When you choose any career path today, you’ll need to know how to type well. Most people don’t realize how much this simple skill can change their work and personal life. Research from Herzing University shows that the average individual types about 40 words per minute, which is significantly less than what individuals who are trained in the touch-type method can do. These skilled typists typically expect to type 75 words per minute or more, and it’s easy to imagine all the amazing benefits this brings.

Faster typing opens up so many doors – from writing memos and documents much quicker to saving time in both your work and personal activities. I’ve seen how it makes taking notes during a meeting so much easier, and it becomes a real marketable skill that helps you stand out.

Specific jobs like transcription and office work often expect a certain typing speed from their employees, so increasing your typing speed becomes more than just convenience – it’s a valuable marketable skill set that can help you get ahead in many ways.

We’re discussing the top ways to increase typing speed on a keyboard, and these simple changes can make a huge difference in how fast and accurately you work.

Table of Contents

11 Smart Ways: How to become Typing Expert

Getting Started: Know Where You Stand

When I first decided to increase my typing speed, I realized I had no idea how fast I could actually type. You probably don’t know your current typing speed either, and that’s okay!

Here’s what you can do right now: take a few minutes to test your current typing speed using one of the many free typing tests online. I recommend alphabettyper.online for reliable typing tests that give you accurate results.

Once you see your number, jot it down somewhere safe. This number compares to the average typing speed of 40 wpm (words per minute). From this point, you can make a realistic goal for your typing speed improvement journey.

Set Smart Goals: Progress Over Perfect Performance

Once you’ve learned what your current typing speed actually is, the next step is to set a realistic goal. This will help you get better at typing without feeling overwhelmed.

Most beginners think they should immediately double or triple their typing speed. This sounds tempting, but here’s the truth: it’s more important to focus on getting each letter right than rushing through words.

Why does accuracy matter so much? Well, if you type quickly but make tons of mistakes, you’ll spend more time fixing errors than actually writing. When your work is error-filled, you end up having to edit everything extensively. This ultimately costs you extra time and creates frustration.

Instead of racing, type at a comfortable pace to avoid making mistakes. You don’t need to reach 100 wpm to be productive. For most people, hitting 60 to 80 wpm is an excellent target that will definitely help you finish your daily work faster.

Start by changing your mindset. Think of accuracy as your foundation – before you can build speed, you need solid basics. The goal is to improve both typing speed and precision together, so your end results are clean, fast typing skills.

Remember, typing speed naturally develops with regular practice. Learning to rush through words without caring about correctness will not save you time in the long run. The smart approach is to find a rhythm where you maintain good accuracy while slowly building speed through daily practice.

Also Read This Blog: Why Typing Accuracy Matters More Than Speed

Master the Art of Touch Typing

Learning to touch type is the only way to improve your typing speed significantly. When I first started my journey to become a faster typist, I made the same mistake most people do – I relied heavily on my index fingers and constantly looked down at my keyboard.

Touch typing is a technique that involves not looking at your keyboard while limiting your overall finger motion by using all ten fingers to type. Instead of typing with only your index fingers, you should be using every finger and keeping your fingers close to the home row of your keyboard when you are touch typing.

I recommend paying special attention to your little fingers and ring fingers. These fingers are frequently underused when typing, which can lead to unnecessary stress on your thumbs and index fingers. This creates a limited reach while you’re typing and can even cause wrist pain over time.

Perfect Your Hand Position on the Keyboard

The middle of your keyboard is called the “home row” for touch typing because you should always start typing from these keys and continue to return to them as you type.

Start by learning the proper finger placement for touch typing by learning the home row of your keyboard. Rest your fingers in a curved position and place them on the ASDF and JKL keys in the middle row of your keyboard.

Most Keyboards will also have a raised bump or line on the “F” and “J” keys, where your index fingers should rest, to help your fingers find their way back to these keys through touch, without looking. If your keyboard doesn’t have this feature, consider purchasing a keyboard or installing a keyboard bump on these keys to help you learn proper and quick typing.

From my personal experience, getting comfortable with the home row position takes practice, but once your fingers know where to go naturally, your typing speed will improve dramatically. The key is to be patient with yourself and practice regularly.

Once you master these basics, you’ll find that keyboard shortcuts become much easier to use, making your overall computer experience faster and more efficient.

Build the Right Foundation with Body Position

After spending countless hours at my computer, I learned something important. The way you sit changes everything about typing. Most people think faster speeds come from quick fingers alone. That’s wrong.

