Handwriting Speed

LETTERS PER MINUTE: Handwriting speeds vary by grade level, gender, and handwriting style. Average speeds for children: 

Grade 1: Girls average 21 LPM, and boys average 17 LPM 

Grade 2: Girls average 36 LPM, and boys average 32 LPM 

Grade 3: Girls average 50 LPM, and boys average 45 LPM 

Primary school

Average writing speeds for children in primary school are: 

Age 6: 3.6 words per minute 

Age 7: 5.6 words per minute 

Age 8: 7.2 words per minute 

Age 9: 9 words per minute 

Age 10: 10.4 words per minute 

Age 11: 12 words per minute 

WORDS PER MINUTE: Students were instructed to write as fast as they could without making errors

Grade.  Av. WPM – copying using Handwriting. 

1                4

2                7

3                10

4                13

5                15

6                17

7                20

8                23

9                24

Graham, Beringer, Weintraub & Schafer, 1998