Hydration rate of 35 Japonica and 24 J x Indica rice varieties at $23^{circ}C$ was investigated and an attempt was made for a tentative classification of milled rice into six groups based on hydration rate. Each rice variety had characteristic value for hydration rate. In general, J x Indica rice hydrated at a faster rate than Japonica rice. Hydration rate was negatively correlated with the ratio of length to width of rice grain. No correlation was found between hydration rate and protein, amylose, surface area, volume or initial water grain.