TypeOut.io

How to type faster and more accurately on a keyboard

By the TypeOut.io team · Updated October 4, 2026 · 4 min read

Your speed is shown in words per minute. To calculate it, we count the characters you type, divide by five, then divide by the number of minutes in the test. We also show the percentage you typed correctly.

What is a good typing speed?

In a 2018 study of 168,960 volunteers, the average was about 52 words per minute. That is a reference point, not a required goal: what matters is improving at your own pace and making fewer mistakes (Dhakal et al., 2018).

10 tips to type faster and more accurately

1. Start with accuracy

When you make a mistake, you have to stop and fix it. Slow down a little, then speed up as your mistakes decrease.

2. Find a comfortable hand position

Rest your fingers near A S D F and J K L. The raised marks on F and J help you find your place without looking. You do not need perfect technique to get started.

3. Look at the screen

Try reading the text as you type instead of searching for every key. Take it slowly: familiarity comes with practice.

4. Get comfortable

Support your feet, relax your shoulders, and avoid bending your wrists too far. Take breaks when tired. If you feel pain or tingling, stop and consult a healthcare professional.

5. Find a steady rhythm

There is no need to rush. A comfortable pace helps you spot mistakes and keep going.

6. Repeat what feels hard

Do certain letters, capitals, or symbols slow you down? Practice them for a few minutes and review your results.

7. Practice a little each day

Try short, frequent sessions instead of one long session. If you get tired or make more mistakes, take a break.

8. Use your everyday keyboard

Practice the keys you use every day. If you type in Spanish, include ñ, accented vowels, and ¿ and ¡.

9. Adjust the difficulty

Start with simple texts. When you feel comfortable, try texts with numbers, capitals, and punctuation.

10. Compare your progress

Take tests of the same length and watch how your speed and accuracy change. One difficult day does not erase your progress.

A two-week routine to get started

Adapt the plan to your schedule. Everyone improves at their own pace.

  • Days 1 to 3: practice for 10 minutes with simple texts. Keep your eyes on the screen and focus on typing correctly.
  • Days 4 to 7: practice for 10 to 15 minutes with short sentences. Take a one-minute test and note which keys are hard for you.
  • Week 2: practice for 15 to 20 minutes. Spend a few minutes on difficult keys and take three-minute tests to see your progress.

Does typing a passage help you remember it?

Practicing with interesting topics can spark curiosity. But copying a passage does not guarantee you will remember it.

What may help

Trying to recall an idea after reading it helps more than rereading without thinking (Roediger and Karpicke, 2006).

What is still unclear

Studies comparing handwritten and typed notes do not give a definitive answer. Copying word for word is not a proven memory technique (Mueller and Oppenheimer, 2014; Morehead et al., 2019).

A simple thing to try

When you finish, look away and explain one idea from the passage in your own words. Then check whether you remembered it correctly.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good typing speed?

There is no ideal number. In one study of volunteers, the average was about 52 words per minute. Use that only as a reference.

How long does it take to improve my typing speed?

It depends on your starting point and how much you practice. Compare your results with your earlier ones, not with other people.

Should I prioritize speed or accuracy?

Accuracy first. Fixing mistakes takes time; increase your pace gradually.

Do I need to type with all ten fingers to be fast?

Not necessarily. Find a comfortable, consistent way to type without looking for every key.

Does typing help me remember what I type?

Copying a passage does not guarantee you will remember it. Afterward, try explaining its ideas in your own words.

How does TypeOut.io calculate my speed?

We count your characters, divide by five, then divide by the minutes in the test. We also show the percentage of correct characters.

References

  1. Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380.
  2. Dhakal, V., Feit, A. M., Kristensson, P. O., & Oulasvirta, A. (2018). Observations on typing from 136 million keystrokes. Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-12). https://userinterfaces.aalto.fi/136Mkeystrokes/
  3. Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363-406.
  4. Morehead, K., Dunlosky, J., & Rawson, K. A. (2019). How much mightier is the pen than the keyboard for note-taking? A replication and extension of Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014). Educational Psychology Review, 31(3), 753-780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-019-09468-2
  5. Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159-1168.
  6. Pinet, S., & Longcamp, M. (2025). Commentary: Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: A high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1517235. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1517235
  7. Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249-255.
  8. Salthouse, T. A. (1986). Perceptual, cognitive, and motoric aspects of transcription typing. Psychological Bulletin, 99(3), 303-319.
  9. Slamecka, N. J., & Graf, P. (1978). The generation effect: Delineation of a phenomenon. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 4(6), 592-604.
  10. van der Weel, F. R., & van der Meer, A. L. H. (2024). Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: A high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1219945. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945

Take a free test and find your starting point. Back to Learn