If your typing test says 46 WPM, 56 WPM, 90 WPM, or 120 WPM, the number alone does not tell the full story. A percentile shows how your typing speed compares with other typists.
Typing Speed Percentile Chart
Use this WPM percentile chart as a practical benchmark. Percentiles vary by test length, language, device, and accuracy, so treat each row as a useful range rather than a fixed scientific census.
| Typing Speed | Approx. Percentile | Rating | Plain-English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 WPM | Bottom 5% | Beginner | Mostly hunt-and-peck typing |
| 30 WPM | 10th-25th | Below average | Usable, but slow for daily work |
| 40 WPM | 35th-50th | Average | Normal everyday typing speed |
| 46 WPM | 50th-60th | Solid | Average to slightly above average |
| 52 WPM | 60th-70th | Good | Good enough for most office work |
| 56 WPM | 65th-75th | Good | Clearly above average |
| 57 WPM | 70th-75th | Good | Close to the fast tier |
| 60 WPM | 75th | Fast | Faster than most casual typists |
| 65 WPM | 80th-85th | Fast | Strong professional speed |
| 70 WPM | 85th | Very fast | Suitable for typing-heavy jobs |
| 80 WPM | 90th-95th | Excellent | Top-10-percent typing speed |
| 90 WPM | 95th-98th | Exceptional | Faster than almost all everyday typists |
| 100 WPM | 98th-99th | Elite | Top 1 to 2 percent if accurate |
| 120+ WPM | Top 1% | Competitive | Competitive speed-typing level |
Exact WPM Percentile Answers
These are the questions people usually ask after taking a test. The answers assume a standard words-per-minute test with clean typing and roughly 95 percent or better accuracy.
What Percentile Is 100 WPM?
100 WPM is roughly the 98th to 99th percentile. In plain terms, 100 WPM is elite. It is far above normal school, office, customer-support, and writing requirements. If you can hold 100 WPM with high accuracy, you are faster than about 98 to 99 out of 100 typists.
What Percentile Is 120 WPM?
120 WPM is a top-1-percent typing speed. This is competitive territory. A person who can type 120 WPM accurately is not just fast for office work; they are fast even among people who practice typing seriously.
What Percentile Is 90 WPM?
90 WPM is usually around the 95th to 98th percentile. It is exceptional for everyday use and strong enough for demanding typing work such as transcription, live chat support, and high-volume writing.
What Percentile Is 80 WPM?
80 WPM is roughly top-10-percent speed. Most casual typists never reach 80 WPM consistently. This is a realistic stretch goal for people who already type 55 to 65 WPM and want professional-level speed.
Is 57 WPM Good?
Yes. 57 WPM is good. It is usually around the 70th to 75th percentile, which means you are above average and close to the fast tier. With better accuracy and rhythm, 57 WPM can often become 65 WPM within a few weeks.
Is 56 WPM Good?
56 WPM is above average. It usually lands around the 65th to 75th percentile. It is good enough for most office, school, writing, and communication tasks.
Is 52 WPM Good?
52 WPM is good for everyday use. It is above the broad average range and usually near the 60th to 70th percentile. If your accuracy is also high, 52 WPM is a dependable work speed.
Is 46 WPM Good?
46 WPM is solid and around average to slightly above average. It is not slow. It is enough for normal email, schoolwork, and browsing, but improving to 55 or 60 WPM will make daily computer work feel noticeably easier.
How WPM Percentiles Work
A percentile is a comparison score. If your WPM is in the 75th percentile, you typed faster than about 75 percent of typists in the comparison group.
Typing tests normally calculate WPM with this formula:
The "5 characters" rule is the typing-test standard. It keeps results fair because some words are short and some words are long. Accuracy still matters: 80 WPM with many mistakes can be less useful than 65 WPM with clean output.
Accuracy Changes Your Real Rank
Percentile charts assume the score is usable. A high raw speed with low accuracy should be treated as a lower real-world typing level.
| Raw Score | Accuracy | Real-World Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 60 WPM | 98% | Strong and reliable |
| 70 WPM | 92% | Fast, but corrections may slow you down |
| 90 WPM | 85% | Raw speed is high, but effective output is weaker |
| 100 WPM | 97% | Elite and usable |
Where to Go Next
Once you know your percentile, the next useful step depends on what you want to understand or improve.
| Your Goal | What to Check | Useful Page |
|---|---|---|
| Compare your WPM | Your percentile and skill tier | This chart page |
| Judge a specific score | Whether 46, 52, 56, or 57 WPM is good | WPM rating scale |
| Understand averages | WPM by age, profession, and broad benchmark | Average typing speed data |
| Improve your speed | Finger placement, rhythm, and daily practice | Touch typing guide |
| Meet job requirements | Typing speed standards for careers | Typing speed for jobs |
How to Improve by Percentile Band
Your next move depends on where you are now.
- Below 40 WPM: learn home-row placement and stop looking at the keyboard.
- 40 to 55 WPM: practice accuracy first, then build rhythm with 15-minute daily sessions.
- 55 to 70 WPM: target weak keys, punctuation, and common word combinations.
- 70 to 90 WPM: reduce pauses between words and practice longer passages.
- 90+ WPM: protect accuracy, posture, and consistency; small technique issues matter more here.
Key Takeaway
For most people, 50 WPM is good, 60 WPM is fast, 80 WPM is excellent, 90 WPM is exceptional, and 100+ WPM is elite. Your true rank depends on accuracy, test length, language, and whether you can repeat the score.
Typing Speed Percentile FAQ
What percentile is 100 WPM?
100 WPM is roughly the 98th to 99th percentile for general typing. It is an elite score when it is repeatable and accurate. A single 100 WPM sprint with many corrections is less valuable than several clean 95 to 100 WPM tests in a row.
What percentile is 120 WPM?
120 WPM is top-1-percent speed. This is competitive typing territory and far beyond what most jobs require. If you can type 120 WPM with 95 percent or better accuracy, your limiting factor is usually consistency, fatigue, and test difficulty rather than basic technique.
What percentile is 90 WPM?
90 WPM usually lands around the 95th to 98th percentile. It is faster than almost all casual typists and strong enough for demanding writing, support, transcription, and coding workflows, especially when accuracy stays high.
Is 56 WPM good?
Yes. 56 WPM is above average and commonly sits around the 65th to 75th percentile. It is a good everyday work speed and a realistic stepping stone toward 60 to 70 WPM.
What is a good WPM percentile?
The 60th percentile or higher is good for most everyday typing. Around the 75th percentile is fast, the 90th percentile is very fast, and the 98th percentile or higher is elite. Accuracy should be part of the comparison, because a messy high-WPM score is not as useful as a slightly slower clean score.
Find Your WPM Percentile
Take a free typing test, then compare your result with the chart above.