What Is a Good Typing Speed? Average WPM
Quick answer: A good typing speed is around 60–70 words per minute (WPM), while the average adult types about 40 WPM. Professional typists hit 70–100+, and competitive records exceed 200 WPM. Accuracy matters as much as raw speed.
Find your own number: open the typing speed test and type the passage as accurately as you can.
Typing speed benchmarks
- Beginner (under 30 WPM): hunt-and-peck or just learning.
- Average (~40 WPM): a typical adult who types regularly.
- Above average (50–60 WPM): comfortable touch typing.
- Good / professional (60–70 WPM): the usual bar for typing-heavy jobs.
- Fast (70–100 WPM): skilled touch typists.
- Expert (100+ WPM): rare; competition records pass 200 WPM.
Why accuracy matters as much as speed
Most tests report net WPM, which subtracts mistakes. A burst of fast typing full of errors scores worse than a steady, accurate pace, because fixing typos costs more time than it saves. Aim for accuracy first, then speed.
How to type faster
Learn touch typing: keep your fingers on the home row, use all ten fingers, and stop looking at the keyboard. Short daily practice builds the muscle memory that raises both speed and accuracy over a few weeks.
What is a good speed for a job?
Data-entry, transcription and admin roles typically want 50–60+ WPM with strong accuracy; around 65 WPM is a comfortable professional target. Specialised roles like court reporting use different equipment and far higher effective rates.
Test your typing speed
Run the typing speed test to see your WPM and accuracy, then compare against the benchmarks above.