Tips to Start Touch Typing the Right Way

Set your benchmarks from day one

Starting touch typing begins with knowing how to measure your progress. Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), using a simple standard: 1 word = 5 characters (the common touch-typing convention). Take a baseline test to get your starting point, and track accuracy at the same time. Based on a common estimate from online tests, the global average is around 40 WPM (source: 10FastFingers, estimate). Don’t try to break records right away; your first goal is clean, consistent technique. To get started, take a short test and write down your numbers. You can retake it each week on the Tapotons Typing Speed Test to see real progress.

Build a comfortable, sustainable posture

Posture is the foundation of learning touch typing. Poor setup causes fatigue quickly and slows your progress. Aim for a stable, relaxed position, then adapt it to your environment.

• Screen at eye level to avoid neck strain.
• Elbows close to your body, at roughly a 90-degree angle.
• Wrists relaxed, without constant pressure on the desk.
• Feet flat on the floor to stabilize your upper body. Also reduce visual distractions: cover the keycaps if you tend to look at the keyboard. That constraint helps your brain memorize key locations.

Learn finger placement step by step

The classic method is to master the home row first (ASDF JKL; on QWERTY). Each finger has a zone and returns to its base position. Move forward one letter at a time, without skipping steps. A solid target is to reach at least 95% accuracy before increasing speed (common training estimate). To stay in control, alternate between two types of practice:

• Slow, clean sequences to lock in finger placement.
• Repeated short words to build flow. Speed comes as a result of clean execution. If you rush too early, you reinforce mistakes and will need to unlearn them.

Organize consistent practice

Consistency beats long sessions. A realistic rhythm is 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times per week (estimate). After 6 to 8 weeks, many beginners reach 50 to 60 WPM with stable accuracy (estimate). To get there, plan short and focused sessions. A simple example:

• Week 1-2: home row + nearby letters.
• Week 3-4: short words, then sentences.
• Week 5+: real texts, gradual speed increase. Record your scores at the end of each week to visualize progress. This boosts motivation and helps you adjust your drills.

Use the right resources

A good tool saves time. On Tapotons, you can follow a progressive path and track your results without scattering your focus. Start with the Tapotons Touch Typing Courses to structure your learning. Keep a simple goal in mind: consistency, accuracy, then speed. If you want a full overview, the Tapotons homepage brings everything together to get started.