A keyboard WPM test for comparing hardware
Your typing speed is partly you and partly the keyboard under your hands. Key spacing, key travel and layout all change how accurately you land each press. This test gives you a way to measure that. Type the same kind of passage on two keyboards and compare the numbers.
How to compare two keyboards
- Warm up. One run on each keyboard that you ignore.
- Take three runs on the first keyboard. Note the score, raw WPM and accuracy each time.
- Take three runs on the second keyboard. Same desk, same chair, same browser.
- Average each set. Compare the average score and the average accuracy.
- Repeat on another day. If the same keyboard wins twice, the difference is real.
Passages vary a little in difficulty, so do not judge on single runs. Look for a clear gap that shows up every time.
What differs between keyboards
| Feature | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Key travel | Laptop keys move a short distance, mechanical keys move further |
| Switch feel | Linear switches press smoothly, tactile ones have a bump, clicky ones add a sound |
| Key spacing | Compact boards put keys closer together, which can cause slips |
| Key shape | Flat keys are easy to slide across, sculpted keys guide the finger to the center |
| Layout | The size and position of Enter, Shift and Backspace vary |
No type of switch is fastest for everyone. Some people type more accurately when they can feel a key register, and others prefer a light, shallow press.
Give a new keyboard time
A keyboard you have used for years has an advantage that has nothing to do with quality: your fingers know it. A new one will often score lower on the first day. Use it for normal work for several days, then run the comparison again.
A different letter layout, such as Dvorak, is a much bigger change and takes far longer to learn.
Read accuracy as well as speed
The score is WPM multiplied by accuracy, and accuracy is often where two keyboards differ. If one gives you the same raw WPM but more red highlights, notice which keys you miss. Misses on Backspace, Shift or the keys at the edges point to a spacing or layout problem.
Once you have chosen, record a baseline on the main typing test page and follow it in the dashboard. To compare number pads, use the 10 key typing test.