What’s a Good USCF Rating? A Look at the Real Numbers

If you’ve ever wondered how your USCF rating compares to other players, you’re not alone. One of the most common questions from new chess players is:

“Is my rating good?”

To answer that, let’s look at real data from the United States Chess Federation (USCF). We’ll break down how ratings are distributed across all players, and help you figure out where you stand.

This data comes from official USCF records as of November 2004. While the numbers have changed slightly over time, the general picture is still very accurate.

What Is the Average USCF Rating?

Let’s start with the averages:

Group	Average USCF Regular Rating
All players	1,068
Non-scholastic (adults)	1,198
Scholastic (mostly kids)	668

Most kids start lower and climb as they improve. Adult players usually start stronger or stay in the 1000–1400 range for longer.

So if you’re a beginner adult and your rating is around 1000 to 1200, you’re right on track.

How Ratings Are Grouped

USCF ratings are divided into classes. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Class	Rating Range
Senior Master	2400+
Master	2200–2399
Expert	2000–2199
Class A	1800–1999
Class B	1600–1799
Class C	1400–1599
Class D	1200–1399
Class E	1000–1199
Class F	800–999
Class G	600–799
Class H	400–599
Class I	200–399
Class J	0–199

Each “class” contains thousands of players.

How Many Players Are at Each Level?

Let’s look at the USCF Regular Rating Distribution for all players:

Rating Range	Title/Class	Players	Percentile
2200+	Master	691	Top 1%
2000–2199	Expert	2,299	Top 4%
1800–1999	Class A	4,589	Top 9%
1600–1799	Class B	6,463	Top 17%
1400–1599	Class C	6,968	Top 27%
1200–1399	Class D	6,292	Top 38%
1000–1199	Class E	5,994	Top 53%
800–999	Class F	6,858	Top 65%
600–799	Class G	7,775	Top 78%
400–599	Class H	7,327	Top 88%
200–399	Class I	5,689	Top 95%
0–199	Class J	3,979	Bottom 6%

Most players fall between 600 and 1400, especially beginners and casual players.

If you’re rated above 1600, you’re already in the top 20% of all USCF members. And once you hit 2000+, you’re in rare territory.

Kids vs. Adults: What’s the Difference?

It’s important to know that scholastic ratings are usually lower because kids are just starting out.

• The average scholastic rating is 668
• The average adult rating is 1198

If you’re an adult playing against a 9-year-old rated 1000, don’t underestimate them. Many young players improve fast and may be underrated.

What About Quick Ratings?

USCF also tracks Quick Ratings (faster time controls). The average Quick Rating is:

Group	Average Quick Rating
All Players	977
Adults	1097
Scholastic	675

These are usually a bit lower than regular ratings because fast games are more chaotic and lead to more mistakes.

So… What’s a “Good” Rating?

Here’s one way to think about it:

Rating	What It Means
1200	You understand the basics and can hold your own
1400–1600	You’re above average and improving
1800+	You’re serious about chess and strong
2000+	You’re an expert and likely to coach or compete regularly
2200+	You’re a master, less than 1% reach this level

If you’re a beginner, don’t worry about your rating at first. It’s just a number that will change as you learn and play more.

Final Thoughts

• Your rating tells you how you’re doing, not who you are
• Most USCF players are rated under 1400
• It takes time to move up, and that’s okay

If you’re rated between 1000 and 1600, you’re in the most active group of players in the US.

Play often, keep learning, and don’t chase numbers. Improvement comes naturally with time.

Want to Learn More?

👉 Check out our full guide: What Is a USCF Chess Rating?

Or if you’re brand new:
👉 How to Get a USCF Chess Rating (Even If You’re a Total Beginner)

USCF Regular Rating Distribution (Nov 1, 2004)

Rating Class	Rating Range	All Members	Percentile
Senior Master	2800–2899	1	100.00%
Senior Master	2700–2799	13	100.00%
Senior Master	2600–2699	66	99.98%
Senior Master	2500–2599	87	99.88%
Senior Master	2400–2499	133	99.74%
Master	2300–2399	231	99.54%
Master	2200–2299	691	99.19%
Expert	2100–2199	783	98.13%
Expert	2000–2099	1,516	96.94%
Class A	1900–1999	1,907	94.62%
Class A	1800–1899	2,682	91.71%
Class B	1700–1799	3,026	87.61%
Class B	1600–1699	3,437	82.99%
Class C	1500–1599	3,582	77.74%
Class C	1400–1499	3,386	72.26%
Class D	1300–1399	3,139	67.09%
Class D	1200–1299	3,153	62.29%
Class E	1100–1199	2,973	57.48%
Class E	1000–1099	3,021	52.94%
Class F	900–999	3,338	48.32%
Class F	800–899	3,520	43.22%
Class G	700–799	3,829	37.84%
Class G	600–699	3,946	31.99%
Class H	500–599	3,783	25.96%
Class H	400–499	3,544	20.18%
Class I	300–399	3,142	14.77%
Class I	200–299	2,547	9.97%
Class J	0–199	3,979	6.08%