diff --git a/doc/source/whatsnew/v0.25.0.rst b/doc/source/whatsnew/v0.25.0.rst
index 73eb6a15a1b47..ce31f54ec6256 100644
--- a/doc/source/whatsnew/v0.25.0.rst
+++ b/doc/source/whatsnew/v0.25.0.rst
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ Performance Improvements
 - Improved performance of :meth:`Series.searchsorted`. The speedup is especially large when the dtype is
   int8/int16/int32 and the searched key is within the integer bounds for the dtype (:issue:`22034`)
 - Improved performance of :meth:`pandas.core.groupby.GroupBy.quantile` (:issue:`20405`)
-
+- Improved performance of :meth:`read_csv` by faster tokenizing and faster parsing of small float numbers (:issue:`25784`)
 
 .. _whatsnew_0250.bug_fixes:
 
diff --git a/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.c b/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.c
index 6acf3c3de0c91..1117e75aa2583 100644
--- a/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.c
+++ b/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void coliter_setup(coliter_t *self, parser_t *parser, int i, int start) {
     self->line_start = parser->line_start + start;
 }
 
-coliter_t *coliter_new(parser_t *self, int i) {
+coliter_t *coliter_new(register parser_t *self, int i) {
     // column i, starting at 0
     coliter_t *iter = (coliter_t *)malloc(sizeof(coliter_t));
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static void *grow_buffer(void *buffer, int64_t length, int64_t *capacity,
     return newbuffer;
 }
 
-void parser_set_default_options(parser_t *self) {
+void parser_set_default_options(register parser_t *self) {
     self->decimal = '.';
     self->sci = 'E';
 
@@ -131,11 +131,11 @@ void parser_set_default_options(parser_t *self) {
     self->skip_footer = 0;
 }
 
-int get_parser_memory_footprint(parser_t *self) { return 0; }
+int get_parser_memory_footprint(register parser_t *self) { return 0; }
 
 parser_t *parser_new() { return (parser_t *)calloc(1, sizeof(parser_t)); }
 
-int parser_clear_data_buffers(parser_t *self) {
+int parser_clear_data_buffers(register parser_t *self) {
     free_if_not_null((void *)&self->stream);
     free_if_not_null((void *)&self->words);
     free_if_not_null((void *)&self->word_starts);
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ int parser_clear_data_buffers(parser_t *self) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-int parser_cleanup(parser_t *self) {
+int parser_cleanup(register parser_t *self) {
     int status = 0;
 
     // XXX where to put this
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ int parser_cleanup(parser_t *self) {
     return status;
 }
 
-int parser_init(parser_t *self) {
+int parser_init(register parser_t *self) {
     int64_t sz;
 
     /*
@@ -240,16 +240,16 @@ int parser_init(parser_t *self) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-void parser_free(parser_t *self) {
+void parser_free(register parser_t *self) {
     // opposite of parser_init
     parser_cleanup(self);
 }
 
-void parser_del(parser_t *self) {
+void parser_del(register parser_t *self) {
     free(self);
 }
 
-static int make_stream_space(parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
+static int make_stream_space(register parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
     int64_t i, cap, length;
     int status;
     void *orig_ptr, *newptr;
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ static int make_stream_space(parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int push_char(parser_t *self, char c) {
+static int push_char(register parser_t *self, char c) {
     TRACE(("push_char: self->stream[%zu] = %x, stream_cap=%zu\n",
            self->stream_len + 1, c, self->stream_cap))
     if (self->stream_len >= self->stream_cap) {
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static int push_char(parser_t *self, char c) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-int PANDAS_INLINE end_field(parser_t *self) {
+int PANDAS_INLINE end_field(register parser_t *self) {
     // XXX cruft
     if (self->words_len >= self->words_cap) {
         TRACE(
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ int PANDAS_INLINE end_field(parser_t *self) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static void append_warning(parser_t *self, const char *msg) {
+static void append_warning(register parser_t *self, const char *msg) {
     int64_t ex_length;
     int64_t length = strlen(msg);
     void *newptr;
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ static void append_warning(parser_t *self, const char *msg) {
     }
 }
 
