What is a good typing speed? The average adult types 40 words per minute, but a good typing speed is 60 WPM or higher. Anything above 60 WPM puts you faster than 75% of people. Professional typists reach 80 to 100 WPM, while experts cross 100 WPM. This guide shows you clear WPM benchmarks by skill level, age, and job, plus a free way to test your own speed right now.
Most people have no idea if their typing speed is good or slow. They just type and never compare. Knowing where your WPM stands helps you set a fair goal and see if you need to improve for work, school, or exams. Let us look at the real numbers.
What Is a Good Typing Speed in WPM?
A good typing speed depends on your goal, but here is the simple answer. The average is 40 WPM. Good is 60 WPM. Great is 80 WPM or more.
| Skill Level | WPM Range | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | Under 30 WPM | Below average, likely hunt and peck |
| Average | 35 to 45 WPM | Normal for most adults |
| Good | 50 to 65 WPM | Above average, faster than most |
| Fast | 65 to 80 WPM | Skilled, professional level |
| Expert | 80 to 100+ WPM | Elite, competition ready |
Want to know your number first? Take a quick one minute typing test and match your score to the chart above.
Average vs Good vs Fast Typing Speed
These three terms confuse many people. Here is the clear difference.
- Average speed (40 WPM): Fine for daily use like email, social media, and browsing
- Good speed (60 WPM): Faster than 3 out of 4 adults, great for office jobs
- Fast speed (80+ WPM): Professional level, used by writers, coders, and data entry pros
To put it in real terms, a 60 word paragraph takes 90 seconds at 40 WPM. At 80 WPM, it takes just 45 seconds. That is the gap between average and fast.
Good Typing Speed by Age
What counts as good changes with age. Kids and teens have different targets than adults.
| Age Group | Average WPM | Good WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Kids (8 to 12) | 15 to 24 WPM | 30 WPM |
| Teens (13 to 17) | 30 to 42 WPM | 50 WPM |
| Adults (18 to 40) | 40 to 55 WPM | 65 WPM |
| Adults (41 to 60) | 45 to 58 WPM | 60 WPM |
| Seniors (60+) | 35 to 50 WPM | 50 WPM |
- Key point: Age is a weak factor. A person who practices daily beats someone twice their skill level regardless of age.
Good Typing Speed by Job
Your profession sets its own bar for good typing speed. Some jobs demand much higher WPM.
| Profession | Good WPM |
|---|---|
| Office worker | 45 to 55 WPM |
| Data entry clerk | 60 to 80 WPM |
| Programmer | 55 to 70 WPM |
| Writer or journalist | 65 to 90 WPM |
| Transcriptionist | 80 to 100 WPM |
| Customer support | 50 to 65 WPM |
- Real world tip: Most office and data entry jobs list 50 to 60 WPM as the minimum. Aim for 60 WPM with 97% accuracy to stand out.
Why Accuracy Matters as Much as Speed
Speed alone is not enough. A fast typist who makes many errors is slower than a careful typist in real work.
Think about it this way. If you type 70 WPM but fix mistakes constantly, your real output drops. A clean 55 WPM often beats a messy 70 WPM.
The formula that matters is net WPM:
Net WPM = Gross WPM minus errors per minute
This is why exams and jobs care about accuracy. Always aim for 95% or higher accuracy along with good speed.
Is 40 WPM a Good Typing Speed?
Yes and no. 40 WPM is the average, so it is normal but not impressive. It works fine for daily tasks and casual use.
But for office jobs, data entry, or exams, 40 WPM is on the low side. If you want a competitive edge, aim for 60 WPM or more.
How to Reach a Good Typing Speed
Getting to 60 WPM is very doable. Follow these simple steps.
- Learn touch typing and use all ten fingers
- Practice 15 minutes daily on real text
- Focus on accuracy before chasing speed
- Test weekly to track your progress
- Practice on paragraphs for real world skill
For daily practice, use a fresh typing speed test each day. To build real skill, try the paragraph typing test with full sentences. For exam prep, the exam mode typing test uses real exam rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good typing speed?
A good typing speed is 60 WPM or higher. The average adult types 40 WPM, so anything above 60 WPM puts you faster than 75% of people. Professionals reach 80 to 100 WPM.
Is 40 WPM a good typing speed?
40 WPM is average and fine for daily computer use. For office jobs and data entry, it is on the low side. Aim for 60 WPM or higher for a competitive edge.
What is a good typing speed for a job?
Most office and data entry jobs require 50 to 60 WPM minimum. A good target is 60 WPM with 97% accuracy. Specialized roles like transcription need 80 WPM or more.
Is 60 WPM a good typing speed?
Yes, 60 WPM is a good typing speed. It puts you faster than about 75% of all typists. It is fast enough that typing rarely slows down your work.
What is a good typing speed for students?
A good typing speed for students is 45 to 50 WPM. This keeps typing ahead of essay and note taking demands. Teens who practice often can reach 50 WPM comfortably.
How can I test if my typing speed is good?
Take a free one minute typing test to get your WPM and accuracy. Compare your score to the benchmarks by age and job. Retest weekly to track your improvement.
Final Thoughts
A good typing speed is within reach for anyone. The average is 40 WPM, but with daily practice you can hit 60 WPM in just a few weeks. Focus on accuracy first, use all ten fingers, and test often.
Remember, your speed is mostly in your control, not your age or talent. Ready to see where you stand? Take a free typing test now and find out if your speed is good, average, or fast.