What Is a Good Typing Speed? WPM Explained
A typing test tells you your speed in seconds, but what does the number actually mean? Here is how WPM is calculated and which values are considered good.
What Does WPM Mean?
WPM stands for words per minute. To make short and long words comparable, one "word" is counted as five characters, including spaces.
WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
If you type 300 characters correctly in one minute, your speed is 60 WPM.
What Are Normal Values?
| WPM | Level |
|---|---|
| below 30 | Beginner, often typing with few fingers |
| 30–40 | Average adult |
| 40–60 | Solid, good for everyday office work |
| 60–80 | Fast, typical for trained touch typists |
| 80–100 | Very fast |
| above 100 | Professional level |
The average is around 40 WPM. With touch typing, 60 WPM and more is achievable for almost everyone.
Accuracy Matters Just as Much
A high WPM is worth little if you constantly have to correct mistakes. Every error costs time: deleting, retyping and finding your rhythm again.
- Below 90%: focus on clean movements first.
- 90–95%: a good base; slowing down often helps here.
- Above 95%: now it pays off to push your speed.
Why Your Results Vary
- Text: long words, capital letters and punctuation slow you down.
- Keyboard: unfamiliar layouts or laptop keyboards cost speed.
- Daily form: being tired shows immediately.
An average over several tests says more than a single record.
How to Get Faster
- Type without looking at the keyboard.
- Practice 10–15 minutes daily.
- Train your weak letters using your per-letter accuracy.
- Race others in a multiplayer typing race.
Test Your Speed Now
Take the free typing test and compare yourself on the leaderboard.