How Many Keystrokes Per Hour Constitute Good Data Entry?
Employers consider 10,000 to 12,000 keystrokes per hour a good speed for numeric data entry. For alpha-numeric data entry, acceptable kph numbers usually range from 7,000 to 8,000.
Data entry involves typing data into a computer system. Numeric data entry only deals with numbers. Alpha-numeric data entry uses both numbers and letters.
Numeric data entry speeds are expected to be much higher than alpha-numeric speeds because numeric data entry only deals with the 10-digit numeric keypad on a keyboard. Slower speeds are acceptable for alpha-numeric data entry because the typist uses the entire keyboard.
Data entry is used in a number of fields, including accounting, court reporting and word processing. Analysts expect software and hardware solutions to one day eliminate the need for human data entry. Electronic scanning and optical character recognition are already in use in many industries.