Typst vs LaTeX: Compilation Speed Comparison
Typst compilation speed vs LaTeX is dramatic. Typst compiles 10-100x faster. Here's how, why, and what it means for your writing.
Last updated: January 31, 2026
TL;DR
Typst is 10-100x faster than LaTeX for document compilation:
- Incremental changes render in 10-50 milliseconds
- Full documents compile in under 1 second (vs. 30+ seconds for LaTeX)
- 100+ page theses stay responsive with instant preview
- Modern architecture eliminates multi-pass compilation delays
Compilation Speed Benchmarks
| Document Type | LaTeX | Typst | Speedup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple article (5 pages) | 2-4 seconds | 50-100ms | 20-40x |
| Conference paper (10 pages) | 5-10 seconds | 100-200ms | 25-50x |
| Thesis (100 pages) | 30-60 seconds | 500ms-1s | 30-60x |
| Book (300+ pages) | 2-5 minutes | 1-3 seconds | 40-100x |
| Incremental change (1 character) | Full recompile | 10-50ms | 100x+ |
* Benchmarks on typical hardware (M1 Mac / modern x86). Results vary based on document complexity and packages used.
Why Typst Compiles Faster
Typst only recompiles what changed. Edit a word, and only that paragraph re-renders. LaTeX recompiles the entire document every time.
Typst is written in Rust with modern compiler techniques. LaTeX's TeX engine dates to 1978 and processes documents sequentially.
Typst resolves references in a single pass. LaTeX often requires 2-3 compilation passes for cross-references, citations, and TOC.
Typst compiles to native code. No interpreter overhead, no macro expansion delays, no package loading on every compile.
Real-World Impact
Faster compilation isn't just about numbers—it fundamentally changes how you write:
See changes as you type. No waiting, no context switching, no broken flow.
Try formatting changes immediately. Experiment without the compile-wait-check cycle.
100+ page documents stay responsive. No more coffee breaks waiting for thesis compilation.
Faster builds in automated pipelines. Reduced compute costs for document generation.
Why LaTeX is Slow
LaTeX's compilation speed is limited by its 1978 architecture:
- Multi-pass compilation: Cross-references, citations, and TOC require 2-3 full passes through the document
- Macro expansion: Every compile expands all macros, even unchanged ones
- Package loading: Large packages like TikZ add seconds to every compile
- Sequential processing: No parallelization, no incremental updates
Tools like latexmk help by automating multiple passes, but the fundamental speed limit remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
For incremental changes, yes. When you edit a single character, Typst updates in ~10-50ms while LaTeX recompiles everything. For full document compilation, Typst is typically 20-60x faster.
LaTeX's TeX engine was designed in 1978 when compile times weren't a concern. It processes documents sequentially, expands macros repeatedly, and often needs multiple passes for references.
No. Typst produces professional-quality PDFs comparable to LaTeX. The speed comes from modern compiler design, not reduced output quality.
Typst tracks dependencies between document elements. When you change something, it only recomputes affected parts. LaTeX has no such dependency tracking.
Yes. Fast feedback loops improve writing quality. You can experiment with formatting, catch errors instantly, and stay in flow instead of waiting for compiles.
Related Comparisons
Experience Fast Compilation
TypeTeX gives you instant Typst compilation in your browser. No setup, no waiting.
Methodology: Benchmarks measured on Apple M1 MacBook Pro with default compiler settings. LaTeX compiled with pdflatex via latexmk. Typst compiled with typst CLI. Results are representative but will vary based on document complexity, packages, and hardware. Last updated: 1/31/2026.