How to Type Faster

Typing faster saves time every day, whether you write emails, code, chat in games or study. The good news from research is that there is more than one way to become a fast typist. This guide explains what fast typists actually do, and gives you a practical plan to raise your words per minute.

Start by measuring your current speed with the 1 Minute Typing Test, so you can see your progress.

What fast typists do differently

A study of 168,000 typists by Aalto University and the University of Cambridge found several habits that separate fast typists from slow ones:

  • They overlap keystrokes. Fast typists often press the next key before releasing the last one, a technique called rollover. For the fastest typists this happened in about 40 to 70 percent of keystrokes.
  • They use more fingers. Fast typists used about 8 fingers on average, slow typists about 5.
  • They make fewer mistakes. Less time spent correcting errors means more time typing.

Another study that filmed typists’ hands found that self-taught typists can reach speeds comparable to touch typists, even when using fewer fingers. The key is a consistent way of using your fingers, not a perfect textbook technique.

Step 1: Fix your posture and setup

  • Sit with your forearms roughly level with the keyboard and your wrists relaxed.
  • Keep the screen at eye level so you are not looking down.
  • Use a keyboard that feels comfortable and responsive to you.

Step 2: Learn where the keys are

Whether you learn classic touch typing or improve your own style, the goal is to type without looking at the keyboard.

  • Touch typing: rest your fingers on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and give each finger its own keys. It feels slow for the first weeks, but it is the most reliable route to very high speeds.
  • Improving your own style: if you already type reasonably fast with fewer fingers, make your finger use consistent. Always use the same finger for the same key and train yourself not to look down.

Research found that people who had taken a typing course were on average about 5 WPM faster, a real but modest difference. Both routes can work.

Step 3: Accuracy first

It is tempting to type as fast as possible, but errors slow you down far more than careful typing does. Aim for 95 percent accuracy or better. When your accuracy is stable, your speed will rise on its own.

Step 4: Practise rollover and rhythm

  • Read one word ahead while you type the current one.
  • Let your fingers move to the next key while the current one is still pressed.
  • Keep an even rhythm instead of fast bursts followed by pauses.

Step 5: Practise little and often

Ten to fifteen minutes a day is more effective than an occasional long session. A good routine:

  1. Warm up with a 1 Minute Typing Test.
  2. Practise slowly and accurately for five minutes.
  3. Finish with a longer test, such as the 3 Minute Typing Test, and note your WPM and accuracy.
  4. Once a week, take a 5 Minute Typing Test to track your real average.

Step 6: Take care of your hands

Take short breaks, stretch your fingers and wrists, and stop if typing becomes painful. Speed is never worth an injury.

How fast can you get?

The average typist in the large study typed about 52 WPM, and the fastest reached 120 WPM or more. How much you can improve depends on your starting point and how regularly you practise. See Average Typing Speed for how your result compares.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to learn touch typing?

No. Research shows self-taught typists can be just as fast, as long as they use their fingers consistently and do not look at the keyboard. Touch typing is still the most reliable route to very high speeds.

How long does it take to type faster?

It depends on your starting point and how often you practise. Switching to touch typing usually makes you slower at first before you get faster.

Does a mechanical keyboard make you type faster?

It may feel nicer, but there is no strong evidence that the keyboard type alone raises speed. Practice matters far more.

What is a good typing speed to aim for?

Reaching the average of about 50 WPM is a good first goal. 70 WPM or more is fast for everyday work.