Rubik's Cube & puzzles
How to get faster at the Rubik's Cube: a simple practice plan
Practical ways to speed up your Rubik's Cube solves: slow solves, finger tricks, looking ahead, learning two-look OLL and PLL, tracking Ao5 and Ao12, and a weekly practice plan.
Most people who can solve a cube want to solve it faster. The good news is that speed comes from habits you can train, not talent. This guide covers what matters most, in the order it matters.
1. Solve it reliably first
Speed is built on a method you can do without thinking. If you still need a guide, keep practising the seven-step method until you can solve it ten times in a row with no mistakes. Mistakes cost far more time than slow fingers.
2. Time yourself, and track the right numbers
Use the free cube timer. It shows your best time, your average of 5 (Ao5) and your average of 12 (Ao12). Ao5 and Ao12 are the numbers that matter, because one lucky solve is not speed. Aim to make your Ao12 fall week by week.
3. Keep your hands moving
The biggest time-waster is stopping. Practise solving slowly but without pausing. If you stop, you are looking for the next piece with the cube still. Slow, continuous turning is much faster over a solve than quick turns with long pauses.
4. Learn to look ahead
Lookahead means finding the next piece while your hands are still doing the current move. To practise it, do solves at half speed and focus on never stopping to search. Look for the next piece before you finish the move you are on.
5. Use better finger movements
Turn with your fingers, not your whole hand, and avoid regripping (shifting your grip on the cube) where you can. Practise the sexy move R U R' U' as a drill: repeat it for a minute and notice where your hands feel clumsy. Our glossary explains terms such as trigger and regrip.
6. Learn two-look OLL and PLL
The quickest gain for most beginners is replacing the last four steps of the beginner method with two-look OLL (10 algorithms) and two-look PLL (about 6). Learn them one at a time and practise each until you do not need to think.
7. Then try F2L
Move on to F2L and the CFOP method only after the last layer is quick. F2L takes patience, but it is the biggest speed-up of all.
A weekly plan
| Day | Practice (about 20 to 30 minutes) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 20 slow solves with no pauses |
| Tuesday | One new algorithm: type it, then do it ten times on a real cube |
| Wednesday | An Ao12 timed session |
| Thursday | Last-layer drills: set up each case, solve it ten times |
| Friday | An Ao12 timed session |
| Weekend | Free solving: relaxed, for fun |
Take a day off if your hands hurt. Short, regular sessions beat one long one.
Other things that help
- A good cube. A smooth, well-adjusted cube is easier to turn. See the best speedcube for beginners and how to lube a speedcube.
- Good lighting. Seeing colours easily makes everything quicker.
- Record yourself. Watching a video of your own solve shows where you pause.
- Be patient. Plateaus are normal. A week of no improvement is not failure.
Common questions
How fast is a good Rubik's Cube time?
It depends on your goals. Most people who learn the beginner method solve in a minute or more. With practice, under a minute is common, and fast solvers solve in about ten seconds or less.
Do I need a speedcube to get faster?
A smooth cube helps, but you can improve a lot on any cube that turns well. A speedcube is an upgrade you may want after a few weeks.
Can children get faster?
Yes. Many children improve quickly because they enjoy repeating things and are not afraid of drills. Keep sessions short and fun.
Is a faster solve better?
Faster is not better for everyone. Some people love solving slowly and neatly, and some love the maths and patterns. Speed is just one way to enjoy the cube.
This guide is general information. For exams, follow your school, teacher and official exam board, and use your own judgement about what suits your child.