Spacebar Counter
Press Space to start. Every real press counts; holding the key counts once.
Held keys count once. Space only.
Your result stays here after each run.
- Peak second
- —
- Presses
- —
- Your best
- —
Bests are kept in this browser only.
What counts as a press
| You do | The test counts |
|---|---|
| Tap Space once | 1 |
| Hold Space down for a second | 1 (the repeated key events a held key sends are ignored) |
| Press any other key | 0 |
| Click or tap the pad | 0 (this test is for the keyboard only) |
| Press Space while the Start button is focused | 0: that press starts the test instead |
Your spacebar bests
| Length | Your best (presses/s) |
|---|---|
| 5 s | — |
| 10 s | — |
| 15 s | — |
| 30 s | — |
| 60 s | — |
How this test works
The test listens for the Space key anywhere on the page, as long as focus is not on a button or form field. Your first press starts the clock and counts. Each press is timed from the keyboard event's own timestamp, and the result is presses divided by seconds, with your fastest single second and a trace.
The page does not scroll when you press Space during the test. If you switch tabs or the window loses focus, the run is void.
Key repeat, and why holding does not count
When you hold a key down, your operating system waits a moment and then starts sending the same key again and again, which is how holding a letter fills a line with it. Browsers mark those repeats, and this test throws them away. Only a real press, where the key goes down after coming up, scores.
That also means the key has to come all the way up between presses. If your presses are going missing, watch the key: a long key like Space is held level by a stabilizer, and a dry or sticky stabilizer can stop it returning fully, so the switch never resets.
For speed, most people do best with the thumb resting lightly on the bar and pressing from the knuckle, not from the whole hand. Pressing near the middle of the bar is usually more reliable than pressing at one end. Some people alternate both thumbs, which works the same way as butterfly clicking on a mouse: each thumb only needs half the rate.
Keyboards differ. Switch type, travel distance and the force a key needs all change how fast you can press. Compare scores on the same keyboard. For a mouse instead, use the CPS test.
Questions
How does a spacebar counter work?
Press Space to start the clock; that first press counts. Every press after it counts until the time runs out, and the result is presses per second.
Does holding the space bar count on a spacebar test?
No. A held key sends repeated key events after a short delay. The test ignores those, so one hold is one press.
Why does my space bar miss presses?
If the key does not come all the way back up between presses, the switch may not reset. A dry or sticky stabilizer under a long key like Space is a common reason.
Can I use the spacebar counter on a phone?
It needs a physical keyboard. A phone’s on-screen keyboard opens only for text fields, so use a laptop or a connected keyboard.