diff --git a/.github/ci.rs b/.github/ci.rs
index 21c8584..c594e89 100644
--- a/.github/ci.rs
+++ b/.github/ci.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ fn try_main() -> Result<()> {
         shell("cargo test --no-default-features --workspace")?;
     }
 
+    {
+        let _s = Section::new("TEST_BENCHES");
+        shell("cargo test --benches --all-features")?;
+    }
+
     let current_branch = shell_output("git branch --show-current")?;
     if &current_branch == "master" {
         let _s = Section::new("PUBLISH");
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index e89e0e8..5dab2af 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,7 +20,16 @@ arbitrary = { version = "1.3", optional = true }
 proptest = "1.5"
 serde_json = "1.0"
 serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
+criterion = "0.7"
+rand = "0.9.2"
 
 [features]
 default = ["std"]
 std = ["serde?/std", "borsh?/std"]
+
+[[bench]]
+name = "bench"
+harness = false
+
+[profile.bench]
+lto = "fat"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ce16759..56296fb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ languages. Strings consisting of a series of newlines, followed by a series of
 whitespace are a typical pattern in computer programs because of indentation.
 Note that a specialized interner might be a better solution for some use cases.
 
+## Benchmarks
+Run criterion benches with
+```sh
+cargo bench --bench \* -- --quick
+```
+
 ## MSRV Policy
 
 Minimal Supported Rust Version: latest stable.
diff --git a/benches/bench.rs b/benches/bench.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2643b02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benches/bench.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+use criterion::{criterion_group, criterion_main, Criterion};
+use rand::distr::{Alphanumeric, SampleString};
+use smol_str::{format_smolstr, SmolStr, StrExt, ToSmolStr};
+use std::hint::black_box;
+
+/// 12: small (inline)
+/// 50: medium (heap)
+/// 1000: large (heap)
+const TEST_LENS: [usize; 3] = [12, 50, 1000];
+
+fn format_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let n = rand::random_range(10000..99999);
+        let str_len = len.checked_sub(n.to_smolstr().len()).unwrap();
+        let str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), str_len);
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("format_smolstr! len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = format_smolstr!("{str}-{n}"));
+            assert_eq!(v, format!("{str}-{n}"));
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn from_str_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len);
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("SmolStr::from len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = SmolStr::from(black_box(&str)));
+            assert_eq!(v, str);
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn clone_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len);
+        let smolstr = SmolStr::new(&str);
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("SmolStr::clone len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = smolstr.clone());
+            assert_eq!(v, str);
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn eq_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len);
+        let smolstr = SmolStr::new(&str);
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("SmolStr::eq len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = false;
+            b.iter(|| v = smolstr == black_box(&str));
+            assert!(v);
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn to_lowercase_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    const END_CHAR: char = 'İ';
+
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        // mostly ascii seq with some non-ascii at the end
+        let mut str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len - END_CHAR.len_utf8());
+        str.push(END_CHAR);
+        let str = str.as_str();
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("to_lowercase_smolstr len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = str.to_lowercase_smolstr());
+            assert_eq!(v, str.to_lowercase());
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn to_ascii_lowercase_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let str = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len);
+        let str = str.as_str();
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("to_ascii_lowercase_smolstr len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = str.to_ascii_lowercase_smolstr());
+            assert_eq!(v, str.to_ascii_lowercase());
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+fn replace_bench(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    for len in TEST_LENS {
+        let s_dash_s = Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len / 2)
+            + "-"
+            + &Alphanumeric.sample_string(&mut rand::rng(), len - 1 - len / 2);
+        let str = s_dash_s.as_str();
+
+        c.bench_function(&format!("replace_smolstr len={len}"), |b| {
+            let mut v = <_>::default();
+            b.iter(|| v = str.replace_smolstr("-", "_"));
+            assert_eq!(v, str.replace("-", "_"));
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+criterion_group!(
+    benches,
+    format_bench,
+    from_str_bench,
+    clone_bench,
+    eq_bench,
+    to_lowercase_bench,
+    to_ascii_lowercase_bench,
+    replace_bench,
+);
+criterion_main!(benches);