Click Speed Test

How the click speed test works

Choose how long the test runs, from 1 second up to a full minute, then click the big area as fast as you can. The countdown starts with your first click, not when the page loads, so the moment you need to get ready never lowers your score. While you click, the counter shows your clicks so far, the time left and your current CPS. When the time is up, the test stops on the exact millisecond: clicks that land after the end are not counted.

Your score is your clicks per second (CPS), the total number of clicks divided by the length of the test. Next to it you see the total clicks, a small chart of how many clicks you landed in each second, and your best score for that test length. The page keeps a separate best for every length, because a 1 second burst and a 60 second marathon are very different tasks.

The test works with a mouse, a trackpad, a touch screen and the keyboard. On a phone every finger tap counts, and the click area is set up so that fast tapping does not zoom the page or select text. On a computer, Space and Enter count too, but holding a key down does nothing: only new presses count.

The CPS formula, with examples

The math is simple: CPS = clicks / seconds. A few examples:

To turn a CPS score back into clicks, multiply by the test length: 8 CPS over 10 seconds is 80 clicks. Because the result is an average over the whole test, one slow second near the end pulls the score down, and the per-second chart shows you exactly where that happened.

Which test length to choose

• 1 second: pure burst speed. Scores are noisy, because a single extra click changes the result by a whole CPS. Run it a few times.
• 5 seconds: the classic quick test. Long enough to smooth out one lucky click, short enough to go flat out the whole time.
• 10 and 15 seconds: a good balance. Long enough that the chart shows whether you slow down in the second half.
• 30 and 60 seconds: endurance. Your hand gets tired, so expect a clearly lower CPS than in the short tests. Pace yourself instead of starting at full speed.

Why longer tests give lower scores

Your fingers tire as a test goes on. Researchers see this in the finger tapping test used in neuropsychology. In a 2013 study of 1,519 adults aged 18 to 65, published in Perceptual and Motor Skills, index finger tapping rates declined over three successive 10-second periods. A 60 second click test stretches that effect over six times as long, so your CPS there says more about stamina than about top speed.

Clicking techniques people use

Gamers have names for different ways of clicking. You do not need any of them, but it helps to know what people mean:

• Normal clicking: one finger presses the button again and again. The easiest to keep up and the best starting point.
• Jitter clicking: tensing the forearm and hand so the finger vibrates on the button.
• Butterfly clicking: two fingers take turns on the same button, so each finger only needs to move half as often.
• Drag clicking: sliding a fingertip across the button so the friction makes it register many quick clicks.

Whatever you try, stop when your hand, wrist or forearm hurts. A high score is not worth a sore arm.

Tips for a higher, fairer score

• Warm up with one or two short runs before you go for your best, and rest a little between attempts.
• Keep your hand relaxed. A tense grip tires you out faster, especially in the 30 and 60 second tests.
• Rest your wrist on the desk and let the finger do the work, instead of moving the whole arm.
• Compare like with like. Scores on a phone, a trackpad and a gaming mouse are not directly comparable, and neither are different test lengths.
• Watch the chart. If the bars fall off sharply after a few seconds, you started too fast for that length.

More quick tests

Speed of clicking and speed of reacting are different skills. Once you know your CPS, try the reaction time test, which measures how quickly you respond when the screen turns green. For timing your own challenges, the stopwatch keeps lap times, and if you just need to decide who goes first, use the coin flip.

How to use the click speed test

1. 1Pick a test length: 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 or 60 seconds.
2. 2Click, tap or press Space on the big area. Your first click starts the timer; keep clicking until the time runs out.
3. 3Read your CPS, total clicks and the chart of every second. When the area says "Click to try again", go for a new best; Copy result shares your score.

Frequently asked questions