-static int end_line(parser_t *self) {
+static int end_line(register parser_t *self) {
     char *msg;
     int64_t fields;
     int ex_fields = self->expected_fields;
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ static int end_line(parser_t *self) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-int parser_add_skiprow(parser_t *self, int64_t row) {
+int parser_add_skiprow(register parser_t *self, int64_t row) {
     khiter_t k;
     kh_int64_t *set;
     int ret = 0;
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ int parser_add_skiprow(parser_t *self, int64_t row) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-int parser_set_skipfirstnrows(parser_t *self, int64_t nrows) {
+int parser_set_skipfirstnrows(register parser_t *self, int64_t nrows) {
     // self->file_lines is zero based so subtract 1 from nrows
     if (nrows > 0) {
         self->skip_first_N_rows = nrows - 1;
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ int parser_set_skipfirstnrows(parser_t *self, int64_t nrows) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int parser_buffer_bytes(parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
+static int parser_buffer_bytes(register parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
     int status;
     size_t bytes_read;
 
@@ -677,18 +677,16 @@ static int parser_buffer_bytes(parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
 #define IS_WHITESPACE(c) ((c == ' ' || c == '\t'))
 
 #define IS_TERMINATOR(c)                            \
-    ((self->lineterminator == '\0' && c == '\n') || \
-     (self->lineterminator != '\0' && c == self->lineterminator))
+    (c == line_terminator)
 
 #define IS_QUOTE(c) ((c == self->quotechar && self->quoting != QUOTE_NONE))
 
 // don't parse '\r' with a custom line terminator
-#define IS_CARRIAGE(c) ((self->lineterminator == '\0' && c == '\r'))
+#define IS_CARRIAGE(c) (c == carriage_symbol)
 
-#define IS_COMMENT_CHAR(c) \
-    ((self->commentchar != '\0' && c == self->commentchar))
+#define IS_COMMENT_CHAR(c) (c == comment_symbol)
 
-#define IS_ESCAPE_CHAR(c) ((self->escapechar != '\0' && c == self->escapechar))
+#define IS_ESCAPE_CHAR(c) (c == escape_symbol)
 
 #define IS_SKIPPABLE_SPACE(c) \
     ((!self->delim_whitespace && c == ' ' && self->skipinitialspace))
@@ -710,7 +708,7 @@ static int parser_buffer_bytes(parser_t *self, size_t nbytes) {
         self->datapos += 3;                                               \
     }
 
-int skip_this_line(parser_t *self, int64_t rownum) {
+int skip_this_line(register parser_t *self, int64_t rownum) {
     int should_skip;
     PyObject *result;
     PyGILState_STATE state;
@@ -739,13 +737,25 @@ int skip_this_line(parser_t *self, int64_t rownum) {
     }
 }
 
-int tokenize_bytes(parser_t *self, size_t line_limit, int64_t start_lines) {
+int tokenize_bytes(register parser_t *self,
+                   size_t line_limit, int64_t start_lines) {
     int64_t i, slen;
     int should_skip;
     char c;
     char *stream;
     char *buf = self->data + self->datapos;
 
+    const char line_terminator = (self->lineterminator == '\0') ?
+            '\n' : self->lineterminator;
+
+    // 1000 is something that couldn't fit in "char"
+    // thus comparing a char to it would always be "false"
+    const int carriage_symbol = (self->lineterminator == '\0') ? '\r' : 1000;
+    const int comment_symbol = (self->commentchar != '\0') ?
+            self->commentchar : 1000;
+    const int escape_symbol = (self->escapechar != '\0') ?
+            self->escapechar : 1000;
+
     if (make_stream_space(self, self->datalen - self->datapos) < 0) {
         int64_t bufsize = 100;
         self->error_msg = (char *)malloc(bufsize);
@@ -1149,7 +1159,7 @@ int tokenize_bytes(parser_t *self, size_t line_limit, int64_t start_lines) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int parser_handle_eof(parser_t *self) {
+static int parser_handle_eof(register parser_t *self) {
     int64_t bufsize = 100;
 
     TRACE(
@@ -1194,7 +1204,7 @@ static int parser_handle_eof(parser_t *self) {
         return 0;
 }
 
-int parser_consume_rows(parser_t *self, size_t nrows) {
+int parser_consume_rows(register parser_t *self, size_t nrows) {
     int64_t i, offset, word_deletions, char_count;
 
     if (nrows > self->lines) {
@@ -1250,7 +1260,7 @@ static size_t _next_pow2(size_t sz) {
     return result;
 }
 
-int parser_trim_buffers(parser_t *self) {
+int parser_trim_buffers(register parser_t *self) {
     /*
       Free memory
      */
@@ -1353,7 +1363,7 @@ int parser_trim_buffers(parser_t *self) {
   all : tokenize all the data vs. certain number of rows
  */
 
