The average typing speed is about 52 words per minute on a computer keyboard and about 36 words per minute on a phone, according to the two largest published studies of everyday typing. Most people type somewhere between 30 and 60 WPM. This page sets out what those studies measured and how to read your own number against them. If you want to know what speed is good enough for you or for a job, read what is a good typing speed instead.
What is the average typing speed?
On a computer keyboard, the best measured average is about 52 WPM, from a 2018 study of 168,000 volunteers by Aalto University and the University of Cambridge. Most of those typists fell between 30 and 60 WPM. On phones, a 2019 study of over 37,000 volunteers found an average of about 36 WPM. Both studies used online tests, so their typists were probably a little faster than the population as a whole.
| Study | Device | Typists | Average speed | Also found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhakal, Feit, Kristensson and Oulasvirta (CHI 2018) | Computer keyboard | About 168,000 | About 52 WPM | Most typed 30 to 60 WPM; the fastest about 120 WPM |
| Palin, Feit, Kim, Kristensson and Oulasvirta (MobileHCI 2019) | Phone | 37,370 | 36.2 WPM | 2.3% uncorrected errors; over 74% typed with both thumbs |
These are measured figures from the studies listed under sources below, not estimates of ours.
What did the 136 million keystrokes study find?
Researchers from Aalto University in Finland and the University of Cambridge recorded 136 million keystrokes from about 168,000 volunteers who copied short sentences in an online typing test. Beyond the average of about 52 WPM, they found that faster typists also made fewer mistakes, that the fastest pressed the next key before releasing the last one for 40 to 70 percent of their keystrokes, and that typists fell into eight broad groups by style.
Two more findings matter for anyone trying to improve. First, letter pairs typed by different hands or different fingers predicted speed better than repeated letters did. Second, typists who used fewer than ten fingers could be as fast as trained touch typists. Technique matters, but accuracy and smooth transitions between keys matter more than following one method to the letter.
What is the average typing speed on a phone?
About 36 WPM. The 2019 study by the same research group asked over 37,000 volunteers to copy sentences on their phones. The average was 36.2 WPM, with 2.3 percent of errors left uncorrected. Over three quarters of the volunteers typed with both thumbs, which the researchers found was faster than typing with one thumb or one finger. The researchers' advice for speed on a phone: use both thumbs and leave autocorrection on.
Why do typing test averages look so high?
Because the people taking typing tests are not a random sample. Both studies recruited volunteers through an online typing test, and someone who chooses to time their typing is usually more practised than average. Averages published by typing websites have the same problem, often more so, because regular users take hundreds of tests. Treat any online average, including these, as the average of people who like typing tests.
The test itself moves the number too. Short tests of common lowercase words score higher than long tests of real sentences with capitals and punctuation, and 15 second scores run well above 1 minute scores for almost everyone.
How fast are the fastest typists?
In the 2018 study, the fastest volunteers typed at about 120 WPM on its sentence-copying test. That is more than twice the average of about 52. Competitive typists post higher numbers on short tests of common words, where nothing slows the hands down, but holding over 100 WPM on ordinary text for a minute or more is rare.
How does my speed compare with the average?
The table below is our guide for reading a 1 minute test of common English words. It is guidance, not study data: the boundaries are ours, set around the measured averages above. The good typing speed guide breaks the levels down further and covers what jobs ask for.
| Level (guidance) | Net WPM | CPM | Compared with the 2018 study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Under 30 | Under 150 | Below the range most typists fell in |
| Average | 30 to 60 | 150 to 300 | The range most typists fell in |
| Fast | 60 to 90 | 300 to 450 | Above most typists in the study |
| Professional | 90 to 120 | 450 to 600 | Approaching the fastest in the study |
| Elite | Over 120 | Over 600 | Beyond the fastest in the study |
To compare fairly, take three 1 minute tests and use the average, not your best. Make sure your accuracy is 95 percent or better, since the studies measured people copying text carefully, not racing. Presspace shows your net and raw WPM, accuracy and the gap between them after every test.
Sources
- Vivek Dhakal, Anna Maria Feit, Per Ola Kristensson and Antti Oulasvirta (2018). Observations on Typing from 136 Million Keystrokes. Proceedings of CHI 2018. doi.org/10.1145/3173574.3174220. Project page and data: userinterfaces.aalto.fi/136Mkeystrokes.
- University of Cambridge (2018). What makes a faster typist? cam.ac.uk/research/news/what-makes-a-faster-typist. Source of the 52 WPM average, the 120 WPM top speed and the 40 to 70 percent rollover figure.
- Aalto University (2018). The traits of fast typists discovered by analysing 136 million keystrokes. aalto.fi. Source of the 30 to 60 WPM range.
- Kseniia Palin, Anna Maria Feit, Sunjun Kim, Per Ola Kristensson and Antti Oulasvirta (2019). How do People Type on Mobile Devices? Observations from a Study with 37,000 Volunteers. Proceedings of MobileHCI 2019. userinterfaces.aalto.fi/typing37k.
Questions people ask
What is the average typing speed?
In the largest published study, 168,000 volunteers typing on computers averaged about 52 words per minute, and most typed between 30 and 60. On phones, a study of 37,000 volunteers found an average of about 36 words per minute. Both groups chose to take an online typing test, so the general population is probably a little slower.
Is 40 WPM average?
40 WPM is the figure most often quoted for adults, and it sits comfortably inside the 30 to 60 WPM range that most people in the 2018 Aalto and Cambridge study fell into. It is a little below that study's average of about 52 WPM, which came from people keen enough to take a typing test.
What is the average typing speed on a phone?
About 36 words per minute, according to a 2019 study of over 37,000 volunteers by the same research group behind the 2018 keyboard study. Most of them typed with both thumbs, which the study found to be faster than one thumb or one finger.
How fast do the fastest typists type?
In the 2018 study of 168,000 typists, the fastest reached about 120 words per minute on the test. Competitive typists on short tests go higher. Speeds above 100 WPM on ordinary text, held for a minute or more, are rare.
Do you need to touch type to be faster than average?
Not necessarily. The 2018 study found that people who type with fewer than ten fingers can be as fast as trained touch typists. What fast typists share is accuracy and rollover: they make fewer mistakes and often press the next key before releasing the last.
Put it into practice
One minute, common words, scored the standard way. Then compare yourself with the studies above. No sign-up.