The Average Typing Speed in Words Per Minute – How Fast People Really Type?
Nearly everyone believes he or she types quickly until he or she is tested.
This confidence typically fades rapidly.
Someone who feels that he/she types a lot of words per minute when there is no pressure, accuracy and punctuation involved, will suddenly find his typing at 42 words per minute when he or she is required to perform under the conditions of accuracy, punctuation and time. At the same time someone else is typing at 95 wpm just looking at the words.
It's one thing to type fast, and quite another to have your typing speed measured.
Actually, most people do not test themselves adequately until they participate in a typing race or merely challenge an online friend for fun.
But when you get to pay attention to typing, particularly to the average typing speed in words per minute, you start to see how it impacts daily productivity. Almost any activity you do on a computer relies on how quickly and efficiently you can move your hands across the keyboard.
There are people who even go as far as obsessing about setting up their typing to the max. This typically gets them on the track for ergonomic keyboards, touch typing, and ultimately Colemak DH typing practice which helps them to reduce the movement of fingers, which is quite unnecessary.
Before you begin to use advanced keyboard layouts, however, it helps to know what “normal” typing will look like.
What Does Words Per Minute Mean?
The standard measure for typing speed is words per minute (WPM).
In most systems of typing, one word is defined as:
- Five characters (Note that spaces and punctuation are included.)
If you type 250 characters per minute, then you'll end up typing 50 words per minute.
Pretty straightforward.
However, this is not the end of the story when it comes to speed.
Accuracy matters too.
You may find it easier to type 65 words per minute without errors than to type 85 words per minute while constantly stopping to correct your errors.
This is why using a decent typing speed test will take into account your accuracy as well as your typing speed, rather than just your typing speed.
How Many Words Can You Type Per Minute On Average?
Adults write at 35-45 WPM.
Typing Level Breakdown
| Typing Level | WPM Range |
| Beginner | 0–25 WPM |
| Average | 35–45 WPM |
| Good | 50–70 WPM |
| Fast | 80–100 WPM |
| Elite | 110+ WPM |
If you're over 70 wpm, you're faster than most people.
Why Typing Tests Are More Challenging Than Regular Typing!
People don't often discuss the psychological aspects of typing tests.
As soon as you see a Timer, your brain does something different.
You realize you have all of the typos. The tension of your fingers slightly increases. Simple words are awkward even though you realize that errors will impact your score.
This pressure messes with rhythm.
That's one of the reasons why people can have a lower performance score in their first few typing tests.
If you practice in realistic settings, the more comfortable you will be to remain calm if you need to type fast.
This is another reason that competition is so beneficial. Playing multiplayer typing battles will keep your brain focused and under pressure.
Believe it or not, practice can also be less repetitive with the competition!
What Is Considered To Be A Good Speed For Writing 40 Words Per Minute?
Yes. Completely normal.
The normal typing speed of 40 WPM can be used for:
- Office work
- School assignments
- Emails
- Browsing
- General productivity
Sometimes the Internet sets unrealistic expectations because the faster the typist is, the more likely the score will be posted.
This can give the impression of ‘slow' average speeds when they're not!
In fact, most office workers type within about this range every day with no problems.
Is 100 WPM Fast?
Definitely.
If you can type at a rate of 100 words per minute at high accuracy, then it is actually fast, that is, it is almost everywhere.
At that level:
- This typing becomes very automatic.
- Movement of the fingers is smooth and easy.
- muscle memory is etched into the mind.
- For the most part, the keyboard "vanishes" in your mind.
Most fast typists did not get to their fast typing by a sudden snap of the fingers.
Typically, their improvement was spontaneous and natural, and involved the following years of:
- Gaming
- Chatting
- Coding
- Writing
- Touch typing
- Repeated keyboard exposure
Mostly advanced muscle memory and rhythm is required for fast typing.
Why Do We Need To Maintain Accuracy Rather Than Speed? Why Is Accentuation More Important Than Speed?
It's a common error made by many beginners.
They obsessively focus on numbers of WPM prematurely.