-int _tokenize_helper(parser_t *self, size_t nrows, int all) {
+int _tokenize_helper(register parser_t *self, size_t nrows, int all) {
     int status = 0;
     int64_t start_lines = self->lines;
 
@@ -1402,12 +1412,12 @@ int _tokenize_helper(parser_t *self, size_t nrows, int all) {
     return status;
 }
 
-int tokenize_nrows(parser_t *self, size_t nrows) {
+int tokenize_nrows(register parser_t *self, size_t nrows) {
     int status = _tokenize_helper(self, nrows, 0);
     return status;
 }
 
-int tokenize_all_rows(parser_t *self) {
+int tokenize_all_rows(register parser_t *self) {
     int status = _tokenize_helper(self, -1, 1);
     return status;
 }
@@ -1529,9 +1539,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 // * Add tsep argument for thousands separator
 //
 
+// pessimistic but quick assessment,
+// assuming that each decimal digit requires 4 bits to store
+const int max_int_decimal_digits = (sizeof(unsigned int) * 8) / 4;
+
 double xstrtod(const char *str, char **endptr, char decimal, char sci,
                char tsep, int skip_trailing) {
     double number;
+    unsigned int i_number = 0;
     int exponent;
     int negative;
     char *p = (char *)str;
@@ -1554,19 +1569,30 @@ double xstrtod(const char *str, char **endptr, char decimal, char sci,
             p++;
     }
 
-    number = 0.;
     exponent = 0;
     num_digits = 0;
     num_decimals = 0;
 
     // Process string of digits.
-    while (isdigit_ascii(*p)) {
-        number = number * 10. + (*p - '0');
+    while (isdigit_ascii(*p) && num_digits <= max_int_decimal_digits) {
+        i_number = i_number * 10 + (*p - '0');
         p++;
         num_digits++;
 
         p += (tsep != '\0' && *p == tsep);
     }
+    number = i_number;
+
+    if (num_digits > max_int_decimal_digits) {
+        // process what's left as double
+        while (isdigit_ascii(*p)) {
+            number = number * 10. + (*p - '0');
+            p++;
+            num_digits++;
+
+            p += (tsep != '\0' && *p == tsep);
+        }
+    }
 
     // Process decimal part.
     if (*p == decimal) {
diff --git a/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.h b/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.h
index ce9dd39b16222..7a0c8b536d122 100644
--- a/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.h
+++ b/pandas/_libs/src/parser/tokenizer.h
@@ -212,35 +212,35 @@ typedef struct coliter_t {
 } coliter_t;
 
 void coliter_setup(coliter_t *self, parser_t *parser, int i, int start);
-coliter_t *coliter_new(parser_t *self, int i);
+coliter_t *coliter_new(register parser_t *self, int i);
 
-#define COLITER_NEXT(iter, word)                          \
-    do {                                                  \
-        const int64_t i = *iter.line_start++ + iter.col;      \
-        word = i < *iter.line_start ? iter.words[i] : ""; \
+#define COLITER_NEXT(iter, word)                           \
+    do {                                                   \
+        const int64_t i = *iter.line_start++ + iter.col;   \
+        word = i >= *iter.line_start ? "" : iter.words[i]; \
     } while (0)
 
 parser_t *parser_new(void);
 
-int parser_init(parser_t *self);
+int parser_init(register parser_t *self);
 
-int parser_consume_rows(parser_t *self, size_t nrows);
+int parser_consume_rows(register parser_t *self, size_t nrows);
 
-int parser_trim_buffers(parser_t *self);
+int parser_trim_buffers(register parser_t *self);
 
-int parser_add_skiprow(parser_t *self, int64_t row);
+int parser_add_skiprow(register parser_t *self, int64_t row);
 
-int parser_set_skipfirstnrows(parser_t *self, int64_t nrows);
+int parser_set_skipfirstnrows(register parser_t *self, int64_t nrows);
 
-void parser_free(parser_t *self);
+void parser_free(register parser_t *self);
 
-void parser_del(parser_t *self);
+void parser_del(register parser_t *self);
 
-void parser_set_default_options(parser_t *self);
+void parser_set_default_options(register parser_t *self);
 
-int tokenize_nrows(parser_t *self, size_t nrows);
+int tokenize_nrows(register parser_t *self, size_t nrows);
 
-int tokenize_all_rows(parser_t *self);
+int tokenize_all_rows(register parser_t *self);
 
 // Have parsed / type-converted a chunk of data
 // and want to free memory from the token stream