Is a 1400 chess rating good?
A 1400 rating is higher than 37.3% of active Lichess blitz players, 45.7% of rapid players and 30.3% of bullet players, measured on 1 September 2026. The median blitz rating is about 1530. Lichess ratings are a separate scale from FIDE and chess.com ratings.
Is a 1400 rating good in blitz, rapid and bullet?
In blitz a 1400 rating sits below the middle: it is higher than 37.3% of the 345,715 active blitz players, and 62.7% are rated 1400 or higher.
The same number ranks differently in each time control because each one has its own pool of players. A 1400 rating ranks highest in rapid (45.7%) and lowest in bullet (30.3%).
| Time control | Higher than | Rated 1400 or higher | Median rating | Active players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 37.3% | 62.7% | 1530 | 345,715 |
| Rapid | 45.7% | 54.3% | 1445 | 201,221 |
| Bullet | 30.3% | 69.7% | 1640 | 169,583 |
| Classical | 31.3% | 68.7% | 1560 | 12,241 |
How far is 1400 from the top 25, 10 and 1 percent?
The top 25 percent of blitz players start at about 1795, the top 10 percent at about 2010 and the top 1 percent at about 2375. From 1400 that is 395 points up, 610 points up and 975 points up.
| Position | Blitz | Rapid | Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 25% | 1795 (395 points up) | 1705 (305 points up) | 1945 (545 points up) |
| Top 10% | 2010 (610 points up) | 1910 (510 points up) | 2200 (800 points up) |
| Top 5% | 2135 (735 points up) | 2025 (625 points up) | 2345 (945 points up) |
| Top 1% | 2375 (975 points up) | 2240 (840 points up) | 2625 (1225 points up) |
How many Lichess players are rated 1400 or higher?
On 1 September 2026, 216,643 blitz accounts, 109,263 rapid accounts and 118,124 bullet accounts were rated 1400 or higher. In the 1400 to 1499 band alone there were 32,656 blitz accounts, 9.4% of the blitz total.
What do the ratings around 1400 look like?
Between 1300 and 1500 the share of blitz players a rating is higher than runs from 28.5% to 46.8%. The ladder below shows 1100 to 1700 in the three largest time controls.
| Rating | Higher than, blitz | Higher than, rapid | Higher than, bullet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | 13.8% | 19.8% | 11.1% |
| 1200 | 20.5% | 27.4% | 16.5% |
| 1300 | 28.5% | 36.3% | 23.1% |
| 1400 | 37.3% | 45.7% | 30.3% |
| 1500 | 46.8% | 55.3% | 38.1% |
| 1600 | 56.8% | 65.2% | 46.4% |
| 1700 | 66.4% | 74.5% | 55.0% |
How can a player rated 1400 improve?
In this range the games that decide a rating are often won by the player who makes fewer mistakes under time pressure, so tactics, a small reliable opening repertoire and basic endgames carry the most. Review your losses to players near your own rating and ask which pattern keeps returning.
A first lesson with George Li starts from your own games and ends with a written study plan.
How were these percentiles measured?
Accounts that played a rated game on 1 September 2026, counted once per time control at the rating after their last game, bots left out. The hub page explains the method in full.
Frequently asked questions
What percent of chess players are rated 1400 or higher?
On 1 September 2026, 62.7% of active Lichess blitz players, 54.3% of rapid players and 69.7% of bullet players were rated 1400 or higher. These are Lichess players only, not all chess players.
Is 1400 a good rating for a beginner?
Lichess starts every new account at 1500 in each category (Lichess FAQ, read 2026-10-20), so 1400 is below the starting rating. In blitz it is higher than 37.3% of active players, which is a better guide than the number alone.
Is a 1400 Lichess rating the same as 1400 on chess.com or in FIDE ratings?
No. Lichess says its ratings cannot be compared with those of other sites or organizations, so this site publishes no conversion.
Sources
- Lichess open database, standard rated games (CC0), file for September 2026, read 2026-10-22
- Lichess FAQ, read 2026-10-20
- Lichess: Chess rating systems, read 2026-10-20
Related guides and tools
- Is a 1100 chess rating good?
- Is a 1200 chess rating good?
- Is a 1300 chess rating good?
- Is a 1500 chess rating good?
- Is a 1600 chess rating good?
- Is a 1700 chess rating good?
- Lichess blitz rating distribution
- Lichess rapid rating distribution
- Lichess bullet rating distribution
- Lichess classical rating distribution
- Average chess rating and a good chess rating
- Chess ratings explained
- How to get a FIDE rating
- Book your first lesson
Last updated 2026-10-22.
Want to know what to work on at your rating?
Start with a first lesson: George reviews your games and builds a written study plan around your level.
Cancel or reschedule a lesson up to 24 hours ahead by replying to the email that set it up, and it stays on your package.