How to Type the Number Row Without Looking at the Keyboard

The number row is where most typists' technique completely falls apart. Even people who touch-type letters with decent form will look down at the keyboard the moment they need to type a phone number, a date, or an IP address. It's the last frontier of proper finger placement, and most people never conquer it.

The reason is simple: numbers require the biggest reach from the Home Row Keys Explained: Why ASDF JKL; Is Your Anchor. Your fingers have to travel further than for any letter, and because you type numbers less frequently than letters, you get fewer repetitions to build muscle memory. But the finger assignments exist for a reason, and learning them eliminates one of the biggest technique gaps most typists have.

Finger Assignments for Each Number

The number row follows the same column logic as the letter rows. Each finger reaches straight up from its home position. Left pinky: 1. Left ring: 2. Left middle: 3. Left index: 4 and 5. Right index: 6 and 7. Right middle: 8. Right ring: 9. Right pinky: 0.

The same assignments apply to the shifted symbols above each number: ! is the left pinky (Shift + 1), @ is the left ring (Shift + 2), # is the left middle (Shift + 3), and so on. This means proper number-row technique also unlocks proper How to Type Symbols and Special Characters Without Slowing Down technique, since many common symbols live on these keys. The The Opposite-Hand Shift Key Rule Every Typist Should Know applies here too - use the opposite Shift key.

The Anchor-and-Reach Method

The key to number-row accuracy is anchoring. Before reaching for a number, make sure your other fingers are on the home row. Then extend just the appropriate finger upward to press the number, and return to home afterward.

Don't lift your entire hand off the keyboard. The reach should come from the finger, not the hand. Your thumb stays on or near the spacebar, and your non-reaching fingers maintain their home positions. If you find your whole hand moving to reach numbers, you're compensating for weak finger independence, especially in the Pinky Finger Typing Exercises: Strengthen Your Weakest Link.

Drill Strategies

Start by drilling one hand at a time. Type sequences using only left-hand numbers: 12345, 11223, 33445, 54321. Then switch to right-hand: 67890, 78967, 89078. This isolation lets you focus on the reach mechanics for each finger without the added complexity of alternating hands.

Once single-hand sequences feel manageable, mix them: 192.168.1.1, 10.0.0.1, port 8080, port 443. These real-world patterns (IP addresses, port numbers) combine numbers with punctuation and give you practical muscle memory you'll use in actual work.

REKEY has a dedicated Number Crunch drill category with six levels progressing from single-hand isolation through mixed numbers and real-world patterns to full paragraphs with numbers, capitals, and symbols.

Common Number-Row Mistakes

The most common mistake is using the wrong finger for 5 and 6. Because these keys sit near the centre of the keyboard, many typists reach for both with whichever index finger feels closer. The correct assignments are: left index for 4 and 5, right index for 6 and 7.

Another frequent error is looking down for numbers even when you don't look down for letters. This breaks your rhythm and forces your eyes to refocus on the screen afterward. The fix is the same as for letters: drill slowly with correct fingers until the movements are automatic.

If you rely on a numpad for number entry, that's fine for data-heavy work. But you should still learn the number row for inline numbers in text, code, and URLs. The two skills are complementary, not alternatives.

Speed Expectations

Your number-row speed will be slower than your letter speed even after training. That's normal and expected. Numbers appear less frequently in most text, so you get fewer practice repetitions during regular work. Dedicated number drills close this gap, but don't expect number-row speed to match letter-row speed immediately.

The goal isn't blazing fast number entry. It's accurate, consistent entry without looking down. Once you can type a phone number or date without glancing at the keyboard, you've reached the practical level of proficiency that eliminates the biggest bottleneck.

If your overall speed has plateaued and you're still looking down for numbers, that interruption could be part of the reason. Our Stuck at 50 WPM? How to Break Through a Typing Speed Plateau guide covers how number-row weakness contributes to speed ceilings. And the Correct Finger Placement on a Keyboard: The Complete Guide has the full mapping of every key, including number-row shifted symbols.