Average Typing Speed in 2026: Complete Data by Age, Profession & Device
The average typing speed is 40 WPM. See 2026 data broken down by age, profession, device, and gender with percentile rankings.
Average Typing Speed in 2026: The Definitive Guide
How fast does the average person type? It is one of the most frequently searched questions about typing, and the answer is more nuanced than a single number. Based on aggregated data from multiple typing test platforms, academic research, and workforce studies, the global average typing speed for adults in 2026 is approximately 40–45 words per minute (WPM). However, this figure varies dramatically depending on age, profession, device type, and the amount of deliberate practice a person has undertaken.
This article presents the most comprehensive and current typing speed data available, organized into actionable categories so you can understand exactly where you stand and what to aim for.
Global Average Typing Speed: The Headline Numbers
The following statistics represent the current state of typing speed across the global population, compiled from data published by typing test platforms serving millions of users, as well as peer-reviewed research from institutions including Aalto University, Cambridge University, and the University of Waterloo.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global adult average | 40–45 WPM | Multiple platform aggregates |
| Median typing speed | 38 WPM | Aalto University (168,000 participants) |
| Average with formal training | 55–65 WPM | Typing.com user data |
| Average without formal training | 32–38 WPM | Cambridge University study |
| Professional typist average | 65–75 WPM | Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Competitive typist average | 120–160 WPM | TypeRacer leaderboard data |
| World record (sustained) | 216 WPM | Barbara Blackburn |
The gap between trained and untrained typists is striking. Formal touch typing instruction — even a few weeks of structured practice — typically increases speed by 40–60% over self-taught hunt-and-peck methods.
Average Typing Speed by Age
Typing speed follows a predictable arc across the lifespan, peaking in the mid-20s to mid-30s and gradually declining thereafter. The following data is compiled from educational standards, workforce studies, and large-scale typing test datasets.
Children and Adolescents
| Age Group | Grade Level | Average WPM | Expected Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–6 years | Kindergarten–1st | 3–7 WPM | 2–10 WPM |
| 7–8 years | 2nd–3rd | 10–15 WPM | 7–20 WPM |
| 9–10 years | 4th–5th | 18–25 WPM | 12–30 WPM |
| 11–12 years | 6th–7th | 25–35 WPM | 18–40 WPM |
| 13–14 years | 8th–9th | 30–40 WPM | 25–50 WPM |
| 15–17 years | 10th–12th | 35–50 WPM | 28–65 WPM |
Children's typing speed is heavily influenced by instruction. Students who receive regular keyboarding instruction from 3rd grade onward typically type 30–50% faster than peers without formal instruction by the time they reach high school. For detailed benchmarks and teaching strategies, see our guide on typing speed tests for kids.
Adults
| Age Group | Average WPM | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–24 years | 42–55 WPM | 30–75 WPM | Peak learning capacity |
| 25–34 years | 45–60 WPM | 35–80 WPM | Peak performance years |
| 35–44 years | 42–55 WPM | 30–75 WPM | Maintained with regular use |
| 45–54 years | 38–50 WPM | 28–65 WPM | Slight decline begins |
| 55–64 years | 35–45 WPM | 25–55 WPM | Decline without active practice |
| 65+ years | 25–35 WPM | 18–45 WPM | Motor skill changes |
The decline in typing speed after age 45 is not inevitable. Adults who continue to type regularly and maintain good technique often sustain speeds of 50–70 WPM well into their 60s. The decline is primarily associated with reduced practice frequency rather than biological aging alone.
Average Typing Speed by Profession
Professional requirements for typing speed vary enormously. The following data is compiled from job posting analyses, professional certification requirements, and workforce surveys.
