30 Second Spacebar Test
How to play: click START, then press the SPACE key on your keyboard as fast as you can. The timer starts with your first press. A physical keyboard is needed: taps on the screen are not counted.
This free 30 second spacebar test counts how many times you can press the SPACE key in half a minute. Thirty seconds is a popular challenge length: long enough that pure finger speed is not enough, but short enough to give it everything from start to finish.
When the time is up you see your total presses, your presses per second and an animal rank from Sloth to Cheetah. The timer starts with your first press, so your reaction to the start button is not counted.
How the 30 second spacebar test works
- Click START SPACE BAR TEST.
- Press SPACE. Your first press starts the thirty second timer.
- Keep pressing as fast as you can until the time is up.
- Check your total presses, your presses per second and your rank.
Each press counts when you release the key, so holding SPACE down counts as one press. A physical keyboard is needed, because taps on the screen are not counted.
What is a good score in 30 seconds?
Your rank is based on presses per second, so you can work out the presses you need for each rank by multiplying by 30:
| Rank | Presses per second | Presses in 30 seconds |
|---|---|---|
| Panda | 5.6 to 6.6 | about 168 to 198 |
| Buffalo | 7.0 to 7.5 | about 210 to 225 |
| Rabbit | 7.6 to 8.0 | about 228 to 240 |
| Wolf | 8.1 to 8.5 | about 243 to 255 |
| Tiger | 8.6 to 9.0 | about 258 to 270 |
| Cheetah | over 9.0 | 272 or more |
Most people press noticeably slower after the first ten seconds, so holding a high rank for the full 30 seconds is a real achievement.
How to last the full 30 seconds
- Pace the first ten seconds. Going flat out from the start usually means a big slowdown at the end.
- Alternate two fingers or both thumbs. Sharing the work lets each finger recover a little.
- Keep your hand loose. Tension in the forearm builds up quickly and costs speed.
- Rest your wrist. Let the movement come from your fingers, not your arm.
- Take a break between tries. Your second attempt right after the first is usually slower.
Other test lengths
- 1 Second Spacebar Test
- 2 Second Spacebar Test
- 5 Second Spacebar Test
- 10 Second Spacebar Test
- 15 Second Spacebar Test
- 60 Second Spacebar Test
- 100 Second Spacebar Test
- 120 Second Spacebar Test
- Spacebar Counter, the classic 5 second spacebar test
Frequently asked questions
How many times can you press the spacebar in 30 seconds?
It depends on technique and practice. Multiply your presses per second by 30: at 7 presses per second you reach 210 presses, which is the Buffalo rank.
Does it work on a phone?
Only with a connected keyboard. Taps on the screen are not counted.
Can I hold the key down?
No. Holding SPACE counts as one press, because a press counts when you release the key.
Is my score saved?
No. Each test starts from zero, and nothing is uploaded.