diff --git a/django/db/backends/base/features.py b/django/db/backends/base/features.py
index 74f7829e3f..d5b142383a 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/base/features.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/base/features.py
@@ -250,9 +250,21 @@ class BaseDatabaseFeatures:
     # Convert CharField results from bytes to str in database functions.
     db_functions_convert_bytes_to_str = False
 
+    # What formats does the backend EXPLAIN syntax support?
+    supported_explain_formats = set()
+
+    # Does DatabaseOperations.explain_query_prefix() raise ValueError if
+    # unknown kwargs are passed to QuerySet.explain()?
+    validates_explain_options = True
+
     def __init__(self, connection):
         self.connection = connection
 
+    @cached_property
+    def supports_explaining_query_execution(self):
+        """Does this backend support explaining query execution?"""
+        return self.connection.ops.explain_prefix is not None
+
     @cached_property
     def supports_transactions(self):
         """Confirm support for transactions."""
diff --git a/django/db/backends/base/operations.py b/django/db/backends/base/operations.py
index 465ac70b7b..1fe7fe827c 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/base/operations.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/base/operations.py
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ class BaseDatabaseOperations:
     UNBOUNDED_FOLLOWING = 'UNBOUNDED ' + FOLLOWING
     CURRENT_ROW = 'CURRENT ROW'
 
+    # Prefix for EXPLAIN queries, or None EXPLAIN isn't supported.
+    explain_prefix = None
+
     def __init__(self, connection):
         self.connection = connection
         self._cache = None
@@ -652,3 +655,18 @@ class BaseDatabaseOperations:
 
     def window_frame_range_start_end(self, start=None, end=None):
         return self.window_frame_rows_start_end(start, end)
+
+    def explain_query_prefix(self, format=None, **options):
+        if not self.connection.features.supports_explaining_query_execution:
+            raise NotSupportedError('This backend does not support explaining query execution.')
+        if format:
+            supported_formats = self.connection.features.supported_explain_formats
+            normalized_format = format.upper()
+            if normalized_format not in supported_formats:
+                msg = '%s is not a recognized format.' % normalized_format
+                if supported_formats:
+                    msg += ' Allowed formats: %s' % ', '.join(sorted(supported_formats))
+                raise ValueError(msg)
+        if options:
+            raise ValueError('Unknown options: %s' % ', '.join(sorted(options.keys())))
+        return self.explain_prefix
diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/features.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/features.py
index 691fba49ad..57f4c8ee76 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/features.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/features.py
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ class DatabaseFeatures(BaseDatabaseFeatures):
         END;
     """
     db_functions_convert_bytes_to_str = True
+    # Alias MySQL's TRADITIONAL to TEXT for consistency with other backends.
+    supported_explain_formats = {'JSON', 'TEXT', 'TRADITIONAL'}
 
     @cached_property
     def _mysql_storage_engine(self):
@@ -81,6 +83,11 @@ class DatabaseFeatures(BaseDatabaseFeatures):
     def supports_over_clause(self):
         return self.connection.mysql_version >= (8, 0, 2)
 
+    @cached_property
+    def needs_explain_extended(self):
+        # EXTENDED is deprecated (and not required) in 5.7 and removed in 8.0.
+        return self.connection.mysql_version < (5, 7)
+
     @cached_property
     def supports_transactions(self):
         """
diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/operations.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/operations.py
index 2b85be9c56..e5c0c5c71b 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/operations.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/operations.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
         'PositiveSmallIntegerField': 'unsigned integer',
     }
     cast_char_field_without_max_length = 'char'
+    explain_prefix = 'EXPLAIN'
 
     def date_extract_sql(self, lookup_type, field_name):
         # http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/date-and-time-functions.html
@@ -269,3 +270,15 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
             ) % {'lhs': lhs_sql, 'rhs': rhs_sql}, lhs_params * 2 + rhs_params * 2
         else:
             return "TIMESTAMPDIFF(MICROSECOND, %s, %s)" % (rhs_sql, lhs_sql), rhs_params + lhs_params
+
+    def explain_query_prefix(self, format=None, **options):
+        # Alias MySQL's TRADITIONAL to TEXT for consistency with other backends.
+        if format and format.upper() == 'TEXT':
+            format = 'TRADITIONAL'
+        prefix = super().explain_query_prefix(format, **options)
+        if format:
+            prefix += ' FORMAT=%s' % format
+        if self.connection.features.needs_explain_extended and format is None:
+            # EXTENDED and FORMAT are mutually exclusive options.
+            prefix += ' EXTENDED'
+        return prefix
diff --git a/django/db/backends/postgresql/features.py b/django/db/backends/postgresql/features.py
index a51383df8f..06b0303bac 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/postgresql/features.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/postgresql/features.py
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ class DatabaseFeatures(BaseDatabaseFeatures):
     $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;"""
     supports_over_clause = True
     supports_aggregate_filter_clause = True
+    supported_explain_formats = {'JSON', 'TEXT', 'XML', 'YAML'}
+    validates_explain_options = False  # A query will error on invalid options.
 
