What is a good 1-minute typing speed?

Above roughly 40 WPM puts you in the band a widely cited 1999 study described as fast, against a measured transcription average of 32.5 WPM. Published professional typing ranges run from 43 to 80 WPM, and some roles specify 80 to 95 WPM. Accuracy matters alongside speed: most employers treat sub-95% accuracy as disqualifying regardless of pace.

Is the 1-minute test what employers use?

Employers vary, but formal benchmarks are often three or five minutes because a longer sample is harder to game and shows sustained pace. One minute is the common informal standard. If a specific requirement is stated, test at that length rather than converting from a different one.

Timed Test

1-Minute Typing Test

Measure your typing speed and accuracy over one minute with transparent scoring, actual elapsed time, and private local history.

0wpm

1:00time

100%acc

Tap or click here, then start typing

the be to of and a in that have I it for not on with he as you do at this but his by from they we say her she or an will my one all would there their what so up out if about who get which go me when make can like time no just him know take people into year your good some could them see other than then now look only come its over think also back after use two how our work first well way even new want because any these give day most us is was are been has had did got may should must being very much more many such where while still each find long both same own need feel high last old great little world public school never small part every found place under keep hand large group always home move live show thought point right left state hold turn begin seem help start change might again off play try next put end why ask went read run another too call around form word write number head late line city name

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What the one-minute test measures

The default comparison point. When someone quotes a WPM figure without saying the duration, this is almost always the length they mean.

One minute is the de facto standard, which is its main advantage: published typing speed ranges and job requirements are usually stated in terms roughly comparable to a one-minute test. The sample is large enough that a single mistake no longer dominates, and short enough that most people will actually finish it. If you keep only one benchmark, keep this one.

When to choose this length

Good for

The number to quote when a WPM figure is requested
Comparing yourself against published typing speed ranges
Tracking progress with a good balance of speed and effort

Trade-offs

Shorter than most formal employment benchmarks
Does not fully expose the fatigue that appears after two or three minutes

Accuracy at this length: A minute is long enough that the error pattern becomes informative rather than random. Repeated mistakes on the same keys at this length are worth turning into a targeted drill.

Reading your score

These bands are guidance for deciding what to work on next, not measured population statistics. The documented figures behind them, including why the commonly quoted 40 WPM average is misleading, are on the average typing speed page.

Under 25 WPMBuilding the basics: Usually means you are still looking at the keyboard. Accuracy drills pay off far more than speed attempts at this stage.
25–39 WPMFunctional: Comfortable for everyday messages and notes. This overlaps the transcription average from the 1999 study.
40–59 WPMSolid: Fast enough that typing rarely limits your thinking. This is at or above the band that study called fast.
60–79 WPMStrong: Within the documented professional range and sufficient for most roles that list a typing requirement.
80–99 WPMFast: Matches the requirement for positions that specify 80–95 WPM.
100+ WPMVery fast: Above most published job requirements. Sustaining it on a longer test with punctuation is the real challenge.

Questions about the one-minute test

What is a good 1-minute typing speed?: Above roughly 40 WPM puts you in the band a widely cited 1999 study described as fast, against a measured transcription average of 32.5 WPM. Published professional typing ranges run from 43 to 80 WPM, and some roles specify 80 to 95 WPM. Accuracy matters alongside speed: most employers treat sub-95% accuracy as disqualifying regardless of pace.
Is the 1-minute test what employers use?: Employers vary, but formal benchmarks are often three or five minutes because a longer sample is harder to game and shows sustained pace. One minute is the common informal standard. If a specific requirement is stated, test at that length rather than converting from a different one.

Try other durations

Results are comparable only when the duration, corpus, and scoring version all match, so pick one length and stay with it when tracking progress.

15-Second Typing Test 30-Second Typing Test 1-Minute Typing Test 2-Minute Typing Test 3-Minute Typing Test 5-Minute Typing Test

See exactly how results are calculated in the scoring methodology, or convert your score with the typing speed converter.