Is a 1500 chess rating good?
A 1500 rating is higher than 46.8% of active Lichess blitz players, 55.3% of rapid players and 38.1% 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 1500 rating good in blitz, rapid and bullet?
In blitz a 1500 rating sits close to the middle: it is higher than 46.8% of the 345,715 active blitz players, and 53.2% are rated 1500 or higher.
The same number ranks differently in each time control because each one has its own pool of players. A 1500 rating ranks highest in rapid (55.3%) and lowest in bullet (38.1%).
| Time control | Higher than | Rated 1500 or higher | Median rating | Active players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 46.8% | 53.2% | 1530 | 345,715 |
| Rapid | 55.3% | 44.7% | 1445 | 201,221 |
| Bullet | 38.1% | 61.9% | 1640 | 169,583 |
| Classical | 42.2% | 57.8% | 1560 | 12,241 |
How far is 1500 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 1500 that is 295 points up, 510 points up and 875 points up.
| Position | Blitz | Rapid | Bullet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 25% | 1795 (295 points up) | 1705 (205 points up) | 1945 (445 points up) |
| Top 10% | 2010 (510 points up) | 1910 (410 points up) | 2200 (700 points up) |
| Top 5% | 2135 (635 points up) | 2025 (525 points up) | 2345 (845 points up) |
| Top 1% | 2375 (875 points up) | 2240 (740 points up) | 2625 (1125 points up) |
How many Lichess players are rated 1500 or higher?
On 1 September 2026, 183,987 blitz accounts, 90,012 rapid accounts and 104,991 bullet accounts were rated 1500 or higher. In the 1500 to 1599 band alone there were 34,493 blitz accounts, 10.0% of the blitz total.
What do the ratings around 1500 look like?
Between 1400 and 1600 the share of blitz players a rating is higher than runs from 37.3% to 56.8%. The ladder below shows 1200 to 1800 in the three largest time controls.
| Rating | Higher than, blitz | Higher than, rapid | Higher than, bullet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 1800 | 75.4% | 82.8% | 63.4% |
How can a player rated 1500 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 1500 or higher?
On 1 September 2026, 53.2% of active Lichess blitz players, 44.7% of rapid players and 61.9% of bullet players were rated 1500 or higher. These are Lichess players only, not all chess players.
Is 1500 a good rating for a beginner?
Lichess starts every new account at 1500 in each category (Lichess FAQ, read 2026-10-20), so 1500 is at the starting rating. In blitz it is higher than 46.8% of active players, which is a better guide than the number alone.
Is a 1500 Lichess rating the same as 1500 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 1200 chess rating good?
- Is a 1300 chess rating good?
- Is a 1400 chess rating good?
- Is a 1600 chess rating good?
- Is a 1700 chess rating good?
- Is a 1800 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.