What Is a Good Typing Speed? WPM Benchmarks by Skill Level

What Is a Good Typing Speed? The Short Answer

If you are wondering whether your score is good, use these simple benchmarks:

• Beginner: 20 to 35 WPM.
• Intermediate: 35 to 50 WPM.
• Good office typing speed: 50 to 70 WPM.
• Very good typing speed: 70+ WPM.

Want to find out how fast you type? Test yourself in under a minute with our typing speed test.

Speed is not the only thing that matters. Effective everyday typing combines speed and accuracy. Aim for at least 95% accuracy so you do not lose time correcting mistakes.

Average Typing Speed: Where Do You Stand in 2026?

Across most online tests, the observed average is around 40 WPM. This means that scoring 45–50 WPM with good accuracy is already solid for studying, writing emails and reports, and handling most professional tasks.

Realistic benchmarks by use case:

• Studying and personal use: 35 to 50 WPM.
• Office work: 45 to 65 WPM.
• Content-heavy roles, support, and operations: 55 to 80 WPM.
• Consistent expert level: 80+ WPM.

These numbers are guidelines. The real measure is your ability to produce accurate text without fatigue.

WPM and CPM: Understand Your Score

You will often see two different units:

• WPM (words per minute): the standard measure of typing speed in English.
• CPM (characters per minute): the number of characters typed.

In practice, many tools define an average word as five characters. Comparisons are therefore generally consistent, but you should always compare results from the same tool and the same type of test—including duration, punctuation, and language.

Is 40 WPM, 50 WPM, or 60 WPM Good?

• 40 WPM: a solid foundation for everyday use.
• 50 WPM: a comfortable speed for most professional settings.
• 60 WPM: a very good speed if your accuracy remains high.

A high score can be misleading if your accuracy falls below 95%. Fixing mistakes takes time. A clean 50 WPM is better than a sloppy 65 WPM.

Why You Often Plateau Between 25 and 35 WPM

Typing plateaus usually have four causes:

1. You still look at the keyboard regularly.
2. You focus on speed too early.
3. You do not specifically practise your most frequent mistakes.
4. You practise inconsistently, with occasional long sessions instead of short, regular ones.

This is not a lack of talent. It is mainly a matter of method and consistency. For a practical roadmap, read our guide on how to learn touch typing.

A Simple Plan to Gain 10 to 20 WPM

Recommended routine (15 minutes a day, 5 days a week):

1. 3 minutes: warm up slowly and focus on accuracy.
2. 8 minutes: target the keys or letter combinations that slow you down.
3. 4 minutes: take a timed test and track your results.

Weekly goals:

• Weeks 1–2: achieve a consistent accuracy of at least 95%.
• Weeks 3–4: gradually increase your pace.
• Week 5 onward: work on endurance and consistency.

To track your progress, complete a series of typing exercises and then measure your level with a typing speed test.

Quick FAQ

What Is the Average Typing Speed?

The commonly observed average on general-purpose typing tests is around 40 WPM.

How Many WPM Is Considered Good?

At 50 WPM with at least 95% accuracy, you already have a useful typing speed for professional settings.

Can You Improve Your Typing Speed Quickly?

Yes, with short and consistent practice sessions. Dedicated beginners can often gain 10 to 20 WPM within a few weeks.

Should You Focus on Speed or Accuracy?

Accuracy comes first. Clean typing is more efficient than fast typing that requires frequent corrections.

In short, a good typing speed depends on how you use your keyboard, but 50 to 70 WPM with high accuracy is an excellent goal for most people.