Professions Ranked by Typing Speed
| Profession | Average WPM | Minimum Required | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court Reporter (stenotype) | 200–225 WPM | 180 WPM | 300+ WPM |
| Medical Transcriptionist | 70–90 WPM | 65 WPM | 120+ WPM |
| Legal Secretary | 60–75 WPM | 50 WPM | 100+ WPM |
| Data Entry Specialist | 60–80 WPM | 45 WPM | 100+ WPM |
| Journalist / Writer | 55–75 WPM | 50 WPM | 100+ WPM |
| Software Developer | 50–70 WPM | 40 WPM | 100+ WPM |
| Administrative Assistant | 50–65 WPM | 40 WPM | 85+ WPM |
| Customer Service Rep | 40–55 WPM | 35 WPM | 70+ WPM |
| Teacher | 35–50 WPM | 30 WPM | 70+ WPM |
| General Office Worker | 38–48 WPM | 30 WPM | 65+ WPM |
| Executive / Manager | 35–50 WPM | 25 WPM | 70+ WPM |
An important distinction exists between raw typing speed (measured on a typing test) and effective typing speed (actual productive output including thinking, editing, and formatting). A software developer who types at 60 WPM on a test may produce only 15–20 WPM of actual code, because coding involves significant thinking time between keystrokes. Similarly, a writer at 70 WPM may produce 25–35 WPM of finished prose.
For those preparing for job applications that require typing tests, our guide on typing tests for jobs provides specific preparation strategies.
Average Typing Speed by Device
The device you type on significantly affects your speed. The following data reflects averages across large user populations.
| Device | Average WPM | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop keyboard (full-size) | 42–50 WPM | 30–80 WPM | Best for sustained typing |
| Laptop keyboard | 38–46 WPM | 25–70 WPM | Slightly slower due to key travel |
| Mechanical keyboard | 45–55 WPM | 35–90 WPM | Preferred by fast typists |
| Tablet with external keyboard | 35–45 WPM | 25–60 WPM | Depends on keyboard quality |
| Smartphone (two thumbs) | 35–40 WPM | 20–55 WPM | Surprisingly competitive |
| Smartphone (one thumb) | 20–25 WPM | 12–35 WPM | Significantly slower |
| Tablet on-screen keyboard | 20–30 WPM | 15–40 WPM | Limited by screen size |
A notable finding from recent research is that smartphone typing speeds have increased significantly over the past decade. A 2019 study from ETH Zurich and the University of Cambridge found that the fastest smartphone typists achieved 85 WPM using two thumbs with autocorrect — approaching desktop keyboard speeds. The average smartphone typing speed of 38 WPM is now within 10% of the average desktop typing speed.
Typing Speed Percentile Rankings
Understanding where your typing speed falls relative to the general population provides useful context. The following percentile data is derived from aggregated typing test results across multiple platforms.
| WPM Range | Percentile | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Below 20 WPM | Bottom 10% | Beginner |
| 20–30 WPM | 10th–25th | Below Average |
| 30–40 WPM | 25th–50th | Average |
| 40–55 WPM | 50th–70th | Above Average |
| 55–70 WPM | 70th–85th | Fast |
| 70–85 WPM | 85th–93rd | Very Fast |
| 85–100 WPM | 93rd–97th | Excellent |
| 100–120 WPM | 97th–99th | Elite |
| 120–140 WPM | 99th–99.5th | Expert |
| 140+ WPM | Top 0.5% | World-Class |
To find your exact percentile, take a free typing test → and compare your result against this table. Our test provides instant WPM and accuracy results with percentile ranking.
Factors That Influence Typing Speed
Research has identified several key factors that determine an individual's typing speed, listed here in approximate order of impact.
1. Practice Volume and Consistency
The single strongest predictor of typing speed is the amount of deliberate practice a person has undertaken. The Aalto University study of 168,000 typists found that participants who reported regular typing practice averaged 57 WPM, compared to 37 WPM for those who did not practice deliberately.
2. Number of Fingers Used
Typists who use 8–10 fingers average 52 WPM, while those who use 2–4 fingers average 34 WPM. However, the relationship is not strictly linear — some 6-finger typists achieve speeds above 80 WPM through consistent finger-to-key mapping.
3. Whether the Typist Looks at the Keyboard
Touch typists (who do not look at the keyboard) average 15–20 WPM faster than visual typists of similar experience. This is the single largest speed difference attributable to technique rather than practice volume.
4. Consistency of Finger-to-Key Mapping
Typists who always use the same finger for the same key type faster than those whose finger assignments vary. This consistency allows the brain to develop reliable muscle memory patterns.
