diff --git a/benches/bench.py b/benches/bench.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a046a408
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benches/bench.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import subprocess;
+from time import time;
+from sys import exit;
+from os.path import isfile;
+
+results = [];
+
+filename = "bench.png"
+if not isfile(filename):
+    print("Invalid file");
+    exit(1);
+for opt_level in range(1, 7):
+    start_time = time();
+    command = subprocess.Popen(["oxipng", "-o", str(opt_level), "-q", "--stdout", filename], stdout=subprocess.PIPE);
+    size = len(command.communicate()[0]);
+    result_time = time()-start_time;
+    results.append({"program": "oxipng", "opt_level": opt_level, "time": result_time, "size": size});
+
+for result in results:
+    print("%s -o%s: \n Time: %ss \n Size: %s bytes" % (result["program"], result["opt_level"], result["time"], result["size"]));