WPM chart
Average typing speed by skill, age and job
The average adult types around 40 words per minute. Here is the full breakdown — then test yourself and see exactly where you sit.
| Level | Speed | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner / hunt and peck | 20-30 WPM | Looks at the keyboard, uses 2-4 fingers |
| Average adult | 35-45 WPM | Most people who use a computer daily |
| Proficient touch typist | 55-70 WPM | Rarely looks down, 95%+ accuracy |
| Professional / admin role | 65-80 WPM | Typical requirement for data entry jobs |
| Transcriptionist | 75-90 WPM | Sustained over long sessions |
| Competitive typist | 100-140 WPM | Top of leaderboards |
| World record territory | 150+ WPM | Rare, on optimised layouts |
Average typing speed by age
| Age group | Typical speed |
|---|---|
| Ages 6-11 | 10-20 WPM |
| Ages 12-16 | 25-40 WPM |
| Ages 17-25 | 40-55 WPM |
| Adults 26+ | 35-50 WPM |
What is a good typing speed?
A "good" typing speed depends on what you need it for. For everyday email and browsing, 40 WPM is perfectly comfortable. Most job postings that mention a typing requirement ask for 50-65 WPM with high accuracy. If you're scoring above 70 WPM at 95% accuracy or better, you're faster than the large majority of computer users.
WPM to CPM conversion
Typing tests treat one "word" as five characters including spaces, so 40 WPM equals about 200 characters per minute (CPM) and 80 WPM equals about 400 CPM. Keystrokes per hour (KPH), used in data-entry hiring, is roughly WPM × 300 — so 50 WPM is about 15,000 KPH.
Find your own number
Wondering how fast can I type? Ranges only mean something next to your own score. Run the 1 minute typing test for the standard benchmark, the 5 minute test for sustained speed, or jump into free typing games if drills bore you.
Speed is usually reported in words per minute. For job context, see the BLS office occupations outlook.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
About 40 words per minute for adults who use a computer regularly. Touch typists average 55-70 WPM, and anything above 80 WPM is genuinely fast.
What typing speed do jobs require?
Most administrative and data-entry roles ask for 50-65 WPM with high accuracy. Transcription and captioning roles typically start at 75 WPM.
Is accuracy more important than speed?
Yes. Every corrected error costs roughly the time of typing three extra characters, so a clean 55 WPM beats a messy 75 WPM in real work.
How fast can I improve?
Ten focused minutes a day typically adds 10-15 WPM within a month, most of it from stopping the habit of looking at the keyboard.
What is a good typing speed for my age?
For ages 12-16, 30-40 WPM is on track. College-age typists average 45-55 WPM, and working adults around 40-50 WPM. Any score above your age group's average means you're ahead of the curve.
How many characters per minute is 40 WPM?
About 200 CPM. One 'word' in typing tests is five characters including spaces, so multiply any WPM by five to get characters per minute.
Keep the streak going
Typing Speed Test
Measure your WPM in 15s to 2 minutes.
Free Typing Test
No sign-up, instant WPM and accuracy.
1 Minute Typing Test
The standard 60 second WPM benchmark.
5 Minute Typing Test
Endurance run for sustained speed.
How Fast Can I Type?
Find your WPM in 60 seconds, no sign-up.
Word Rain
Destroy falling words before they land.
Type Racer
Outrun the pace car sentence by sentence.
Key Hunter
Drill single keys and build muscle memory.
Typing Games for Kids
Big letters, short words, friendly scoring.
Online Typing Test
Check your typing speed in the browser.
WPM Test
Words per minute, accuracy and consistency.
Typing Accuracy Test
Error rate and the keys you miss most.
Typing Test for Beginners
Short, gentle first run with common words.
Free Typing Games
All four browser games in one place.
How to Type Faster
Nine habits that actually raise WPM.
Typing Practice for Kids
Gentle keyboard learning for ages 6+.
Typing Practice for Students
Drills and speed goals by grade.
Touch Typing Practice
Untimed lessons from home row to punctuation.