5. Keyboard Familiarity
Typing speed drops by 5–15% when switching to an unfamiliar keyboard layout, size, or key feel. This effect is temporary (typically 1–3 days) but explains why many fast typists prefer to use the same keyboard consistently.
How to Test Your Typing Speed
For an accurate measurement of your typing speed, follow these guidelines:
Use a standardized test. Free-form typing (such as composing an email) is not an accurate measure because it includes thinking time. A standardized test presents pre-written text that you copy, isolating pure typing speed from composition speed.
Take a 60-second test. This duration provides the best balance between reliability and convenience. Shorter tests (15–30 seconds) tend to overestimate speed because they capture burst performance. Longer tests (3–5 minutes) may underestimate speed due to fatigue.
Take multiple tests. A single test can be affected by the specific text, your alertness, and random variation. Take 3–5 tests and average the results for a reliable baseline.
Test on your primary keyboard. Your speed on an unfamiliar keyboard may be 5–15% lower than on your regular setup.
Take a free 60-second typing test now → to find your WPM and see where you rank.
How to Improve Your Typing Speed
If your typing speed is below where you want it to be, the good news is that improvement is achievable at any age with consistent practice. The most effective strategies, supported by research, include:
Learn touch typing. If you currently look at the keyboard while typing, learning to type by touch will produce the largest single improvement in your speed. Our touch typing tutorial provides a complete free guide.
Practice 15 minutes daily. Distributed practice (short daily sessions) is significantly more effective than massed practice (long infrequent sessions). Even 10 minutes per day produces measurable improvement within 2 weeks.
Focus on accuracy first. Speed follows accuracy, not the other way around. Aim for 95%+ accuracy before trying to increase speed. Our practice mode allows you to type without time pressure, focusing entirely on technique.
Use targeted drills. Practicing your specific weak points (certain key combinations, specific fingers) is approximately 3 times more effective than general practice. TypeMaster AI includes AI-powered error analysis that identifies your weak bigrams and generates personalized drills.
For a complete guide with 15 specific methods, see our article on how to improve typing speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average typing speed for adults?
The average typing speed for adults worldwide is approximately 40–45 WPM. Adults with formal touch typing training average 55–65 WPM, while self-taught typists average 32–38 WPM. The median (50th percentile) is approximately 38–40 WPM.
What is a good typing speed?
A "good" typing speed depends on context. For everyday personal use, 40+ WPM is functional. For office work, 50–60 WPM is considered good. For professional roles involving heavy typing (data entry, transcription), 70+ WPM is expected. For competitive typing, 100+ WPM places you in the top 3% of all typists.
How fast do professional typists type?
Professional typists average 65–75 WPM, with top performers exceeding 100 WPM. Specialized roles have higher requirements: medical transcriptionists average 70–90 WPM, legal secretaries 60–75 WPM, and court reporters 200–225 WPM (using stenotype machines).
Is 40 WPM a good typing speed?
40 WPM is exactly average for adults and is sufficient for most everyday tasks. However, if your work involves significant typing (emails, reports, data entry), improving to 60+ WPM would meaningfully increase your productivity. Research suggests that going from 40 to 60 WPM saves approximately 35 minutes per day for a typical office worker.
How fast can humans type?
The fastest sustained typing speed ever recorded on a standard keyboard is 216 WPM, achieved by Barbara Blackburn using a Dvorak keyboard layout. On stenotype machines (used by court reporters), speeds exceeding 360 WPM have been recorded. In short bursts, some competitive typists have achieved speeds above 300 WPM on standard QWERTY keyboards.
Does typing speed decline with age?
Typing speed does tend to decline after age 45–50, primarily due to reduced practice frequency and changes in fine motor control. However, the decline is not dramatic for people who continue to type regularly. Adults who maintain daily typing practice often sustain speeds of 50–70 WPM well into their 60s and beyond.
Test Your Speed Now
Curious where you stand? Take a free 60-second typing test → to get your WPM, accuracy, percentile ranking, and personalized improvement recommendations. No account required — just click and start typing.
See also: How to Improve Typing Speed → | WPM Chart & Percentiles → | Typing Speed Test for Kids →