diff --git a/benchmarks/simple_benchmarks.py b/benchmarks/simple_benchmarks.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec3e4744
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmarks/simple_benchmarks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+"""Benchmarks for basic operations of a number of flint types.
+
+These benchmarks are written using pyperf, and can be run by 
+
+python benchmarks/simple_benchmarks.py
+
+Since each benchmark is very short ("microbenchmarks"), they may
+require an increased number of samples to produce statistically
+significant results (via the --values flag).
+"""
+
+import pyperf
+from utils import get_all_benchmarks
+
+NUM_EXECUTIONS = 10000000
+
+
+def benchmark_arb_addition(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for adding two arbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="arb addition",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import arb",
+            "a = arb(1, 2)",
+            "b = arb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt="a + b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_arb_multiplication(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for multiplying two arbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="arb multiplication",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import arb",
+            "a = arb(1, 2)",
+            "b = arb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt="a * b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_arb_contains(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for comparing two arbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="arb contains",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import arb",
+            "a = arb(1, 2)",
+            "b = arb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt=[
+            "a in b",
+            "b in a",
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_fmpz_addition(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for adding two fmpzs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpz addition",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpz",
+            "a = fmpz(1)",
+            "b = fmpz(6)",
+        ],
+        stmt="a + b"
+    )
+
+def benchmark_fmpz_multiplication(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for multiplying two fmpzs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpz multiplication",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpz",
+            "a = fmpz(1)",
+            "b = fmpz(6)",
+        ],
+        stmt="a * b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_fmpz_eq(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for equality on two fmpzs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpz equality",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpz",
+            "a = fmpz(1)",
+            "b = fmpz(6)",
+        ],
+        stmt=["a == b", "b == a"]
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_fmpq_addition(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for adding two fmpqs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpq addition",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpq",
+            "a = fmpq(1, 2)",
+            "b = fmpq(15, 7)",
+        ],
+        stmt="a + b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_fmpq_multiplication(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for multiplying two fmpqs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpq multiplication",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpq",
+            "a = fmpq(1, 2)",
+            "b = fmpq(15, 7)",
+        ],
+        stmt="a * b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_fmpq_eq(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for equality on two fmpqs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="fmpq equality",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import fmpq",
+            "a = fmpq(1, 2)",
+            "b = fmpq(15, 7)",
+        ],
+        stmt=["a == b", "b == a"]
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_acb_addition(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for adding two acbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="acb addition",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import acb",
+            "a = acb(1 + 3j)",
+            "b = acb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt="a + b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_acb_multiplication(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for multiplying two acbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="acb multiplication",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import acb",
+            "a = acb(1 + 3j)",
+            "b = acb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt="a * b"
+    )
+
+
+def benchmark_acb_eq(runner: pyperf.Runner):
+    """Simple benchmark for containment on two acbs."""
+    runner.timeit(
+        name="acb contains",
+        setup=[
+            "from flint import acb",
+            "a = acb(1 + 3j)",
+            "b = acb.pi()",
+        ],
+        stmt=["a in b", "b in a"]
+    )
+
+def main():
+    """Run all the benchmarks."""
+    runner = pyperf.Runner()
+    benchmarks = get_all_benchmarks(__name__)
+    for benchmark in benchmarks:
+        benchmark(runner)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/benchmarks/utils.py b/benchmarks/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d01282b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmarks/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+"""Utility functions for benchmarking."""
+
+import inspect
+import sys
+
+
+def get_all_benchmarks(modulename):
+    """Returns a list of all functions in the current module named 'benchmark_*'."""
+    return [
+        obj
+        for name, obj in inspect.getmembers(sys.modules[modulename])
+        if inspect.isfunction(obj) and name.startswith("benchmark_")
+    ]