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A realistic timeline for learning touch typing from scratch, based on how muscle memory actually forms — plus what determines whether someone is on the fast or slow end of it.
The honest answer is a range, because it depends heavily on practice consistency, not just calendar time. But there is a fairly predictable pattern most beginners go through, which makes it possible to set realistic expectations instead of guessing.
Consistency matters far more than total hours. Fifteen minutes daily for six weeks produces more durable skill than three hours once a week for the same total time, because muscle memory consolidates in the rest periods between sessions — daily short sessions simply provide more consolidation cycles.
Prior keyboard familiarity also matters: someone who already types reasonably fast with the wrong technique often takes longer to switch, because they have to first unlearn a competing pattern before the correct one can take over. A complete beginner sometimes progresses faster for exactly this reason.
Don't compare your week-3 self to someone else's week-12 result — compare your own trend line. If your accuracy is steadily above 95% and your WPM has moved upward over the last two to three weeks, even slowly, you're on a normal and healthy trajectory. Plateaus of a week or two are also completely normal and usually resolve on their own with continued consistent practice.