What Is the Average Typing Speed?
Wondering whether your typing speed is good? Here are the rough benchmarks, measured in words per minute (WPM).
The benchmarks
The average adult types around 40 WPM. A proficient touch typist sits around 60–70 WPM. Above 80 WPM is genuinely fast, and competitive typists exceed 120 WPM.
Hunt-and-peck typists (two fingers, looking down) usually land around 25–30 WPM — which is exactly why learning to touch type is such a big jump.
By context
Professional transcriptionists and data-entry roles often require 60–80 WPM. Most office work is comfortable at 50–60. Anything above that is a productivity bonus rather than a requirement.
A realistic target
If you are below 40, aim for 50 — it is very achievable with a few weeks of touch typing. From there, 70+ is a great long-term goal that puts you faster than most people you will ever sit next to.