diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index afa2336..9cb382e 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ extras_require = {
         'docutils>=0.10',
         'flexmock>=0.9.7',
         'psycopg2>=2.4.6',
+        'pymysql'
     ],
     'anyjson': ['anyjson>=0.3.3'],
     'babel': ['Babel>=1.3'],
diff --git a/sqlalchemy_utils/__init__.py b/sqlalchemy_utils/__init__.py
index dcc636d..7911b77 100644
--- a/sqlalchemy_utils/__init__.py
+++ b/sqlalchemy_utils/__init__.py
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ from .functions import (
     mock_engine,
     sort_query,
     table_name,
-    with_backrefs
+    with_backrefs,
+    database_exists,
+    create_database,
+    drop_database
 )
 from .listeners import coercion_listener
 from .merge import merge, Merger
@@ -96,4 +99,7 @@ __all__ = (
     TimezoneType,
     TSVectorType,
     UUIDType,
+    database_exists,
+    create_database,
+    drop_database
 )
diff --git a/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/__init__.py b/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/__init__.py
index 0ac53be..9cce2a0 100644
--- a/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/__init__.py
+++ b/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/__init__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from .defer_except import defer_except
 from .mock import create_mock_engine, mock_engine
 from .render import render_expression, render_statement
 from .sort_query import sort_query, QuerySorterException
+from .database import database_exists, create_database, drop_database
 
 
 __all__ = (
@@ -18,7 +19,10 @@ __all__ = (
     render_statement,
     with_backrefs,
     CompositePath,
-    QuerySorterException
+    QuerySorterException,
+    database_exists,
+    create_database,
+    drop_database
 )
 
 
diff --git a/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/database.py b/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/database.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be2ebe6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlalchemy_utils/functions/database.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+from sqlalchemy.engine.url import make_url
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.exc import ProgrammingError
+import os
+
+
+def database_exists(url):
+    """Check if a database exists.
+    """
+
+    url = make_url(url)
+    database = url.database
+    url.database = None
+
+    engine = sa.create_engine(url)
+
+    if engine.dialect.name == 'postgres':
+        text = "SELECT 1 FROM pg_database WHERE datname='%s'" % database
+        return bool(engine.execute(text).scalar())
+
+    elif engine.dialect.name == 'mysql':
+        text = ("SELECT SCHEMA_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.SCHEMATA "
+                "WHERE SCHEMA_NAME = '%s'" % database)
+        return bool(engine.execute(text).scalar())
+
+    elif engine.dialect.name == 'sqlite':
+        return database == ':memory:' or os.path.exists(database)
+
+    else:
+        text = 'SELECT 1'
+        try:
+            url.database = database
+            engine = sa.create_engine(url)
+            engine.execute(text)
+            return True
+
+        except ProgrammingError:
+            return False
+
+
+def create_database(url, encoding='utf8'):
+    """Issue the appropriate CREATE DATABASE statement.
+    """
+
+    url = make_url(url)
+
+    database = url.database
+    if not url.drivername.startswith('sqlite'):
+        url.database = None
+
+    engine = sa.create_engine(url)
+
+    if engine.dialect.name == 'postgres':
+        text = "CREATE DATABASE %s ENCODING = '%s'" % (database, encoding)
+        engine.execute(text)
+
+    elif engine.dialect.name == 'mysql':
+        text = "CREATE DATABASE %s CHARACTER SET = '%s'" % (database, encoding)
+        engine.execute(text)
+
+    elif engine.dialect.name == 'sqlite' and database != ':memory:':
+        open(database, 'w').close()
+
+    else:
+        text = "CREATE DATABASE %s" % database
+        engine.execute(text)
+
+
+def drop_database(url):
+    """Issue the appropriate DROP DATABASE statement.
+    """
+
+    url = make_url(url)
+
+    database = url.database
+    if not url.drivername.startswith('sqlite'):
+        url.database = None
+
+    engine = sa.create_engine(url)
+
+    if engine.dialect.name == 'sqlite' and url.database != ':memory:':
+        os.remove(url.database)
+
+    else:
+        text = "DROP DATABASE %s" % database
+        engine.execute(text)
diff --git a/tests/functions/__init__.py b/tests/functions/__init__.py
index e69de29..ad6e251 100644
--- a/tests/functions/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/functions/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from tests import TestCase
+from sqlalchemy_utils.functions import (
+    render_statement,
+    render_expression,
+    mock_engine
+)
diff --git a/tests/functions/test_database.py b/tests/functions/test_database.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34559b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functions/test_database.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+import os
+from tests import TestCase
+from sqlalchemy_utils import (
+    create_database,
+    drop_database,
+    database_exists,
+)
+
+
+class DatabaseTest(TestCase):
+
+    def test_create_and_drop(self):
+        assert not database_exists(self.url)
+        create_database(self.url)
+        assert database_exists(self.url)
+        drop_database(self.url)
+        assert not database_exists(self.url)
+
+
+class TestDatabaseSQLite(DatabaseTest):
+
+    url = 'sqlite:///sqlalchemy_utils.db'
+
+    def setup(self):
+        if os.path.exists('sqlalchemy_utils.db'):
+            os.remove('sqlalchemy_utils.db')
+
+    def test_exists_memory(self):
+        assert database_exists('sqlite:///:memory:')
+
+
+class TestDatabaseMySQL(DatabaseTest):
+    url = 'mysql+pymysql://travis@localhost/db_test_sqlalchemy_util'
+
+
+class TestDatabasePostgres(DatabaseTest):
+    url = 'postgres://postgres@localhost/db_test_sqlalchemy_util'