Your body needs the right setup first. Proper posture makes typing better and protects your wrists from pain.

Here’s what really works:

Choose a chair that feels comfortable. Sit with your back straight and upright. Your spine should touch the chair’s back support.
Place both feet flat against the floor. This keeps your lower body steady and supported. Don’t cross your legs or ankles – this will compromise how well you can type.
Face your monitor directly. Tilt your head down just a little bit – a slight downward angle works best.
Measure the distance between your eyes and screen. Keep them separated by 17 to 27 inches. This simple step helps reduce eyestrain during long typing sessions.
Relax your shoulders. Many people tense up without knowing it. If you’re unsure about this, try taking a slow, deep breath while sitting at your desk. When you breathe out, your shoulders will fall into their natural, relaxed position. Work to keep them there.
Never let your wrists touch the tabletop or laptop keyboard. This limits your finger mobility and causes strain. Don’t put any weight on wrists that are resting on the keyboard – it can cause real injury.
Keep your elbows close to your side. Tuck them in while you type. This helps create the ideal environment for smooth finger movement.

When you reach the right setup, your whole typing experience gets better. These recommended tips help your hands move freely and reduce tension. Good posture is the foundation that lets you build real speed.

Create a Smart Practice Schedule

Starting my typing journey felt overwhelming at first. Many people who are new to typing often feel slow and uncomfortable, but here’s what I learned: consistent practice typing regularly makes all the difference. You must put in regular time daily to see real results.

Your fingers will feel stiff and awkward during initial typing sessions, but you’ll soon know the joy of typing away with complete ease without giving it a second thought. Building typing speed and accuracy requires patience and smart strategies.

I recommend these following practices for serious improvement:

Take online typing tests regularly – these tools test your typing accuracy and speed objectively. Being deliberate and slow initially helps you learn proper accuracy and correct touch typing form. It’s more important to build solid foundations than type quickly with work filled with mistakes.
Practice typing using touch typing games. Many excellent free and paid typing software and games exist that make learning to type genuinely enjoyable while they track your accuracy and speed. I strongly recommend alphabettyper.online for quality free typing practice.
Consider signing up for structured typing class instruction. Though typing courses are less common nowadays since many children learn typing from a young age, typing classes may still be offered at your local community college or continuing education class near your area. Online programs are widely available to learn and improve your typing speed if you can’t find suitable in-person options.
Always set a specific goal and designated time for typing practice. Dedicate at least 10 minutes each day to focused typing work and record your typing speed at least once weekly to track meaningful progress. Give yourself a rewarding incentive for reaching each goal – perhaps a delicious treat from your local bakery or downloading a new gaming app to play.
Always practice typing “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” This clever short English phrase contains every letter of the complete alphabet, allowing you to practice touch typing every single letter in the alphabet, including even less commonly used letters like “z” or “v.”

Master the Art of Screen Focus

Breaking the habit of peeking downward became my biggest breakthrough. The fundamental keys to learning genuine quick touch typing involve never looking at your keyboard and consistently keeping your eyes focused on the computer screen. Fighting the tempting urge to look at your fingers while you type proves especially challenging when starting to learn touch typing, yet doing so will significantly slow your overall typing performance.

When trying to learn to type faster for writing tasks based on reference notes or an email you’ve pulled up, you’ll constantly pause your typing to read your notes before going back to typing. This constant switching will significantly hinder your typing speed development.

Here’s my game-changing solution: When you find yourself looking at your keyboard during typing sessions, tape a piece of paper over your hands so you cannot look at the keyboard while you practice typing. Alternatively, purchase blank keys or a keyboard cover so you cannot see the letters and numbers on your keyboard while practicing.

Constantly remind yourself that you must rely entirely on your developing touch typing skills and natural abilities rather than looking at the keyboard for guidance. Though it feels difficult to avoid looking initially, this discipline will benefit your typing speed greatly over the long run.

Start by Optimizing Your Workspace

Your typing speed isn’t just about finger agility—it starts with your environment. After working with many individuals looking to boost their typing efficiency, I’ve seen one thing stay constant: comfort matters.

A poorly designed chair or an unsupportive backrest can lead to discomfort, making it harder to stay focused. Choose a chair that aligns with the natural curve of your spine—especially one with a curved backrest. This kind of support reduces fatigue and keeps you grounded during long sessions. If your lower back tends to ache, try placing a small cushion at the base of your chair’s back for added support. Some chairs even come with built-in lumbar support, which can be an excellent investment.

