Spacebar Counter
Press the spacebar as fast as you can. The timer starts on your first press, and when it ends you see your total, presses per second, your fastest second and your best score.
- Presses
- 0
- in 10 s
- Average speed
- 0.00 / s
- Whole run
- Time left
- 10.0 s
- Starts on first press
- Best (10 s)
- -
- Saved in this browser
Press Space to start
The 10-second timer starts on your first press.
On a phone or tablet, tap this box or the spacebar below.
- Average
- -
- presses per second
- Per minute
- -
- at that average
- Fastest second
- -
- most in any 1 s
- Shortest gap
- -
- between two presses
- Typical gap
- -
- median gap
- Possible doubles
- -
- gaps under 25 ms
Presses per second
Finish a run to see how many presses you made in each second.
Best scores
- 1 s
- -
- 5 s
- -
- 10 s
- -
- 30 s
- -
- 60 s
- -
Recent runs
Your runs are listed here, newest first. They stay in this browser only.
Holding Space does not count. While this test is on screen, Space never scrolls the page; scroll down to the text and it works as usual.
What is a spacebar counter?
A spacebar counter is a speed test for the space key. You pick a time, press the spacebar as fast as you can, and the counter shows how many presses it registered and how many that is per second. This one starts the clock on your first press so no time is wasted, ignores the automatic repeats a held key sends, and never lets Space scroll the page. When the time is up it shows your average speed, your fastest single second, the shortest gap between two presses and a bar chart of every second, then saves your best score for each test length and your last 20 runs in this browser. On a phone, tap the on-screen spacebar.
How to use the spacebar counter
- Choose a test length: 1, 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds, or Custom for anything up to 10 minutes. 10 seconds is the most common.
- Press Space to start. The first press starts the timer and counts as press number one.
- Keep pressing as fast as you can. Holding the key down does nothing; each press has to be a new one.
- When the timer runs out, read your presses, presses per second and fastest second, and check the chart to see where you slowed down.
- Press Enter or select Try again to have another go. Your best score for each length is kept.
Why use this spacebar counter
- Every press counts, nothing elseThe timer starts on the first press, auto-repeat from a held key is ignored, and Space never scrolls the page.
- More than one numberAverage, per minute, fastest second, shortest gap and a chart of each second show how your speed changes.
- Spot a faulty spacebarPresses under 25 ms apart are flagged as possible double presses from a worn switch.
- Your own recordsBest score per test length and the last 20 runs, saved in your browser with no account.
- Works on any deviceKeyboard on a computer, tap on a phone or tablet. Nothing to install.
Why people test their spacebar speed
- Games. Jumping and button-mashing in platformers, rhythm games and quick-time events.
- Challenges with friends. Compare scores on the same test length.
- Checking a keyboard. Make sure a new or repaired spacebar registers every press, and only once.
- Comparing switches. Try the same test on a laptop and a mechanical keyboard.
- Warm-up. A few quick rounds before a gaming session.
- Just for fun. See if you can beat your best on a slow afternoon.
Spacebar speed: what your score means
These are the labels the counter gives your average speed. They are a rough guide for a 5 to 10 second test; over 30 or 60 seconds, expect your average to drop as your hand tires.
| Presses per second | Label | In 10 seconds |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | Warming up | Under 40 presses |
| 4 to 6 | Average | 40 to 59 |
| 6 to 8 | Above average | 60 to 79 |
| 8 to 10 | Fast | 80 to 99 |
| 10 to 12 | Very fast | 100 to 119 |
| 12 or more | Elite | 120 or more |
How to press the spacebar faster
- Use the side of your thumb or two fingers taking turns, and press only as far as the key needs to register.
- Keep your wrist resting and still. The movement should come from the finger, not the arm.
- Start at a speed you can hold. A fast first second followed by a slump scores less than a steady pace; the chart shows which you did.
- Try a different keyboard. Laptop keys with short travel and light mechanical switches are often quicker than a stiff, deep spacebar.
- Warm up with a couple of 5-second runs before going for your best 10 or 30-second score.
Spacebar counter, CPS test or keyboard test?
Each one tests something different. The spacebar counter measures how fast you can press one key. The CPS test does the same for mouse clicks, and the keyboard test checks that every key on your keyboard works. If a mouse button seems to click twice, the double click test confirms it.
| Test | Measures | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Spacebar counter | Presses per second on the space key | You want your spacebar speed or a challenge with friends |
| CPS test | Mouse clicks per second | You practise clicking for games |
| Keyboard test | Every key, rollover and chatter | You suspect a dead or sticky key |
| Click counter | A running count of anything | You need to count people, laps or items |
Need to count things rather than race? The click counter also counts with the spacebar, with no timer.
Example: a 10-second spacebar test
You press Space 74 times in 10 seconds: an average of 7.4 presses per second, or 444 per minute. The chart shows 9 presses in the first second and 6 in the last, so you started fast and tired at the end. Your fastest second had 9 presses and the shortest gap between two presses was 71 ms. Try again with your thumb resting lower on the key and see if the last seconds hold up.
What to expect from the result
The counter measures key presses your browser receives. Keyboards scan their keys at different rates, and some wireless keyboards batch presses, so the same person can score a little differently on two keyboards. Gaps under 25 ms are flagged as possible double presses: that is faster than a finger can move and usually means a worn switch. Scores are saved on this device only.
Spacebar counter questions
What is a good spacebar speed?
Over a 10-second test, many people press about 5 to 7 times per second. Eight or more is fast, and above 10 per second usually takes practice and a quick, light tapping style. Short tests give higher speeds than long ones because your hand tires.
How is the spacebar speed calculated?
Presses divided by the test length in seconds. 74 presses in a 10-second test is 7.4 presses per second. The peak is the most presses inside any single second of your run.
Does holding the spacebar down count?
No. When you hold a key, your computer repeats it automatically, and those repeats are ignored. Only real presses count: press, release, press again.
Why does Space not scroll the page during the test?
While the counter is on screen, Space is captured for the test so the page stays put and buttons are not pressed by accident. Scroll down to the text and Space scrolls as usual again.
Can I take the test on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap the on-screen spacebar instead. Every tap counts as a press. With a Bluetooth or USB keyboard attached, the real spacebar works too.
Are my scores saved anywhere?
Your best scores and last 20 runs are saved in this browser’s local storage on your device. There is no account, no leaderboard and no upload. Clearing site data removes them.