Is 40 WPM Good? Typing Speed Standards Explained

Is 40 WPM Good?

Short answer: 40 WPM is exactly average for adults. It's perfectly fine for casual use, but you may want to improve for professional work.

How 40 WPM Compares

At 40 WPM, you're faster than hunt-and-peck typists but slower than most office professionals.

Is 40 WPM Good Enough for Work?

It depends on the job:

Jobs Where 40 WPM Is Fine

• General office work (with other primary duties)
• Retail positions
• Management roles
• Creative positions (design, art)
• Technical roles where typing isn't primary

Jobs Where You Need More

• Data entry: Requires 45-60+ WPM
• Administrative assistant: 50-60 WPM preferred
• Customer service chat: 50+ WPM needed
• Transcription: 60-80+ WPM required
• Court reporting: 200+ WPM (specialized equipment)

Is 40 WPM Good for a Student?

For students, 40 WPM is actually quite good:

If you're a student typing 40 WPM, you're on track. But improving to 50-60 WPM will help with essays and research papers.

Is 40 WPM Good for Gaming?

For most gaming, 40 WPM is adequate:

• Chat in games: 40 WPM is fine
• MMO communication: Could use improvement
• Competitive gaming: Typing speed rarely matters (reaction time does)

When Should You Improve Beyond 40 WPM?

Consider improving if:

• Typing is part of your job — Even 10 WPM faster saves significant time
• You're job hunting — Higher speed is a competitive advantage
• You write a lot — Faster typing means less friction for ideas
• You feel limited — If typing slows your thoughts, improve
• You want to learn — Touch typing is a valuable skill

How to Go From 40 to 60 WPM

The jump from 40 to 60 WPM typically takes 2-4 weeks of practice:

• Learn touch typing if you haven't — this is essential
• Practice 15-20 minutes daily — consistency beats long sessions
• Focus on accuracy — speed follows naturally
• Use proper technique — all 10 fingers, home row position

Try our beginner typing practice to start improving.

Quick Assessment

Take our 1-minute typing test to confirm your speed. Then decide:

• Happy at 40 WPM? That's perfectly fine for many uses
• Want to improve? Follow the tips above
• Need speed for work? Make practice a priority

The Bottom Line

40 WPM is average — not bad, not great. It's sufficient for casual use but leaves room for improvement if typing is important to your work or studies. The good news: improving from 40 to 60 WPM is very achievable with just a few weeks of practice.