Typing ToolkitTyping posture and desk setup
A comfortable setup helps you type accurately for longer. Small adjustments to your chair, keyboard and screen make a noticeable difference.
Quick setup checklist
| Part | Aim for |
|---|---|
| Chair | Feet flat on the floor or a footrest, thighs roughly level, back supported |
| Elbows | Relaxed at your sides, bent at roughly a right angle or slightly more open |
| Wrists | Straight, not bent up, down or sideways while typing |
| Keyboard | Close enough that you do not reach forward, at or just below elbow height |
| Screen | About an arm's length away, top of the screen at or slightly below eye level |
Hands and wrists
Let your fingers curve gently over the home row and keep your wrists floating above the keyboard while typing. A wrist rest is for resting during pauses, not for anchoring your wrists while you type. Keyboard feet that tilt the back up can bend the wrists upward; many people are more comfortable with the keyboard flat.
Laptops
A laptop forces a compromise: when the keyboard is at the right height, the screen is too low. For long sessions, raise the laptop on a stand and use a separate keyboard and mouse.
Breaks
Stand up, stretch and look at something in the distance every 30 to 60 minutes. During typing practice, a short pause between tests also keeps your accuracy higher.
When to get advice
If you have ongoing pain, tingling or numbness in your hands, wrists or arms, stop practising and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist. A typing website cannot assess your health.
Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction