Typing Speed
How fast can you type accurately?
Type the passage as quickly and accurately as possible. We measure WPM and accuracy.
The Zehano typing speed test gives you a short prompt and one minute to type it as accurately as you can. Your speed in words per minute (WPM) and accuracy percentage are calculated at the end. Net WPM, your speed after subtracting errors, is the honest number to track over time.
How to use the Typing Speed Test
- Read the prompt. A sentence appears at the top of the test area.
- Start typing. Type the words exactly as they appear. The timer begins on your first keystroke.
- Watch your accuracy. Correct characters appear in one colour, mistakes in another. You can correct mid-flow.
- Finish the minute. Type as much as you can in 60 seconds.
- See your scores. Your gross WPM, net WPM, and accuracy appear at the end. Your best is saved.
Benefits
- Practical measure. Typing speed has direct daily-life applications, unlike many cognitive tests.
- Easy to improve. Most adults can gain 20 to 30 WPM in a month of focused practice.
- Combines motor and language. Tests both motor skill and reading-and-encoding speed.
- Free and private. No signup, scores stay in your browser.
The science
Adult typing speed varies widely. Most untrained typists average 30 to 50 WPM. Touch typists with experience reach 60 to 90 WPM. The biggest single intervention is to stop looking at the keyboard. The 2016 Feit, Weir, and Oulasvirta study challenged the classic 'all ten fingers' rule by showing that many fast typists use fewer than ten fingers but consistently avoid looking down. The bottleneck for most slow typists is the constant visual switch between source, keyboard, and screen, not finger speed.
Typing speed plateaus naturally between 70 and 90 WPM for most adults. Pushing past 100 requires sustained deliberate practice for many months.
Tips for best results
- Stop looking at the keyboard, even when slow at first. Speed catches up.
- Prioritise accuracy over speed. Errors compound and slow you more than careful typing.
- Practise 10 minutes a day rather than long single sessions.
- Test at the same time of day for consistent comparisons.