WPM BELL CURVE & PERCENTILES
The WPM bell curve and typing speed percentile chart — see exactly where your words per minute ranks from the 10th percentile to the 99th. Find your position in the full distribution.
Take a typing test on Kwerty, then come back here to see where you land on the chart.
Based on aggregated typing test data from multiple sources
WPM PERCENTILE RANKINGS
Find your typing speed and see how you compare
You look at the keyboard while typing and use only a few fingers. Typing feels slow and deliberate.
You know where most keys are but still glance down frequently. You can type basic messages but it takes time.
You are at the median typing speed. Comfortable for casual use, but faster typists will outpace you in any productivity-focused role.
You type faster than three out of four people. Solid touch-typing skills. Comfortable for most office and writing tasks.
Top 10% territory. You have strong touch-typing technique and rarely look at the keyboard. Writing and coding feel effortless.
Faster than 19 out of 20 typists. At this speed you can transcribe speech in near real time and your typing never bottlenecks your work.
The top 1%. Only dedicated competitive typists and professionals reach this level. Your fingers move faster than most people can read.
WHAT SPEED DO YOU NEED?
Recommended typing speeds for different activities
SCHOOL & COLLEGE
Target: 50+ WPMStudents who type at 50+ WPM can take notes faster, write essays more efficiently, and complete online assignments quicker than their peers. In timed exams, typing speed directly translates to more content produced.
OFFICE & BUSINESS
Target: 60-70 WPMOffice workers type an average of 40 WPM, but those who reach 60-70 WPM handle email, reports, and documentation significantly faster. In customer-facing roles, faster typing means shorter wait times.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Target: 70-80 WPMDevelopers benefit from speeds above 60 WPM for regular text. Code typing is slower due to special characters, so a developer typing regular text at 80 WPM might code at 50-60 effective WPM, which is still highly productive.
COMPETITIVE TYPING
Target: 100+ WPMCompetitive typists on platforms like Kwerty, TypeRacer, and Monkeytype regularly exceed 100 WPM. Top competitors sustain 150+ WPM and burst above 200 WPM on familiar text. This requires years of deliberate practice.
HOW TO MOVE UP THE CHART
Three steps to climb the percentile rankings
TEST YOUR BASELINE
Before you can improve, you need to know where you stand. Take a 60-second typing test on Kwerty to establish your current WPM. This is your starting point.
PRACTICE TOUCH TYPING
Touch typing means using all ten fingers without looking at the keyboard. If you still hunt and peck, switching to touch typing is the single biggest improvement you can make.
TRAIN CONSISTENTLY
Spend 15-20 minutes daily on Kwerty. Consistency beats marathon sessions. Your muscle memory improves between sessions, so daily short practices yield the fastest gains.
WHAT'S YOUR PERCENTILE?
Quick check — type the phrase below and see where you land on the chart
Click here and type the words to check your speed
SPEED CHART FAQ
Common questions about typing speed and percentiles
What is the average typing speed?
The average typing speed for adults is approximately 40 WPM (words per minute), placing you at roughly the 50th percentile. This means half of all typists type slower and half type faster. The average can vary by age group and profession. Office workers average 40-45 WPM, while students average 35-40 WPM.
What typing speed puts you in the top 10%?
To be in the top 10% of typists (90th percentile), you need to type at approximately 75 WPM or faster. This requires deliberate practice and solid touch-typing technique. Most people who reach this level have been practicing regularly for months or years and use all ten fingers.
How fast is 100 WPM?
Typing at 100 WPM places you above the 95th percentile, meaning you are faster than approximately 95% of all typists. At 100 WPM, you can type a standard 250-word email in about 2.5 minutes. This speed is common among professional writers, programmers, and competitive typists who have trained extensively.
What is the world record typing speed?
The world record for sustained typing speed on a standard keyboard is 212 WPM, set by Barbara Blackburn using a Dvorak keyboard layout. In modern competitive typing, top players on platforms like TypeRacer and Monkeytype regularly achieve bursts above 200 WPM on short texts.
How quickly can I improve my typing speed?
With consistent daily practice of 15-20 minutes, most people can improve by 10-15 WPM within 2-4 weeks. Moving from 40 to 60 WPM is achievable for most people within a month. Going from 60 to 80 WPM takes longer, and progress above 100 WPM requires extensive dedicated training.
FIND YOUR PERCENTILE
Take a free typing test on Kwerty and discover exactly where you rank on the speed chart. Track your progress as you climb from average to elite.
FIND MY PERCENTILE