120 Second Spacebar Test
How to use it: click START SPACE BAR TEST, then press the SPACE key on your keyboard as fast as you can. Your first press starts the two minute timer and counts as press number one. Only real key presses on a physical keyboard are counted.
The 120 second spacebar test counts how many times you can press the SPACE key in two minutes. Your speed is your total divided by 120: 840 presses is 7.0 per second (Buffalo), 966 earns Wolf, and 1086 or more earns Cheetah, the top rank.
Two minutes is the longest timed spacebar test on Click Tester, and it feels very different from a short burst. Nobody keeps their five second speed for this long, so the result mostly shows how evenly you pace yourself and how relaxed your hand stays once the forearm starts to tire after the first minute.
How to take the 120 second spacebar test
- Click START SPACE BAR TEST. A large PRESS SPACE BAR BUTTON panel appears. You do not need to click it.
- Get set before you begin: forearm resting on the desk, shoulders loose, thumb or finger already on the SPACE key.
- Press SPACE. That first press starts the two minute timer and already counts.
- Keep pressing until the result window opens. The test stops on its own 120 seconds after your first press.
- Read the result: your rank, the line “Your clicking speed is X CPS” and the line “You made N Hits in 120 Seconds”.
Three boxes update while you press. Score shows your presses so far, CPS shows those presses divided by 120, and Timer counts up from 0.000 to 120.000. When the window opens you can press TRY AGAIN, or follow the “Try Next Challenges” links to the 60 second and 100 second tests.
The CPS box is not a live speed. It always divides by the full 120 seconds, so it climbs slowly from zero and shows your real rate only at the very end. Watch Score and Timer together instead.
How the counter works
A press is counted when you release the SPACE key, which is the browser’s keyup event (MDN). The clock starts on your first release and stops 120 seconds later. In practice:
- Holding SPACE gives one press. A held key sends repeated down signals but comes up only once.
- Only SPACE counts. Other keys, mouse clicks and screen taps are ignored, so a physical keyboard is needed. Laptop, USB and Bluetooth keyboards all work.
- The page stays still. SPACE is blocked from scrolling on this page, so the test does not jump away halfway through.
- No reaction time penalty. The clock waits for your first press, so take a breath and start when you are ready.
Because the opening press lands at time zero, pressing at a perfectly even 8 per second gives about 960 presses, which is still Rabbit. Wolf starts at 966, so keep going until the window appears: the last second can be worth a rank.
Turning your two minute total into a speed
Divide your total by 120 to get presses per second, or by 2 to get presses per minute. So 720 presses is 6.0 per second and 360 per minute, 900 is 7.5 per second, and 1200 is exactly 10.0 per second.
Each press adds less than 0.01 to your speed, so twelve presses are needed to move the result by 0.1. The tool rounds to one decimal place before it picks a rank, which means about twelve totals in a row share each speed. Some totals fall right on a halfway point, so the rank table below lists exact totals rather than speeds. When you compare runs, compare the Hits number: it is more precise than the CPS figure.
The label says CPS, which usually means clicks per second, but here it means presses per second. For mouse clicks over a long period, use the clicks per minute test instead.
120 second spacebar test ranks
Ranks depend on your presses per second after rounding. Converted into totals over two minutes with the tool’s own formula, the thresholds are:
| Presses in 120 s | Per second | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 426 | 0.1 to 3.5 | Sloth |
| 427 to 666 | 3.6 to 5.5 | Turtle |
| 667 to 797 | 5.6 to 6.6 | Panda |
| 798 to 833 | 6.7 to 6.9 | Mouse |
| 834 to 906 | 7 to 7.5 | Buffalo |
| 907 to 965 | 7.6 to 8 | Rabbit |
| 966 to 1025 | 8.1 to 8.5 | Wolf |
| 1026 to 1085 | 8.6 to 9 | Tiger |
| 1086 or more | 9.1 and up | Cheetah |
These are the widest bands of any spacebar test on the site. Buffalo covers 73 totals and Wolf and Tiger 60 each, so one missed press almost never changes your rank. If you finish just below a line, the cause is usually a short stall somewhere in the run rather than a lack of top speed.
One edge case: a run of one to five presses rounds to 0.0 per second, which is below every rank, so no rank is shown.
The pace each rank needs
Every upper rank is a beat you have to hold for two full minutes. These are the totals and the gap between presses at an even pace:
| Target rank | Presses needed | Time per press |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 834 | about 144 ms |
| Rabbit | 907 | about 132 ms |
| Wolf | 966 | about 124 ms |
| Tiger | 1026 | about 117 ms |
| Cheetah | 1086 | about 110 ms |
Time per press is 120,000 milliseconds divided by the total. A Cheetah run is a press about every 110 ms, more than a thousand times in a row. A two second pause at Wolf pace costs about sixteen presses, roughly a quarter of the whole Wolf band.
