Highest Words Per Minute

What is the highest WPM worldwide?

Hi,

Just a couple quick facts about touch typing:
  • The fastest typist in the world once typed 216 words in one minute.
  • The average typing speed ranges from 38-44 words per minute.

Best Regards,
Lyka Remeticado
Community Associate at Typesy

Hello, @surajduke!

Fun question!

The fastest ever recorded was logged in the 1985 Guinness Book of World Records: Mrs. Barbara Blackburn of Salem, Oregon maintained a speed of 150 wpm for 50 min (37,500 key strokes) and her top speed was recorded at 212 wpm. Ironically, Barbara only learned to type after an unsatisfactory grade in typing class prevented her from graduating at the top of her class. Now, while Barbara’s 212 wpm is incredible, she was not using a QWERTY layout, so it’s difficult to know how her speed translates today.

Using another metric we could award Russian typist Michael Shestov. Michael can speak and type in 27 languages, averaging 160 wpm. How can this man type faster in non native languages than most people can in their first? Apparently by practicing over 8 hours every day!

With the variety of keyboards out there, it’s difficult to compare these record holders. That’s why there is now an online competition: The Ultimate Typing Championship. Utilizing the QWERTY keyboard, the current record holder is Sean Wrona, who is recorded to have typed at a top speed of 256 wpm.

These sorts of speeds require a lifetime of dedication and practice. Personally, I’m more than happy with my 65 wpm!

Regards
Alex (The Reimagined Classroom Teacher)