How to Increase Typing Speed
Last updated: August 2026 • 7 min read
If you want to know how to increase typing speed from an average 40 WPM to an effortless 80+ WPM, the secret lies in systematic muscle memory training rather than haphazard speed bursts. Anyone can double their typing speed within 3 to 4 weeks by committing to deliberate, daily touch-typing habits.
By eliminating visual searching, anchoring your fingers to the home row, and adopting a metronome-like keystroke rhythm, your brain offloads typing into subconscious finger reflexes.
Practice Daily Deliberate Sprints
Warm up with our 1-minute high-frequency word pack.
The 5 Golden Rules of Touch Typing Speed
1. Never Look Down at Your Keyboard
The moment you glance down at your keys, you break the neurological connection between your visual cortex and your fingers. Use tactile bumps on the F and J keys to orient your hands blindly.
2. Look 1 to 2 Words Ahead
Top typists do not read the character they are currently striking; they scan 1 to 2 words ahead. This buffer allows your motor cortex to prepare complex finger movements in advance without pausing.
3. Keep Wrists Elevated (Hovering)
Resting your palms or wrists on the desk while typing pins down your hand muscles and limits your reach to top-row numbers. Keep wrists hovering in a relaxed arch.
4. Focus on Metronome-Like Rhythm
Speed is a byproduct of consistency. A smooth, uninterrupted 65 WPM cadence beats an erratic 85 WPM sprint plagued by backspacing stops.
5. Practice Weak Keys & Numbers
Take our dedicated numeric typing test and typing test with punctuation to eliminate weaknesses on symbols and number rows.