Check your Score every 30 seconds
The Timer counts up, so two minutes splits neatly into four blocks of thirty seconds. At an even pace your Score should match these numbers at each mark:
| Rank (total) | 30 s | 60 s | 90 s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo (834) | 209 | 417 | 626 |
| Rabbit (907) | 227 | 454 | 681 |
| Wolf (966) | 242 | 483 | 725 |
| Tiger (1026) | 257 | 513 | 770 |
| Cheetah (1086) | 272 | 543 | 815 |
The 30 s column is exactly what each rank needs on the 30 second spacebar test, and the 60 s column matches the one minute spacebar test. So if you know those scores, you know where you should be at each mark here. Being well ahead at 30.000 and behind at 90.000 is the classic sign of a start that was too fast.
What is a good score for a 2 minute spacebar test?
On this test, 834 presses or more is a good result and earns at least Buffalo. Wolf starts at 966, Tiger at 1026 and Cheetah at 1086. These lines come straight from the tool’s code, so they are the same on every attempt.
Round numbers make handy targets. 600 presses is 5.0 per second, which is Turtle; 840 is Buffalo; 1000 is about 8.3 per second, which is Wolf; and 1200 is 10.0 per second, well inside Cheetah. The pages that rank for this test quote “average” scores and records without naming any source, so we leave those numbers out. Your own runs make a better yardstick:
- Do two or three runs on different days and note your best and most common total. The common total is your real level.
- Change one thing at a time. Keep the same keyboard, chair and finger, or you cannot tell what helped.
- Watch the total. 1025 is Wolf and 1026 is Tiger, yet the difference is one press.
How much do people slow down over two minutes?
A lot, and it starts early. In one lab study, slowing during fast finger tapping began as soon as the movement started, was mild after 10 seconds and reached its full effect after about 30 seconds (Bächinger et al., 2019). In another, people tapped at their maximal rate for three minutes and the tapping rate fell by 40 percent over the task (Madinabeitia-Mancebo et al., 2020).
Both studies measured finger tapping in a lab with small groups, not a spacebar in a browser, so they cannot predict your exact numbers. They do explain the shape of a two minute run: much of the fade arrives in the first half minute, and after that speed keeps sliding more slowly until the end. The Bächinger study also found that speed came back within the first 20 seconds of a rest, which is why a second attempt can feel fresh at the start even when the first one ended slowly.
Every spacebar test on Click Tester uses the same per second thresholds, so you can measure your own fade:
| Test length | Presses for Tiger | Presses for Cheetah |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seconds | 43 to 45 | 46 or more |
| 30 seconds | 257 to 271 | 272 or more |
| 60 seconds | 513 to 542 | 543 or more |
| 100 seconds | 855 to 904 | 905 or more |
| 120 seconds | 1026 to 1085 | 1086 or more |
Say you score 9.0 on the 5 second spacebar test and 840 presses here, which is 7.0. That is a drop of 2.0, or 22 percent. Compare the same run with your 30 second score: if most of the loss has already happened by 30 seconds, start slower; if it keeps growing after a minute, work on relaxation and technique.
How to pace a two minute run
Going flat out from the first press feels great for about fifteen seconds and then costs you the rest of the run. Four blocks of thirty seconds give you a simple plan:
- 0 to 30 seconds: start clearly below your top speed, around two notches under your five second pace. It should feel easy, even slow.
- 30 to 60 seconds: check your Score at 30.000 against the table. If you are ahead, hold the rhythm rather than push. The forearm usually starts to tighten near the end of this block.
- 60 to 90 seconds: the hardest stretch. Keep presses short and light, drop your shoulder and think only about an even beat.
- 90 to 120 seconds: now you can speed up a little. Build gradually and keep pressing until the result window opens.
Breathe normally all the way through. Many people hold their breath when they press fast, and over two minutes that tension shows up as a slow third block.
Which finger or hand to use
Over this length the method matters more than raw speed. Most people do best with something that lets each finger rest between presses:
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One thumb | A relaxed, steady pace | A lower ceiling |
| Index finger | Speed that fades slowly | Wrist tension |
| Two fingers in turn | Sharing the work | Uneven rhythm |
| Both thumbs in turn | Long runs | Needs practice first |
| Hand swap at 60 s | A fresh second half | A beat or two lost |
Alternating methods only help when both presses land evenly, so practise the rhythm on shorter tests before you try it here. A hand swap at the one minute mark is worth testing on this length in particular: the swap costs a couple of presses, but a fresh hand can win back far more than that over the last sixty seconds. Try each method on two runs and keep the one with the best common total.
