Typing 80,000 words takes about 33 hours 20 minutes at 40 WPM, 25 hours 38 minutes at the average speed of 52 WPM, and 16 hours 40 minutes at 80 WPM. That is pure typing time, without pauses to think.
80,000 words is about 160 single-spaced or 320 double-spaced pages (12-point font, 1-inch margins; real page counts vary with font and spacing).
Time to type 80,000 words at every speed
| Typing speed | Time to type |
|---|---|
| 20 WPM | 66 hours 40 minutes |
| 30 WPM | 44 hours 26 minutes |
| 40 WPM | 33 hours 20 minutes |
| 52 WPM (average) | 25 hours 38 minutes |
| 60 WPM | 22 hours 13 minutes |
| 70 WPM | 19 hours 2 minutes |
| 80 WPM | 16 hours 40 minutes |
| 100 WPM | 13 hours 20 minutes |
| 120 WPM | 11 hours 6 minutes |
Planning a real writing task
Typing speed is only part of the job. When you compose your own text you stop to think, reread and correct, so writing 80,000 original words usually takes several times longer than typing them from a copy. Use the numbers above as the minimum time for a clean final draft.
Type faster to save time
Going from 40 to 60 WPM cuts the time for 80,000 words from 33 hours 20 minutes to 22 hours 13 minutes. Start with a 1-minute typing test to find your speed, then train your weak keys with smart practice.
How much you can type in a set time
| Time available | At 40 WPM | At 52 WPM (average) | At 70 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 600 words | 780 words | 1,050 words |
| 30 minutes | 1,200 words | 1,560 words | 2,100 words |
| 1 hour | 2,400 words | 3,120 words | 4,200 words |
| 2 hours | 4,800 words | 6,240 words | 8,400 words |
| A 4-hour session | 9,600 words | 12,480 words | 16,800 words |
Why real writing takes longer
A typing test measures copying speed. When you write your own words you also plan, choose words and edit, so composing takes noticeably longer than copying. Budget extra time for a first draft, and use the times above for retyping, transcription or a final clean copy.
Ways to finish faster
- Raise your speed by 10 WPM. At 1,000 words, going from 40 to 50 WPM saves 5 minutes.
- Raise your accuracy. Every correction costs time. Aim for 97% or better.
- Use text shortcuts for phrases you type often, such as your email signature or address.
- Take short breaks. A few minutes away from the keyboard every half hour keeps speed and accuracy from fading.
Typing speed grades
| Grade | Speed | Faster than | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 0 to 29 WPM | 0.5% of typists | Usually looking at the keys or typing with two to four fingers. Touch typing lessons give the biggest gains here. |
| Below average | 30 to 44 WPM | 14% of typists | Comfortable for messages and short emails. A few weeks of daily practice usually moves people into the average band. |
| Average | 45 to 59 WPM | 37% of typists | The speed of a typical computer user. Meets most office requirements, including the 40 WPM federal clerk-typist standard. |
| Above average | 60 to 74 WPM | 66% of typists | Faster than about two thirds of typists. Meets typical requirements for data entry, chat support and most administrative roles. |
| Fast | 75 to 89 WPM | 88% of typists | Faster than about 9 in 10 typists. Competitive for transcription, legal and executive assistant roles. |
| Expert | 90 to 119 WPM | 97% of typists | Fewer than 3 in 100 typists reach this band. Speed is no longer the limit for any common job. |
| Elite | 120+ WPM | more than 99.9% of typists | Competition-level typing. Very few people ever sustain this speed on varied text. |
More questions
How long does it take to handwrite 80,000 words? Handwriting is much slower than typing for most adults, often less than half the speed, so expect at least twice the typing times above.
How many words per minute do I need to type 80,000 words in an hour? 1334 WPM, which is faster than almost anyone can sustain. Plan for several sessions.
How long is 80,000 words to read? About 5 hours 36 minutes at a typical adult silent reading speed of around 238 words per minute.
Does typing speed include thinking time? No. The times here are pure typing. Writing original text takes longer because you also plan and revise.
Every way to practice on Typeri
| Mode | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Random common words for 15 seconds to 10 minutes, or any custom length | Benchmarks and stamina |
| Words | A fixed number of words, 10 to 200 or custom | Quick, repeatable checks |
| Quote | Real sentences in short, medium or long passages | Everyday writing speed |
| Zen | Type anything you like with no target text; Shift + Enter to finish | Warm-ups and free writing |
| Custom | Paste any text: a speech, an article or job vocabulary | Practicing exactly what you type at work |
| Code | Real code in 17 programming languages with auto-indent | Programmers |
| 10-key | Numeric keypad drills scored in keystrokes per hour | Data entry and accounting |
Add punctuation or numbers to time and words tests, switch between 12 languages, and open the settings to change text size, show an on-screen keyboard, add a pace caret or stop on errors.
Other lengths
100 words 150 words 200 words 250 words 300 words 400 words 500 words 600 words 700 words 750 words 800 words 900 words 1,000 words 1,200 words 1,500 words 1,800 words 2,000 words 2,500 words 3,000 words 3,500 words 4,000 words 5,000 words 6,000 words 7,500 words 8,000 words 10,000 words 15,000 words 20,000 words 25,000 words 30,000 words 40,000 words 50,000 words 60,000 words 100,000 words
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to type 80,000 words?
Typing 80,000 words takes about 33 hours 20 minutes at 40 WPM, 25 hours 38 minutes at the average speed of 52 WPM, and 16 hours 40 minutes at 80 WPM. That is pure typing time, without pauses to think.
How many pages is 80,000 words?
80,000 words is about 160 single-spaced or 320 double-spaced pages.