How to type faster: 10 habits for kids and grown-ups

That is the whole method. The rest of this page breaks it into ten habits you can try today, with a short reason for each one. After that come a 10 minute practice plan and a section for children and the grown-ups helping them.

Where we mention research, the study is listed under Sources at the end of the page.

Ten habits for typing faster

1. Start from the home row. Rest your left fingers on A, S, D and F, your right fingers on J, K, L and the semicolon key, and your thumbs on the space bar. The small bumps on F and J let your pointer fingers find the spot by feel. Why it works: When your hands always start in the same place, every key is always the same reach away.
2. Use the same finger for the same key every time. Choose one finger for each key and stick with it. The standard finger chart is a good choice, and our home row keys page lets you press a key and see its finger. Why it works: A motion capture study of 30 typists at Aalto University found three things that predicted higher speed. Pressing each letter with the same finger every time was one of them.
3. Put accuracy before speed. Type at a pace where nearly every press lands on the right key, even if that pace feels slow. Why it works: Fixing a slip costs more than a careful press. You have to notice it, press Backspace, and type the key again. In a study of 168,000 volunteers, the fastest tenth used Backspace or Delete for about 3 in every 100 key presses. The slowest tenth used them for about 9 in every 100.
4. Keep your eyes on the screen when you can. Read the words on the screen as you type them, and glance down only to find a key. Looking down is fine while you are learning where the keys are. Why it works: You see a slip the moment it happens. The Aalto researchers give the same tip: "Look at the screen. You'll be surprised how well you can type without looking at your fingers."
5. Keep your hands still and let your fingers reach. Stretch one finger to the key, press it, and bring that finger back to its home key. Why it works: The same motion capture study found that keeping the whole hand mostly still predicted higher speed. A finger that comes home also starts its next reach from a place it knows.
6. Get the next finger ready. Read one or two letters ahead, and let the next finger start moving while the first one is still pressing. This comes with practice, so there is no need to force it. Why it works: Getting upcoming keys ready early was the third of the three things that predicted higher speed in the motion capture study. In the larger study, most fast typists pressed the next key before letting go of the last one for 40 to 70 percent of their key presses.
7. Practice a little, most days. Ten minutes is plenty. Stop when you notice the slips adding up. Why it works: A short session ends while your presses are still careful. A small daily habit is also easier to keep than a long session once in a while.
8. Practice the words you type most. Spend part of each session on short, common words such as "the", "and" and "with". Our sight words typing practice is a game made of short words like these. Why it works: These words turn up in almost every sentence, so getting them smooth helps with nearly everything you write.
9. Measure on a schedule. Take the same test once a week, at about the same time of day, and write down your speed and accuracy. Our free typing speed test works for anyone. Why it works: A single score depends on the sentences you get and the day you are having, so one number tells you little. A row of weekly numbers shows the trend. Testing all the time can also pull you toward rushing.
10. Set up your seat and keyboard the same way each time. Put the keyboard straight in front of you, close enough that your fingers rest on the home row without stretching. Place the screen where you can read it without leaning. Why it works: When the keyboard sits in the same spot, every reach is the same as it was yesterday.

What fast typists do differently

Two studies sit behind several of the habits above. A 2016 study at Aalto University recorded 30 people typing with motion capture. Three things predicted higher speed: pressing each letter with the same finger every time, getting upcoming keys ready early, and keeping the hands mostly still.

A 2018 study from Aalto University and the University of Cambridge looked at 168,000 volunteers who took an online typing test. One line of its summary is short: "Fast typists make fewer mistakes."

Both studies watched how people already type. They did not test a training plan, and we have not tested one either. Treat these habits as a sensible place to start, not a promise of a certain speed.

Try the plan for two weeks, then look at your weekly numbers. If one key keeps causing trouble, spend the slow and careful minutes on that key.

Helping a child type faster

The same habits work for children, with one change: speed comes last. For a beginner, the whole goal is finding the right key with the right finger.

Go by skill, not age. A child who is still finding letters needs unhurried time with the keys. A child who already types short words without searching can start to notice their pace. Some children get there early and some later, and both are fine.

• Praise the careful press. Say what you saw: the right finger, a finished lap, a tricky key found. Leave speed out of it.
• Let them look. Looking at the keys is part of learning where they are.
• Give one cue at a time. Point to the next key or the pictured finger, then wait.
• Keep it short. One lap or a few minutes is enough. Stop while it is still fun.
• Go easy on timers. Use our free typing test for kids only now and then. Compare the result with their own last try, never with another child.

We make Bumpy Keys, a typing game for ages 4 to 9, so weigh that when we mention it. It starts on the home row and puts accuracy before speed. Cartoon hands show which finger to use, and each finger has a color. Stars are earned for careful typing, never speed.

Bumpy Keys plays in any browser at play.bumpykeys.com and as an app on iPad and Mac. All 100 lessons are free in two worlds, Puppy Park and Dino Dash. An optional one-time $4.99 purchase adds all twenty worlds. There is no subscription, there are no ads, and there are no player accounts. Progress stays on the device.

For a first week laid out step by step, see our guide on how to teach a child to type.

Questions people ask about typing faster

How can I type faster?

Start from the home row, use the same finger for the same key every time, and type at a pace where nearly every press is right. Practice for about ten minutes most days and check your speed once a week. Careful comes first: in a study of 168,000 volunteers, the fastest typists were also the ones who made fewer mistakes.

What is a good typing speed?

It depends on who is typing and what for. A 2018 study gave 168,000 volunteers an online typing test. The average was about 52 words per minute, and the fastest tenth typed above about 78. Those volunteers found the test through a typing website, and three quarters of them were 11 to 30 years old. The numbers are not a goal for a child. A better measure is your own score from last week. Our guide to average typing speed by age has more.

Do I need all ten fingers to type fast?

Not always. In a 2016 Aalto University study, self-taught typists who used fewer fingers reached speeds comparable with trained touch typists. A larger study two years later found that people who said they used more fingers were faster on average. The 2016 researchers also say touch typing is still the best known way to reach very high speeds. It is a good system to learn if you are starting fresh.

How long does it take to get faster at typing?

There is no set time, and we will not promise one. It depends on where you start, how often you practice and how careful that practice is. Take the same test once a week and write the result down. Your own numbers will show how it is going.

Do typing games help you type faster?

A game can help if it gets you to practice more often and rewards the right key over the quick key. Look for one that shows which finger to use and leaves room for a slow, careful press. We make Bumpy Keys, a typing game for ages 4 to 9, where stars are earned for careful typing, never speed.

How can kids type faster?

By typing carefully first. Help your child find the home row, use the pictured finger for each key, and finish one short lap at a time. Praise the right key, not the quick one, and let them look at the keyboard while they learn. Go by skill, not age. Speed can wait until the keys feel familiar.

Sources

• Vivek Dhakal, Anna Maria Feit, Per Ola Kristensson and Antti Oulasvirta. "Observations on Typing from 136 Million Keystrokes." Proceedings of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Project page and paper (PDF), read 2 October 2026.
• Anna Maria Feit, Daryl Weir and Antti Oulasvirta. "How We Type: Movement Strategies and Performance in Everyday Typing." Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Project page, read 2 October 2026.

More guides: typing for kindergarten, best typing programs for kids, and all guides.