Why your score changes between runs
Over 800 or more presses, small habits add up to big differences. These are the usual causes:
| Cause | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fast start | Speed drops after 30 s | Start two notches lower |
| Pressing hard | Each press takes longer | Press only as far as needed |
| Tense forearm | Rhythm breaks after a minute | Move the finger only |
| Arm in the air | Shoulder tires too | Rest the forearm |
| Short rest | Second run is slower | Wait a few minutes |
| Stopping early | Last presses are lost | Press until the result shows |
Browser timing and busy background programs can shift the end of the run by a few milliseconds, which may decide whether your final press counts. If a score looks oddly low, close heavy tabs and try again before you change your technique.
Tips for a better 120 second score
- Start from the key. Rest your finger or thumb on SPACE so the first press needs no travel.
- Keep every press shallow. The key only needs to go down far enough to register and come back up before the next press counts.
- Let the finger do the work. Once the wrist or shoulder joins in, you tire much sooner.
- Support your forearm. A desk or armrest stops the whole arm from fading with the hand.
- Rest properly between serious attempts. Speed comes back quickly, but two minutes of hard pressing leaves the hand sore for longer, so give it a few minutes.
- Stop if it hurts. Fast, repeated pressing for this long can strain the hand and wrist. Our guide to wrist pain from gaming explains the warning signs and when to take a break.
A spacebar that sticks or only registers when pressed in the middle can cost you dozens of presses over two minutes. Check it first with the keyboard tester. If you are thinking about a new keyboard for fast pressing, see mechanical vs membrane keyboards.
Other spacebar test lengths
Pick the length that matches what you want to know. One or two seconds shows your top speed, five to fifteen seconds shows how well you hold it, and anything from thirty seconds up measures stamina.
- 1 Second Spacebar Test and 2 Second Spacebar Test: short bursts for top speed.
- 5 Second Spacebar Test, 10 Second Spacebar Test and 15 Second Spacebar Test: the baseline to measure your fade against.
- 30 Second Spacebar Test: your target for the first checkpoint here.
- 60 Second Spacebar Test: exactly half of this run, and your target at the 60 second mark.
- 100 Second Spacebar Test: twenty seconds shorter, a good step up before you try two minutes.
The Spacebar Counter uses the same counter and ranks at five seconds. If you want a running total with no timer, the Spacebar Clicker keeps counting for as long as you like, and Spacebar Games has games you play with one key. To compare one key against several, try the KPS test.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can you press the spacebar in 2 minutes?
On this test, 834 presses earns Buffalo, 966 earns Wolf and 1086 or more earns Cheetah, the top rank. Your own total depends on your finger, technique, keyboard and above all your pacing. Online averages for two minutes do not name a source, so compare against your own best and most common totals.
How do I work out my presses per second?
Divide your total by 120. The result window does it for you and rounds to one decimal place, so 950 presses shows as 7.9.
How many presses per minute is my score?
Halve your total. A run of 966 presses, the start of Wolf, is 483 presses per minute, which is also the Wolf line on the 60 second test.
Does the first press count?
Yes. The first press starts the timer and counts as press number one. Every press you release after that counts until 120 seconds have passed.
Is 1000 presses in 2 minutes good?
Yes. 1000 presses is about 8.3 per second, which is Wolf, the third highest rank. Reaching Cheetah needs 1086 or more, a press roughly every 110 ms for the whole run.
Why is my 2 minute score so much lower than my 5 second score?
Your hand tires, and the slowing starts within the first seconds of fast pressing. Lab studies of finger tapping found most of the slowdown within about 30 seconds and a 40 percent fall over three minutes, so a big drop over two minutes is normal.
Can I hold the spacebar to get more presses?
No. A press counts when you release SPACE, and a held key is released only once, so holding it adds a single press.
Is my score saved?
No best score is kept. The count resets each time the page loads, and nothing is sent anywhere. Take a screenshot of the result window if you want a record. The test needs a physical keyboard, so on a phone or tablet connect one first: screen taps do not count.
Sources
- Bächinger M, Lehner R, Thomas F, Hanimann S, Balsters J, Wenderoth N. Human motor fatigability as evoked by repetitive movements results from a gradual breakdown of surround inhibition. eLife, 2019
- Madinabeitia-Mancebo E, Madrid A, Jácome A, Cudeiro J, Arias P. Temporal dynamics of muscle, spinal and cortical excitability and their association with kinematics during three minutes of maximal-rate finger tapping. Scientific Reports, 2020
- MDN Web Docs: Element keyup event