Average Typing Speed: WPM Benchmarks and How to Improve
Large studies put average typing speed at about 52 WPM on a keyboard and 36 WPM on a phone. Learn how WPM is calculated, job benchmarks and how to improve.
By Awais, Founder and editor-in-chiefPublished
The average typing speed on a physical keyboard is about 52 words per minute (WPM), based on a study of 168,000 volunteers. On a smartphone, a follow-up study of more than 37,000 people found an average of about 36 WPM.
Those are averages of people who chose to take an online test, so they are a useful benchmark rather than a census. Below is what the research found, how WPM is calculated, the speeds some jobs ask for, and practical ways to get faster.
What large studies found
Physical keyboards: about 52 WPM
In 2018, researchers from Aalto University and the University of Cambridge analysed 136 million keystrokes typed by 168,000 volunteers in an online typing test (Dhakal et al., CHI 2018). Their main findings:
- The mean speed was 51.56 WPM, with a standard deviation of about 20 WPM, so most people typed somewhere between roughly 30 and 70 WPM.
- The fastest typists reached 120 WPM or more.
- On average, about 1.2% of characters were left uncorrected.
- People who had taken a typing course were only about 5 WPM faster on average than those who had not.
- Speed was closely linked to rollover: fast typists often press the next key before releasing the previous one.
Phones: about 36 WPM
A 2019 study by the same research group measured 37,370 volunteers typing on mobile phones (Palin et al., MobileHCI 2019). The average was 36.2 WPM, about 15 WPM slower than on physical keyboards in the earlier study, with more uncorrected errors. People typing with two thumbs were fastest, at about 38 WPM, and teenagers were the fastest age group.
Typing speed benchmarks
These bands are a rough guide drawn from the averages above, not official categories:
| Speed (physical keyboard) | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Under 30 WPM | well below average; often hunt-and-peck |
| 30–50 WPM | below to around average |
| 50–70 WPM | above average |
| 70–90 WPM | fast |
| 90+ WPM | very fast; a small minority of typists |
How WPM is calculated
In typing tests, a “word” is not a real word. Since typing contests in the early 1900s, it has been standard to count five characters, including spaces and punctuation, as one word, as text-entry researchers Jacob Wobbrock and Scott MacKenzie explain. This makes results comparable whether you type short or long words.
Many typing tests also report a net WPM that penalises mistakes you did not fix. This is a common test convention rather than a single official standard, and sites differ in the details:
Example: in a 5-minute test you type 1,250 characters, including spaces, and leave 6 errors uncorrected.
- Gross WPM = (1,250 ÷ 5) ÷ 5 = 50 WPM
- Net WPM = 50 − (6 ÷ 5) = 48.8 WPM
- Accuracy = (1,250 − 6) ÷ 1,250 × 100 = 99.5%
If you want to check the accuracy maths, our guide on how to calculate percentage explains the formula. Some employers set a minimum accuracy instead of subtracting errors, as the job examples below show.
Speeds that jobs and exams ask for
| Employer or exam | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US federal government: Clerk-Typist and Office Automation Clerk/Assistant | 40 WPM, based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors | OPM qualification standards |
| India SSC CHSL 2026 (LDC/JSA posts) | 35 WPM in English or 30 WPM in Hindi, about 10,500 or 9,000 key depressions per hour, in a 10-minute test | SSC CHSL notice |
Notice that 35 WPM × 5 characters × 60 minutes = 10,500 keystrokes an hour, which is the same five-characters-per-word rule. OPM also allows applicants to prove typing proficiency by test, certificate or self-certification, though agencies can test self-certified applicants.
For most office jobs, a comfortable 40–60 WPM with high accuracy is plenty. Data entry, transcription and live captioning need more, often with their own tests.
How to type faster
1. Measure first
Take a few tests on the typing test and note your average speed and accuracy. One result can be lucky or unlucky; the average of three to five tells you where you are.
2. Fix accuracy before speed
Every error costs time to notice, delete and retype. If your accuracy is below about 95%, slow down until it rises, then build speed. Speed built on errors does not last.
3. Learn to touch type, or refine what you do
Touch typing means typing without looking at the keys, with each finger responsible for a set of keys from the home row (ASDF and JKL;). It is the most common way people learn to type fast. That said, the 2018 study found typists who had taken courses were only about 5 WPM faster on average, and earlier research they cite found that some people who never learned touch typing are as fast as trained typists. What mattered more was using more fingers, making fewer errors and keeping a steady rhythm.
4. Practise deliberately, in short sessions
A study of 60 university students (Keith and Ericsson, 2007) found that the fastest typists had typically taken a typing class and had set themselves the goal of typing quickly in everyday use, while basic tests of perceptual and tapping speed did not explain the differences. In practice:
- Practise 10 to 20 minutes a day rather than an hour once a week.
- Push slightly beyond your comfortable speed, then return to accuracy.
- Drill the letter pairs and words that trip you up.
- Type real text, such as emails and notes, not just random words.
5. Look after your setup
Sit with your forearms roughly level with the keyboard, wrists relaxed, and the screen at eye level. Take short breaks. A comfortable position lets you practise longer without strain.
6. On phones, use both thumbs and autocorrect
In the mobile study, two-thumb typists were fastest, and people who used autocorrect typed faster than those who did not. People who relied on word prediction were slower on average than those using autocorrect.
Track your progress
Retest once a week at the same time of day. Expect gains to be fast at first and slower later. If you write long documents, the word counter can tell you how many words you produced, which, divided by your time, gives a real-world WPM that is often lower than a test score because it includes thinking time.
FAQ
What is a good typing speed?
On a physical keyboard, anything above the average of about 52 WPM is good, and 70 WPM or more is fast. For most office jobs, 40 WPM or more with high accuracy is enough.
How is WPM calculated?
Divide the number of characters typed, including spaces, by 5 to get “words”, then divide by the minutes taken. Net WPM also subtracts uncorrected errors per minute.
Is 40 WPM fast?
It is a little below the average of about 52 WPM, but it meets the 40 WPM requirement the US federal government uses for clerk-typist jobs.
Why am I slower on my phone?
Typing with thumbs on a touchscreen is slower for almost everyone. The large mobile study found an average of 36 WPM, about 15 WPM below physical keyboards.
How long does it take to improve typing speed?
It varies. Regular short practice usually brings noticeable gains within weeks, especially if you fix accuracy first. Progress slows as you approach your personal ceiling.