How to Increase Typing Speed: 15 Proven Tips That Actually Work

11 minute read

Most people who want to type faster make the same mistake: they try to type faster. It sounds logical, but pushing raw speed usually leads to more errors, more backspacing, and a speed that stops improving. Real, lasting speed comes from technique, accuracy and smart practice. Here are fifteen tips that actually move the needle.

Part 1 — Fix your technique

1. Learn proper touch typing, even if it feels slower at first

If you type with two or four fingers while looking at the keyboard, you have a hard ceiling — most "hunt and peck" typists plateau somewhere in the 30s. Touch typing, where each finger owns a set of keys, removes that ceiling. Your speed will drop for a week or two while you switch. That dip is normal and temporary. See our complete touch typing guide for the finger map.

2. Always return to the home row

Your fingers should rest on A S D F and J K L ; and return there after every reach. The small bumps on F and J let you find position without looking. Drifting away from the home row is the hidden cause of many "random" errors.

3. Stop looking at the keyboard

This is the hardest habit to break and the most important. Every glance down breaks your reading flow and costs time. If you must, cover your hands with a cloth for a few sessions. Uncomfortable, but it forces real muscle memory to form.

4. Use the right finger, every time

It's tempting to reach for a key with whichever finger is closest. Resist. Using the same finger for the same key every time is what makes typing automatic. Check the Finger Guide in the typing test navigation if you're unsure which finger owns a key.

5. Type with a light touch

Pressing keys harder than necessary slows your fingers and tires your hands. Modern keyboards register a keystroke well before the key bottoms out. Aim for quick, light, bouncy presses.

Part 2 — Practise smarter

6. Prioritise accuracy over speed — really

Aim for 95% accuracy or higher before worrying about speed. Every error costs you twice: once for the wrong keystroke and again to fix it. In most exam scoring, errors also directly reduce your net speed. Accuracy is the foundation that speed is built on.

7. Practise daily, in short sessions

Twenty minutes every day beats two hours once a week. Muscle memory is built through repetition and consolidated during rest and sleep. Short, frequent sessions give your brain more chances to lock in patterns.

8. Drill your weakest keys specifically

After each session, look at the error heatmap on the typing test. Most people consistently miss the same two or three keys. Practise words heavy in those letters, or use Custom text mode to paste a paragraph that uses them a lot.

9. Increase difficulty gradually

Move from Beginner to Expert to Advanced passages only once your accuracy is stable at the current level. Advanced passages include longer words, more punctuation and complex vocabulary, which trains your fingers to handle real-world text.

10. Practise at your real target duration

If your exam or job requires typing for 10 or 15 minutes, don't only practise 1-minute sprints. Speed often drops in later minutes due to fatigue. Our test mode automatically continues with the next passage, so you can practise full-length sessions without running out of text.

11. Race your own previous best

Competing against yourself is surprisingly motivating. The Ghost Race feature replays the pace of your personal best on a live graph, so you can see in real time whether you're ahead or behind. It turns practice into a game without the pressure of strangers.

Part 3 — Mindset and reading

12. Read ahead while you type

Skilled typists read a word or two ahead of what their fingers are typing. This lets your brain prepare the next movement while your fingers finish the current one. Practise consciously looking slightly ahead of your cursor.

13. Keep a steady rhythm

Typing in bursts — racing through easy words and freezing on hard ones — is slower overall than a smooth, even rhythm. Try typing at a pace where every keystroke takes roughly the same time. Speed follows rhythm.

14. Don't chase every error immediately

In timed tests, stopping to agonise over a single mistake breaks your flow. Decide on a rule — for example, fix errors within the current word, but don't go back further. Consistent habits reduce hesitation.

Part 4 — Equipment and comfort

15. Use a comfortable keyboard and good posture

You don't need an expensive keyboard, but you do need one that's comfortable and consistent. A full-size external keyboard is usually easier for serious practice than a cramped laptop keyboard. Sit upright, keep your wrists neutral, and take short breaks. Our typing posture guide covers this in detail.

What progress should you expect?

Everyone improves at a different rate, but a common pattern looks like this: the first few weeks of touch typing bring accuracy up while speed stays flat or dips; after that, speed tends to rise steadily; eventually, improvements slow down and each extra few WPM takes more deliberate practice. Plateaus are normal. When you hit one, change something — switch passage difficulty, focus on your heatmap keys, or practise longer durations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to increase typing speed?

Most learners see noticeable improvement within two to four weeks of daily practice. Reaching a high, stable speed generally takes a few months of consistent effort.

Is it worth switching to touch typing if I'm already at 40 WPM with two fingers?

If you type a lot for work or study, usually yes. The short-term slowdown is worth the much higher long-term ceiling and lower strain on your hands.

Why does my speed vary so much between tests?

Passage difficulty, tiredness, focus and even the time of day all affect results. Look at your average across many sessions in the Your Stats panel instead of any single score.