diff --git a/pytools/debug.py b/pytools/debug.py
index 08fbaa3354bed837763fd50a67b323d07f102a53..94490aa77150fe81def8593b9b4c6db9771df497 100644
--- a/pytools/debug.py
+++ b/pytools/debug.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function
+import sys
 
 import six
 from six.moves import input
+
 from pytools import memoize
 
 
@@ -216,4 +218,27 @@ def shell(locals_=None, globals_=None):
 
 # }}}
 
+
+# {{{ estimate memory usage
+
+def estimate_memory_usage(root, seen_ids=None):
+    if seen_ids is None:
+        seen_ids = set()
+
+    id_root = id(root)
+    if id_root in seen_ids:
+        return 0
+
+    seen_ids.add(id_root)
+
+    result = sys.getsizeof(root)
+
+    from gc import get_referents
+    for ref in get_referents(root):
+        result += estimate_memory_usage(ref, seen_ids=seen_ids)
+
+    return result
+
+# }}}
+
 # vim: foldmethod=marker