Numbers & Symbols Typing
About the number row and symbols
The number row runs across the very top of the keyboard, above the letters, and each digit shares its key with a symbol you reach by holding Shift. This is the last row to master, and the one most people type slowest because it involves the longest reaches — but with the correct fingers you can enter numbers, prices, dates and passwords without ever looking down.
You will learn the digits 0 through 9 first, each assigned to a specific finger, and then the symbols above them — ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) — typed with Shift. These are essential for email addresses, maths, code and everyday forms.
How to type numbers and symbols
- Each finger owns the number above its top-row key. The left hand covers 1 to 5 (pinky to index) and the right hand covers 6 to 0 (index to pinky). Reach up two rows and come straight back to home.
- Type a symbol by holding the opposite-hand Shift and pressing the number key — for example Shift + 4 gives $, and Shift + 5 gives %.
- Because the number row is a long reach, expect it to feel slow at first. Keep your fingers anchored on the home row between digits so you always find your way back.
- Aim by feel, not by sight. Glancing up for every digit breaks your flow — trust the finger assignments and let accuracy build over a few sessions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking down for every number. The reaches are longer, so it is tempting, but glancing down breaks your rhythm. Trust the finger assignments instead.
- Using one finger to peck out all the numbers. Each digit has its own finger; spreading the work is what makes the number row fast.
- Forgetting which symbol pairs with which number. Practising the Shift chords here — Shift + 2 for @, Shift + 8 for * — commits them to memory.
Practice items
Practise these numbers and symbols the way they appear in real text — dates, prices, email addresses and more:
Frequently asked questions
Which fingers do I use to type numbers?
Left hand: 1 with the pinky, 2 with the ring finger, 3 with the middle finger, 4 and 5 with the index finger. Right hand: 6 and 7 with the index finger, 8 with the middle finger, 9 with the ring finger, and 0 with the pinky. Each finger reaches up from its home key.
How do I type symbols like @, # and $?
Hold Shift with the opposite hand and press the matching number key. Shift + 2 gives @, Shift + 3 gives #, Shift + 4 gives $ and Shift + 5 gives %. The symbol printed on the upper part of the key is what you get with Shift.
Which finger types the numbers 5 and 6?
5 is typed by the left index finger and 6 by the right index finger. They sit in the middle of the number row, so both are the longest upward reaches for the index fingers.
Should I use the number row or the numeric keypad?
For occasional numbers mixed into text, the number row is faster because your hands stay on the main keyboard. For long columns of figures a dedicated numeric keypad can be quicker — but not every keyboard has one, so the number row is the more universal skill.
Why is the number row so hard to type without looking?
It is the farthest row from the home keys, so the reaches are long and your fingers spend the least time there. Regular short practice fixes this — once the finger assignments are automatic, numbers and symbols flow like any other row.