minute ÷ 5. That standardization is why speeds are comparable across tests and languages. Two numbers matter together: net WPM (only correctly typed words count — the number that matters) and gross WPM (everything you typed, errors included). Our test reports both, plus accuracy — because a 70 WPM typist at 85% accuracy is functionally slower than a 55 WPM typist at 98%: in real work, every error costs correction time.
The average typing speed, properly sourced
Two studies anchor everything on this site. The classic baseline comes from Teresia Ostrach’s study of 3,475 people across all ages and professions, which put the overall average around 40 WPM — still the most-cited figure for the general population. The modern large-scale number comes from Aalto University’s analysis of 136 million keystrokes from 168,000 online test volunteers, which found an average of 52 WPM. The gap between the two isn’t a contradiction — it’s selection: people who voluntarily take typing tests online type more than the general population does. The honest summary: the average person types around 40–44 WPM; the average person who’d bother to test themselves types around 52.
The percentile ladder — where every speed sits
| WPM | Percentile (approx.) | What it means | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Bottom ~6% | Hunt-and-peck territory — touch typing basics would double this fast | Beginner |
| 30 | ~19% | Below average; common for occasional computer users | Below avg |
| 40 | ~42% | The general-population average line | Average |
| 50 | ~68% | Comfortably above average; fine for almost any office job | Above avg |
| 60 | ~87% | Fast; meets most professional typing requirements | Fast |
| 70 | ~96% | Faster than 19 people in 20; transcription-grade with accuracy | Very fast |
| 80 | ~99% | Top few percent of all typists | Pro |
| 100+ | 99th+ | Elite — competitive-typist territory | Elite |
Percentiles here use a population model (mean 43, SD 15) built from the published studies above; as our own anonymous test dataset grows, these figures update — the methodology page explains the math.
Average typing speed by age
Typing speed follows a career arc: it climbs through the school years, peaks in the late teens and twenties — the generation that grew up with a keyboard under its hands — and declines gently with age, mostly through reduced daily practice rather than ability. Teens and young adults commonly average in the mid-to-high 40s; mid-career adults sit around the overall average; and speeds in the 28–35 WPM range are typical past 60. The full age table, grade-level expectations for kids, and what’s realistic to expect at every stage live in our average typing speed by age guide.
What counts as a good typing speed?
Context decides. For everyday personal use, anything at or above the 40 WPM average is genuinely fine. For office work, 50–60 WPM stops typing from ever being the bottleneck. For typing-centric roles — data entry, transcription, admin — job postings typically ask for 55–80 WPM, a subject we’re researching directly from live listings. And past 80, speed is a skill in itself. The full breakdown, including why accuracy beats raw speed in every real-world scenario, is in what is a good typing speed.
Does your speed qualify you for typing-heavy jobs?
The test above checks your result against typical requirements for customer support (~40–50 WPM), administrative roles (~55–65), data entry (~50–70) and transcription (~70–90). These bands come from published job-posting requirements; our full typing speed for jobs study — built from hundreds of live listings — breaks down exactly what employers ask for, role by role.
How to read your result (and improve it)
Take the test three times and use your median — single runs swing several WPM with text luck and warm-up. If your accuracy is under 95%, improve that before chasing speed: errors compound, and accuracy gains convert directly into net WPM. From there, the boring truth is the effective one — 10–15 minutes of daily deliberate practice moves most people 5–10 WPM within a month, and proper touch typing (all ten fingers, eyes off the keyboard) roughly doubles hunt-and-peck speeds over a few months. Retest weekly; the percentile bar makes progress visible.
Sources
- Teresia Ostrach, “Typing Speed: How Fast Is Average?” — 3,475-person study; the ~40 WPM general-population baseline.
- Dhakal, Feit, Kristensson & Oulasvirta (Aalto University / Cambridge), “Observations on Typing from 136 Million Keystrokes” (CHI 2018) — 168,000 volunteers; the 52 WPM online-test average.
- Job requirement bands: compiled from live job postings — full dataset and method on the jobs study page as it develops, and on our methodology page.
- Our own aggregate: every test taken on this site contributes an anonymous WPM + accuracy datapoint to the population model.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
The average typing speed is 40–44 WPM for adults in general, and about 52 WPM among people who take online typing tests. Professionals who type for a living average 65–75 WPM or more.
Is 40 WPM good?
It’s exactly average — perfectly adequate for everyday use and most office work. If your job involves sustained typing, pushing toward 55–60 WPM removes typing as a bottleneck.
What is a good typing speed for a job?
Most typing-relevant postings ask for 50–70 WPM; transcription roles ask 70–90. Customer-facing roles often accept 40+. Our test checks your result against these bands automatically.
How is WPM calculated?
Characters typed ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Net WPM counts only correct words; gross counts everything. Report net — it’s the honest number.
Is 100 WPM rare?
Yes — roughly the top 1% of typists. Sustained 100+ WPM with high accuracy is competitive-typing territory.
Does the average differ on phones?
Substantially — mobile thumb-typing averages roughly 36–38 WPM even among fast young users. This site’s benchmarks are for physical keyboards; a phone result isn’t comparable.