Typing Hero App typingheroapp.com
Is 40 WPM a Good Typing Speed?

Is 40 WPM a Good Typing Speed?

· 3 min read · by Robin Érsek-Obádovics

Is 40 WPM a good typing speed? Honest answer: it's average. Not bad, not great. Functional for casual users, insufficient for typing-heavy professions, room to grow if you want more. Here's the realistic picture.

What 40 WPM means

Compared to averages

  • Average adult: 40-50 WPM
  • Average touch typist: 60-80 WPM
  • 40 WPM: just below adult average

Often indicates

  • Hunt-and-peck with some skill
  • Touch typing beginner
  • No formal training
  • Or vision/motor challenges

Where 40 WPM works

Casual communication

  • Personal email
  • Social media
  • Texting (when typing not thumb)
  • Short notes

Light office work

  • Occasional documents
  • Basic spreadsheets
  • Meeting note-taking (slow)

Hands-on jobs

  • Healthcare frontline (more hands-on)
  • Manual trades (occasional paperwork)
  • Retail / hospitality (POS systems)

Hobbies

  • Reading + bookmarking
  • Light blogging
  • Online forum participation

Where 40 WPM fails

Professional content creation

  • Writers: too slow for daily output
  • Journalists: deadline pressure
  • Bloggers: limits productivity

Customer support

  • Live chat: customers wait
  • Tickets: less per shift
  • Performance reviews affected

Programming

  • Workable but slow
  • Frustrating with rapid iteration
  • Better with auto-complete

Data entry

  • Falls below industry standard
  • 8,000+ KPH typical = 80+ WPM equivalent
  • Pay penalties

Court reporting

  • Completely unworkable
  • Stenotype = 250+ WPM territory

ROI of improving from 40 WPM

Time math

  • 40 WPM: typing 1000 words takes 25 min
  • 60 WPM: same takes 17 min (32% faster)
  • 80 WPM: same takes 13 min (48% faster)

For 3-hr daily typing: going 40→60 WPM saves ~1 hr/day.

Effort to gain

  • 40 → 60 WPM: 6-8 weeks daily practice
  • 60 → 80 WPM: 8-12 weeks additional
  • Investment: ~30 min/day for a few months

ROI clear for daily typists.

Why people stuck at 40 WPM

Most common reasons

  • Self-taught hunt-and-peck never converted to touch typing
  • No daily focused practice
  • Plateau accepted as ceiling
  • Don't know they could be faster

Easily addressable

  • Touch typing instruction (free apps)
  • Daily practice (30 min)
  • Within 8 weeks: 60+ WPM achievable

What 40 WPM hunt-and-peck typists experience

Looking down constantly

2-4 fingers dominant

  • Other fingers idle
  • Asymmetric wear
  • Bad ergonomics

Speed ceiling

  • Can't easily push past 50 WPM
  • More effort = same speed

Slow with content

  • Spend disproportionate time typing
  • Less time thinking/editing

Should you improve?

Yes, improve if

  • Type 2+ hrs/day at work
  • Frustrated by typing speed
  • Want to learn new skill
  • Have 8 weeks to invest

Maybe improve if

  • Type <2 hrs/day
  • No specific motivation
  • Mild interest only

Don't worry if

  • Type rarely
  • Other priorities
  • Hands-on job with minimal typing

How to improve from 40 WPM

Step 1: Commit to daily practice

  • 30 min/day for 8 weeks
  • Same time each day
  • Track progress weekly

Step 2: Use proper touch typing

Step 3: Use adaptive tools

  • Keybr (finds weak letters)
  • Monkeytype (speed tests)
  • Typing Hero App (structured)

Step 4: Test weekly

  • Track WPM growth
  • Visible motivation

Step 5: Real-world application

  • All typing via touch typing
  • No hunt-and-peck fallback

Realistic 40→60→80 timeline

Week 1-4

  • Foundation building
  • Initial slowdown (frustrating)
  • Cross 40 WPM with touch typing

Week 5-8

  • Reach 50-55 WPM
  • Confidence building

Week 9-12

  • Reach 60-65 WPM
  • Comfortable touch typist

Month 4-6

  • Reach 70-80 WPM
  • Above average

That's realistic for committed adult learner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 40 WPM bad?

No — it's average. But "bad" or "good" depends on your needs.

Will 40 WPM hurt my career?

In typing-heavy careers: yes. Otherwise: probably not.

Can I be a writer at 40 WPM?

Yes — but slower than peers. Aim for 70+ for sustainability.

Should I learn touch typing if at 40 WPM hunt-and-peck?

YES — biggest impact upgrade you can make.

How long to reach 60 WPM from 40?

6-8 weeks daily 30-min practice for most.

Best tool to go from 40 to 60?

Typing Hero App + Keybr for weak-key targeting.

Improve your speed

If you want faster: Typing Hero App — free, no signup. 30 min/day for 8 weeks = 40 → 60+ WPM.

For more: What is a good typing speed, Average typing speed, How to type 60 WPM in 30 days.