How typing speed is measured

Words per minute (WPM) is calculated by dividing your correctly typed characters by 5 (the average word length), then dividing by elapsed time in minutes. Accuracy compares every character you typed against the same position in the original passage.

How to take this typing speed test

1. Start typing the displayed passage as soon as you’re ready — the timer starts on your first keystroke.
2. Type as quickly and accurately as you can until you reach the end.
3. Click „New Passage“ to try again with a different text.

The average typist reaches about 40 WPM; professionals often exceed 65-75 WPM.

What affects typing speed

• Muscle memory: Touch typists who don’t look at the keyboard are typically faster and more accurate than „hunt and peck“ typists.
• Familiarity with the text: Typing familiar words and common phrases is faster than typing unfamiliar terms, technical jargon, or random characters.
• Keyboard layout and practice: Regular practice on a consistent keyboard layout steadily improves both speed and accuracy over time.

WPM benchmarks

Average typing speed for most adults is around 40 words per minute, office professionals who type frequently often reach 50-70 WPM, and professional or competitive typists can exceed 100 WPM with high accuracy. Speed without accuracy isn’t very useful in practice, which is why this test tracks both together rather than speed alone.

Tips for improving your typing speed

Focus on accuracy before speed — a slower, error-free typing style is more valuable in real work than fast typing full of corrections. Regular short practice sessions tend to build speed more effectively than occasional long sessions.

Expert insight: how fast can a human actually type?

Barbara Blackburn holds the popularly cited record for fastest typing, reportedly sustaining around 150 words per minute for extended periods and briefly hitting speeds near 212 WPM using the Dvorak keyboard layout — roughly four to five times the average adult’s typing speed. Her record is a useful reality check: even professional-level typists rarely sustain more than half that pace, so hitting 60-80 WPM on this test already puts you well above the general population.

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