Pro Tip: While reclining may feel relaxing, it often increases pressure on your lower back and strains your neck and shoulders. Instead, bring your chair closer to the desk. This minor change can reduce slouching and help you maintain proper posture.

Adjust Your Arm Position

Do your elbows flare out while typing? That could be slowing you down. Your arms should stay relaxed and close to your body. To achieve this, consider using a chair with adjustable armrests. Set them to a height where your forearms rest gently and naturally while you type. This alignment encourages endurance and prevents tension in your shoulders and wrists.

Keep Your Feet Flat

Typing posture begins at your feet. If your legs are dangling or overstretched, your posture suffers from the ground up. Your feet should be flat on the floor, with knees bent at a 90-degree angle.

Can’t reach the floor comfortably? An ergonomic footrest can help you maintain the right position. Alternatively, adjust your chair’s height until your feet naturally touch the ground.

Avoid Common Workspace Mistakes

Think twice before using wrist trays or keyboards with built-in wrist supports. These might seem helpful, but placing your full wrist weight on them while typing can cause strain over time.

If you use a wrist rest, limit it to short breaks between typing. During active use, your wrists should hover comfortably above the keyboard—not rest heavily on any surface.

Set Your Keyboard at the Right Height

One of the most overlooked tips for typing faster is placing your keyboard at the right level. Many people have it set too high. For optimal positioning, the keyboard should be just above your lap, allowing your arms to form a natural 90-degree angle.

If your desk doesn’t allow this setup, consider using an adjustable keyboard tray or raise/lower your chair as needed. The goal is simple: find a position that keeps your wrists relaxed and your shoulders at ease.

Smart Break Strategies for Faster Progress

Learning to type faster isn’t just about practice – it’s about being smart with your time. When you’re new to using all ten fingers for typing, your hands will need adjustment periods. I’ve found that being gentle with yourself and scheduling frequent breaks prevents straining and actually speeds up learning.

The moment you notice discomfort during any practice session, that’s your signal to stop. Taking a five-minute break isn’t giving up – it’s strategic. Your fingers need recovery time to develop stronger, more flexible muscles.

What really changed my approach was understanding that slow, accurate progress beats rushing toward your typing goal. Sloppy, frustrating progress just creates bad habits. When you return to typing practice feeling well-rested and clear-headed, your improvement becomes much more effective.

Don’t forget finger exercises after long typing sessions. These simple movements keep strengthening your fingers while preventing that nagging achiness. Regular breaks aren’t weakness – they’re your secret weapon.

Movement and Flexibility: Your Hidden Speed Boosters

Here’s something most people miss: physical stiffness kills typing speed. If your shoulder, back, wrist, neck, or fingers feel tight, you’re fighting against your own body every time you sit at your desk.

I learned this lesson when I plateaued and couldn’t hit 50 wpm no matter how much I practiced. The problem wasn’t my technique – it was my physical preparation. Adding regular stretching exercises to my day-to-day routine transformed my flexibility and eliminated stiffness.

Simple moves make huge differences. Wrist rotations loosen tight joints. “Claw hands” exercises wake up sleepy muscles. Finger stretches and raised fist stretches become part of your routine to maximize your hand’s flexibility.

These stretches dramatically reduce discomfort while typing. Always check with your doctor before incorporating any new exercises into your movement routine. Smart preparation prevents problems.

Voice Technology: Your Typing Break Solution

Sometimes your wrists get tired, and continuing to type becomes counterproductive. You need a break from typing, but work still needs completion. That’s where smart alternatives like Notta Voice become your perfect option.

This speech-to-text application processes audio files and live voice recordings, then transcribes audio into clean, easy-to-read notes. It’s a quick way to record notes without finger strain.

The versatile tool transcribes content into 58 languages, making it an efficient tool for sharing notes across different audiences. While your hands rest, your productivity continues through voice input technology.

Get Started Today!

The best time to start improving your typing speed is right now. Use our alphabet typer game to begin your practice journey. Set a goal, create a practice schedule, and stick with it. In just a few weeks, you’ll be amazed at how much faster and more confident you’ve become at typing.

Fast typing is a valuable skill that will help you throughout your life. Whether you’re a student working on assignments, someone starting a career, or just want to use your computer more efficiently, these tips will help you reach your typing speed goals.

Start practicing today, and soon you’ll be typing faster than you ever thought possible!