Quick answer: the average typing speed is about 52 words per minute (WPM) on a computer keyboard and about 36 WPM on a phone. Above about 60 WPM on a keyboard is faster than the average.
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The numbers, and where they come from
| Device | Average | Study |
|---|---|---|
| Computer keyboard | about 52 WPM | 168,000 volunteers, 136 million keystrokes (Aalto University and the University of Cambridge, 2018). Source |
| Phone | about 36 WPM | 37,370 volunteers (Aalto University and the University of Cambridge, 2019). Source |
Both studies used an online typing test, so the volunteers chose to take part. The keyboard study’s participants were mostly younger people interested in typing, and over 70% had taken a touch-typing class, so the true average for all adults may be a little lower. In the phone study the average person left about 2.3% of mistakes uncorrected.
What counts as fast?
The study grouped typists by style. The largest and slowest group averaged about 46 WPM, several groups sat in the low to mid 50s, and the fastest groups averaged about 65 to 68 WPM. For comparison, professionally trained typists in the 1970s and 80s typically reached 60 to 90 WPM. So, roughly:
- Under 40 WPM: below most keyboard users, but fine for everyday writing.
- 40 to 60 WPM: around the average.
- 60 WPM and above: faster than the average, in the range of the study’s fastest groups.
- On a phone: 36 WPM is average. People aged 10 to 19 were the fastest in the phone study (about 40 WPM), and typing with two thumbs was quickest.
These bands are our reading of the studies, not an official scale.
How WPM is calculated
The standard method counts every 5 characters, including spaces, as one word. Your WPM is the characters you typed correctly divided by 5, divided by the minutes. Altto’s test uses this method, so a result is comparable with the studies above, although a short test on easy text tends to give a slightly higher number than long, real writing, because you don’t have to think of what to say.
Does a typing course make you faster?
Not as much as you might expect. The keyboard study found that people who had taken a typing course typed with similar speed and habits to those who hadn’t. The fastest typists often press the next key before releasing the last one, a habit that comes from practice. Accuracy matters most: every correction costs time, so slowing down slightly to avoid mistakes usually raises your speed.
Check your own speed
Altto’s typing test is free with no sign-up: pick 15 seconds up to 5 minutes, see your WPM, accuracy and the keys you miss, and get a free certificate with a check code for tests of a minute or more. Works on a keyboard or a phone.
Take the free typing testMore free tests: reaction time, click speed, IQ and brain age, all on the tests page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average typing speed?
About 52 words per minute on a computer keyboard, from a study of 168,000 volunteers by Aalto University and the University of Cambridge. On a phone it is about 36 words per minute, from a separate study of 37,370 volunteers.
Is 40 WPM a good typing speed?
It is a little below the 52 WPM average in the large keyboard study, but fine for everyday writing. Many people are in the 40s and still type comfortably. If you want to improve, accuracy is the best place to start: fewer corrections means more speed.
Is 60 WPM fast?
Faster than the 52 WPM average, and in the range professionally trained typists reached in the 1970s and 80s (60 to 90 WPM, according to the Cambridge summary of the study). The fastest typist groups in the study averaged about 65 to 68 WPM.
How is WPM calculated?
The standard method counts every 5 characters, including spaces, as one word. Your WPM is the characters you typed correctly divided by 5, divided by the minutes. That keeps long and short words fair.
Why is my typing test score higher than my real typing speed?
In a test you copy text that is put in front of you. When you write an email or an essay you also have to think of what to say, so real-world speed is usually lower than a test score.
Does taking a typing course make you faster?
Not necessarily. The study found that people who had taken a typing course typed with similar speed and habits to those who had not. The fastest typists often start the next key before releasing the last one, a habit that comes with practice.