Typing Speed Test
Measure your typing speed in 30 seconds. Then see how much faster you could be by speaking instead.
What if you could write at 150 WPM?
Steno is a native macOS app that turns your voice into text in any app. Hold a key, speak, release — text appears instantly.
Download Steno FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is a good typing speed?
The average typing speed is about 40 WPM. A speed of 65-75 WPM is considered above average and typical for office professionals. Speeds above 80 WPM are fast, and anything over 100 WPM puts you in the top few percent of typists. For context, most people speak naturally at 130-170 WPM without any practice.
How is WPM calculated?
WPM (words per minute) is calculated by dividing the total number of characters typed by 5 (the standard word length) and then dividing by the elapsed time in minutes. Net WPM also factors in errors — each uncorrected error subtracts one word from your gross WPM. This test measures net WPM over a 30-second window.
How can I type faster?
To improve your typing speed: learn proper touch typing with all 10 fingers, practice regularly with typing tests, focus on accuracy before speed, and use keyboard shortcuts. However, even the fastest typists plateau around 120 WPM. If you need to write faster than that, voice-to-text tools like Steno let you dictate at 150+ WPM.
Is voice typing faster than keyboard typing?
Yes, significantly. The average person speaks at 130-170 WPM compared to typing at 40 WPM — that's roughly 3-4x faster. Even professional typists at 100+ WPM are slower than natural speaking speed. Voice-to-text apps like Steno capture this speed advantage and let you write at speaking pace in any application.
Why Your Typing Speed Matters
The average person types at about 40 words per minute. Professional typists reach 65-75 WPM. But even the fastest typists max out around 120 WPM — a fraction of how fast we naturally speak.
Most people speak at 130-170 words per minute without even trying. That's 3-4x faster than typing. Voice-to-text technology like Steno lets you capture that speed and turn it into written text in any application on your Mac.
How is typing speed measured?
Typing speed is measured in WPM (words per minute). A "word" is standardized as 5 characters including spaces. Your net WPM accounts for accuracy — errors reduce your effective speed. This test measures both gross and net WPM over 30 seconds.
How to type faster
- Use all 10 fingers and learn proper touch typing technique
- Practice regularly with typing tests like this one
- Focus on accuracy first — speed follows naturally
- Use keyboard shortcuts to reduce unnecessary keystrokes
- Or skip typing entirely — use voice-to-text with Steno to write at 150+ WPM
Voice typing vs keyboard: the real comparison
While practice can improve your typing speed by 10-20%, switching to voice typing can improve your writing speed by 200-300%. Steno works in every macOS app — Slack, Gmail, VS Code, Notes, and more. Hold a key, speak naturally, and release. Your words appear instantly.