How it works
Choose a time limit (5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds) or No limit, then press the spacebar. The timer starts on your first press. Each separate press adds one; holding the key down doesn't count, so auto-repeat can't inflate your score. When the time is up you'll see your total and your presses per second, and your best score for that time limit is saved on this device.
While this page is open, the spacebar won't scroll the page, so you can press as hard and fast as you like. On a phone or tablet without a keyboard, tap the panel instead.
What it's useful for
- Friendly speed challenges. See who in the room can hit the most presses in ten seconds.
- Warming up for games that use the spacebar to jump or act.
- Checking the spacebar itself. If presses go missing when you hit the edge of the bar, or it registers two presses for one, the stabilisers or switch may need cleaning. The keyboard tester checks every other key too.
Tips for a faster score
- Use your thumb and keep it close to the bar rather than lifting high.
- Try alternating both thumbs; many people find it faster than one.
- Keep your wrist relaxed. Tension slows you down over longer tests and can strain your hand.
Spacebar problems and fixes
The spacebar is the longest key on the keyboard, so it relies on small metal stabiliser bars to press evenly. If presses near the ends don't register, or the bar rattles or sticks, dust or dried spills around the stabilisers are the usual cause. On many keyboards the keycap can be gently lifted off with a keycap puller; clean around the switch, check the stabiliser wire is seated in its clips, and press it back on evenly. Laptop spacebars are more fragile, so use compressed air instead and leave removal to a repair shop. If a single press counts twice here, the switch may be failing.
You can also use the counter for something simpler: tallying anything quickly. Leave it on No limit and press space each time you count something.