The result?
- More corrections
- Broken flow
- Inconsistent rhythm
- Messy typing habits
In fact, when you slow down just slightly, typing gets easier and thus, overall performance gets better.
Experienced typists spend a lot of time to refine their accuracy in typing, and not to seek out for higher speed.
Here Are Some Of The Common Habits That Slow Typists Have.
Slower typers have some practices that occur regularly.
Looking At The Keyboard
This is likely to be the largest speed restriction.
Every time your eyes step off screen, your brain goes out of rhythm a bit.
By eliminating that interruption, touch typing makes it possible to use a computer faster than your typing speed.
A Method For Using Only A Few Fingers.
A lot of people type on 2 or 3 fingers and don't realize that it becomes so inefficient at higher speeds.
Over a period of time, speed will plateau hard when the ability to move becomes reduced.
Good finger positioning allows for more even distribution of hand movement.
Inconsistent Practice
Typing is learnt skill and habit.
Muscle memory is created when repeated.
No more than one practice session every few weeks is much less beneficial than the daily short practice sessions.
Just 15-20 minutes a day can make a difference in the long run.
Panicking During Mistakes
Very often, a small mistake makes the initial learner rush even more, resulting in a larger mistake.
Top typers recoup their losses just as they did before: their emotions do not get in the way when they make mistakes.
The soothing flow of that is really important.
Is Gaming A Good Way To Make You A Better Typist?
Surprisingly, yes — sometimes.
The symptoms of PC gaming addiction are:
- Faster reaction speed
- Better keyboard familiarity
- Improved finger coordination
- Quicker movement patterns
But being able to do this doesn't automatically make him/her a good typist.
There are players who type extremely quickly, yet play in unusual hand positions.
However, heavy experiences of the keyboard, in general, aids typing growth.
To Improve Typing Speed Naturally, Refer To The Tips Given Below:
The advice given online, when completing a type, can sound too robotic.
The truth is, it's not that complicated.
You get better at typing if you type regularly and accurately.
That’s really it.
However, there are a few habits that can help accelerate the process.
Practice To Focus On Accuracy First.
If you have poor typing skills, your muscle memory will be poor.
It's better to have a smooth 60 WPM with good accuracy that a rushed 85 WPM with frequent corrections.
Fast typists generally are easy with their hands on the keys, since the way they use their hands is an efficient process.
Learning With Real Language.
Excessive repetition of random characters is very quickly dull.
Real sentences will make for better typing rhythms due to the natural language patterns recognized by the brain.
Practice with:
- Articles
- Conversations
- Emails
- Books
- Stories
- Coding snippets
It's more realistic and sustainable.
Stop Watching Your Hands
It starts uncomfortable, but then it's different.
When your brain no longer relies on key visualization search, you start to develop true keyboard awareness.
That's where a touch typist's skills take off!
Take Advantage Of Competitive Typing Challenges.
Obviously typing without any pauses is repetitive after awhile.
Competition is an element of urgency, excitement and pressure. It also helps to hone focus for real-life typing scenarios.
This is why many users will get better in a typing battle mode rather than in a drill mode that they do not practise in.
Is There Any One Who Can Make Himself A Quick Typer?
It's okay that not everyone will be as fast a typist as you're hoping.
However, most people are not aware of just how much improvement is actually achievable.
Someone typing 30 WPM today can easily learn to type 60–80 WPM in the future with:
- Consistency
- Touch typing habits
- Proper technique
- Regular practice
Average typists and fast typists typically don't differ significantly in talent; their main difference is in the speed at which they type.
It’s repetition.
Read Also:
- Speed, Accuracy And Practice - Typing Test Paragraph Examples
- Best Keyboards for Typing: Mechanical, Fast & Comfortable Options Explained
- How Long Does It Take To Learn Touch Typing Or Blind Typing? (And Why Most People Give Up Too Soon)
- How To Learn Typing In 3 Days: An Honest Crash Course (No Fairy Tales)
- Typing Agent: The Classroom Typing Tutor That Thinks It's A Spy Movie
