What's the Average Typing Speed?
Everyone wants to know where they stand. So let's get straight to it.
The average typing speed is around 40 words per minute. That's for regular people who use computers but haven't specifically practiced typing. If you're at 40 WPM, you're normal. If you're below it, you're also normal — plenty of people are.
But here's the thing: "average" isn't a useful target. The question isn't whether you're average. It's whether your typing speed is holding you back.
The Numbers
Most typing data comes from typing test websites, so it's skewed toward people who care enough to take a test. Keep that in mind.
Around 40 WPM is the average for casual computer users. Office workers who type a lot tend to hover around 50-60 WPM. Professional typists and programmers often hit 70-80 WPM. The top 1% type over 120 WPM, but that's like comparing yourself to Olympic athletes — interesting but not relevant for most of us.
What actually matters is whether typing feels like work or whether it's invisible. For most jobs and most people, somewhere between 50-70 WPM is the sweet spot where typing stops being a bottleneck.
Age Doesn't Matter Much
People assume younger generations type faster because they grew up with computers. It's partially true, but the difference isn't as big as you'd think.
Teenagers average around 45 WPM. Adults who type regularly average 40-45 WPM. The real variable isn't age — it's practice. Someone who writes emails all day at 50 will type faster than a 20-year-old who mostly uses their phone.
The good news: you can improve at any age. Typing is muscle memory, and muscles don't care how old you are.
Jobs That Actually Require Speed
Most jobs don't have typing speed requirements. But some do.
Data entry positions typically want 60-80 WPM. Transcriptionists need at least 65 WPM, ideally 80+. Court reporters use stenotype machines and hit 200+ WPM, but that's a completely different skill.
For everyone else — programmers, writers, office workers — your typing speed isn't tested, but it affects your daily experience. A programmer at 40 WPM spends noticeably more time on documentation and code than one at 70 WPM. It adds up.
Should You Improve?
If typing feels slow — if you find yourself thinking faster than you can type — then yes. If you look at the keyboard while typing, definitely yes.
But if you're at 50+ WPM with decent accuracy and typing feels natural, you might be fine. The returns diminish pretty quickly after 70 WPM for most people.
The honest answer: try typing for 15 minutes a day for a week. See how it feels. If you enjoy it and see improvement, keep going. If it feels like a chore and you're already functional, maybe your time is better spent elsewhere.
You're the only one who knows whether your typing speed is a problem worth solving.