Spacebar Counter
Press the space bar as fast as you can: the first press starts the clock. Holding it down doesn’t count, so every press is a real one.
Holding the space bar counts once: only real presses add up. Nothing is saved or sent.
Your space bar speed
0presses
Press the space bar to start: the first press starts the 10 second clock.
How this works: Method, 10 sources, Checked against 2 worked examples,
How this works
Method
The counter listens for the space bar anywhere on the page: each keydown with the code Space is one press. The first press starts the clock. The page stops the space bar from scrolling while you test, so you can press as fast as you like. Full method
Sources
- KeyboardEvent: repeat property (MDN)
- UI Events KeyboardEvent code Values (W3C)
- Media Capture and Streams (W3C)
- MediaDevices: getUserMedia() (MDN)
- Web Audio API (W3C)
- MediaStream Recording (W3C)
- UI Events (W3C)
- Pointer Events (W3C)
- Gamepad (W3C)
- Gamepad API (MDN)
How it’s tested
2 worked examples for this page are checked by automated tests before every release: given the inputs, the tool must show the expected answer.
Changes
- First version: mic, webcam, keyboard, click speed, spacebar and gamepad tests, all on the device.
Example: 75 presses in 10 seconds
75 presses of the space bar in 10 seconds is 75 ÷ 10 = 7.5 presses per second, one every 133 milliseconds. Hold the space bar down for the whole 10 seconds instead and the counter shows 1: the key repeats on its own while held, and those repeats are not counted.
How the spacebar counter works
The counter listens for the space bar anywhere on the page: each keydown with the code Space is one press. The first press starts the clock. The page stops the space bar from scrolling while you test, so you can press as fast as you like.
Hold a key down and the system starts repeating it, sending a stream of extra keydown events marked as repeats. The counter skips every event marked that way, so holding the bar counts once and only real presses add up.
Choose 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds for a timed test, or No limit to simply count presses until you reset. On a phone or tablet, tap the big space bar on screen instead: each tap counts the same way.
presses per second = presses ÷ test length in seconds
- A key held down sends repeated keydown events with repeat set to true; the counter ignores those. Source: KeyboardEvent: repeat property.
- Space is the code for the space bar on every layout, so the counter works with any keyboard language. Source: UI Events KeyboardEvent code Values.
What the counter tells you about your space bar
A healthy space bar adds exactly one for every press. If the count jumps by two when you press once, the key is chattering: its switch bounces and registers twice, which often comes from dirt or a worn stabiliser. Try pressing at the left end, the middle and the right end; a bar that misses presses at one end usually has a stabiliser problem on that side.
For speed, press with your thumb from a light rest rather than lifting your whole hand, and try alternating both thumbs.
Space bar presses at a steady rate
How many presses each timed test gives at a steady speed, and the time between presses.
| Speed | 5 s | 10 s | 30 s | 60 s | Between presses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 per second | 10 | 20 | 60 | 120 | 500 ms |
| 3 per second | 15 | 30 | 90 | 180 | 333 ms |
| 4 per second | 20 | 40 | 120 | 240 | 250 ms |
| 5 per second | 25 | 50 | 150 | 300 | 200 ms |
| 6 per second | 30 | 60 | 180 | 360 | 167 ms |
| 7 per second | 35 | 70 | 210 | 420 | 143 ms |
| 8 per second | 40 | 80 | 240 | 480 | 125 ms |
| 9 per second | 45 | 90 | 270 | 540 | 111 ms |
| 10 per second | 50 | 100 | 300 | 600 | 100 ms |
| 12 per second | 60 | 120 | 360 | 720 | 83 ms |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does holding the space bar count?
Only once. Holding a key makes it repeat, and each repeat is marked as one, so the counter ignores them. Every point is a real press.
Can I use the spacebar counter on a phone?
Yes. Tap the big space bar on screen; each tap counts as a press, and double-tap zoom is turned off on it so fast taps aren’t lost.
Why does the counter go up by two when I press once?
Your space bar is registering one press as two, called chatter. Clean under the key, and if it keeps happening, the switch or its stabiliser may need replacing.
How do I count without a timer?
Choose No limit. The counter then adds up every press until you press Reset, and shows your average speed since the first press.