Average Typing Speed Chart
How fast is normal? The average person types about 40 WPM. Here is how typing speed really distributes — by percentile, age and job.
Typing speed by percentile
Net WPM (correct characters only) on standard 1-minute tests of common English words.
| Percentile | Net WPM | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | ≈ 23 WPM | Beginner |
| 25th | ≈ 30 WPM | Novice |
| 50th (median) | ≈ 41 WPM | Average |
| 75th | ≈ 53 WPM | Fast |
| 90th | ≈ 68 WPM | Very fast |
| 99th | ≈ 95+ WPM | Elite |
Average typing speed by age group
| Age group | Typical WPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8–10 (kids) | 10–15 WPM | Learning home row; hunt-and-peck is normal |
| 11–14 (middle school) | 15–30 WPM | Keyboarding courses start paying off |
| 15–18 (teens) | 30–45 WPM | Chat and schoolwork build real speed |
| 19–60 (adults) | 38–55 WPM | The working average zone; median ~41 |
| 60+ | 30–45 WPM | Slightly slower on average; accuracy stays high |
Typing speed by profession
| Group | Typical sustained WPM |
|---|---|
| Students & casual users | 30–40 WPM |
| Office workers | 40–55 WPM |
| Developers & writers | 50–70 WPM |
| Transcriptionists | 70–95 WPM |
| Court reporters (steno) | 200+ WPM |
Note that even professionals rarely sustain more than 95 WPM on regular keyboards — the 200+ WPM figures you see online are short sprints or stenography machines, not everyday typing.
Typing Speed FAQ
What is the average typing speed?
The average typing speed is about 40 WPM (words per minute) at 92–96% accuracy. Half of all typists score between roughly 30 and 53 WPM, and the median lands near 41 WPM on standard one-minute tests of random common words.
Is 70 WPM fast?
Yes. 70 WPM is faster than about 90% of typists. Anything from 60 WPM is generally considered fast, 80+ WPM is professional territory, and 100+ WPM is elite — fewer than 1 in 100 typists sustain it.
What typing speed should kids have?
There is no strict requirement, but reasonable benchmarks are 10–15 WPM by age 10, 20–30 WPM by the end of middle school, and 35–45 WPM by high-school graduation. Accuracy habits matter far more than speed at every age — kids who chase speed early usually plateau below 40 WPM with messy accuracy.
What WPM do jobs require?
Most office jobs expect 40–50 WPM. Data entry roles typically ask for 60–70 WPM, and transcription or captioning jobs require 70–90 WPM at very high accuracy. Specialized stenographers use shorthand machines at 200+ WPM.
Where do you land on the chart?
Find your percentile in 60 seconds — then try holding it for five.