     @cached_property
     def is_postgresql_9_5(self):
diff --git a/django/db/backends/postgresql/operations.py b/django/db/backends/postgresql/operations.py
index 6f48cfa228..80a28bce46 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/postgresql/operations.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/postgresql/operations.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.db.backends.base.operations import BaseDatabaseOperations
 
 class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
     cast_char_field_without_max_length = 'varchar'
+    explain_prefix = 'EXPLAIN'
 
     def unification_cast_sql(self, output_field):
         internal_type = output_field.get_internal_type()
@@ -258,3 +259,17 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
                 'and FOLLOWING.'
             )
         return start_, end_
+
+    def explain_query_prefix(self, format=None, **options):
+        prefix = super().explain_query_prefix(format)
+        extra = {}
+        if format:
+            extra['FORMAT'] = format
+        if options:
+            extra.update({
+                name.upper(): 'true' if value else 'false'
+                for name, value in options.items()
+            })
+        if extra:
+            prefix += ' (%s)' % ', '.join('%s %s' % i for i in extra.items())
+        return prefix
diff --git a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/operations.py b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/operations.py
index 10b064d966..ee197d34b4 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/operations.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/operations.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
         'DateField': 'TEXT',
         'DateTimeField': 'TEXT',
     }
+    explain_prefix = 'EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN'
 
     def bulk_batch_size(self, fields, objs):
         """
diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 2db6690c44..1c6c3aae35 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -717,6 +717,9 @@ class QuerySet:
         prefetch_related_objects(self._result_cache, *self._prefetch_related_lookups)
         self._prefetch_done = True
 
+    def explain(self, *, format=None, **options):
+        return self.query.explain(using=self.db, format=format, **options)
+
     ##################################################
     # PUBLIC METHODS THAT RETURN A QUERYSET SUBCLASS #
     ##################################################
diff --git a/django/db/models/sql/compiler.py b/django/db/models/sql/compiler.py
index cb5e3136e2..f5222f21be 100644
--- a/django/db/models/sql/compiler.py
+++ b/django/db/models/sql/compiler.py
@@ -530,6 +530,12 @@ class SQLCompiler:
                     result.append('HAVING %s' % having)
                     params.extend(h_params)
 
+            if self.query.explain_query:
+                result.insert(0, self.connection.ops.explain_query_prefix(
+                    self.query.explain_format,
+                    **self.query.explain_options
+                ))
+
             if order_by:
                 ordering = []
                 for _, (o_sql, o_params, _) in order_by:
@@ -1101,6 +1107,16 @@ class SQLCompiler:
         sql, params = self.as_sql()
         return 'EXISTS (%s)' % sql, params
 
+    def explain_query(self):
+        result = list(self.execute_sql())
+        # Some backends return 1 item tuples with strings, and others return
+        # tuples with integers and strings. Flatten them out into strings.
+        for row in result[0]:
+            if not isinstance(row, str):
+                yield ' '.join(str(c) for c in row)
+            else:
+                yield row
+
 
 class SQLInsertCompiler(SQLCompiler):
     return_id = False
diff --git a/django/db/models/sql/query.py b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
index 3756ecbb5d..995e89564d 100644
--- a/django/db/models/sql/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/sql/query.py
@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@ class Query:
 
         self._filtered_relations = {}
 
+        self.explain_query = False
+        self.explain_format = None
+        self.explain_options = {}
+
     @property
     def extra(self):
         if self._extra is None:
@@ -511,6 +515,14 @@ class Query:
         compiler = q.get_compiler(using=using)
         return compiler.has_results()
 
+    def explain(self, using, format=None, **options):
+        q = self.clone()
+        q.explain_query = True
+        q.explain_format = format
+        q.explain_options = options
+        compiler = q.get_compiler(using=using)
+        return '\n'.join(compiler.explain_query())
+
     def combine(self, rhs, connector):
         """
         Merge the 'rhs' query into the current one (with any 'rhs' effects
diff --git a/docs/ref/models/querysets.txt b/docs/ref/models/querysets.txt
index d623966b3a..b2f430d7bc 100644
--- a/docs/ref/models/querysets.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/models/querysets.txt
@@ -2476,6 +2476,49 @@ Class method that returns an instance of :class:`~django.db.models.Manager`
 with a copy of the ``QuerySet``’s methods. See
 :ref:`create-manager-with-queryset-methods` for more details.
 
+``explain()``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. versionadded:: 2.1
+
+.. method:: explain(format=None, **options)
+
+Returns a string of the ``QuerySet``’s execution plan, which details how the
+database would execute the query, including any indexes or joins that would be
+used. Knowing these details may help you improve the performance of slow
+queries.
+
+For example, when using PostgreSQL::
+
+    >>> print(Blog.objects.filter(title='My Blog').explain())
+    Seq Scan on blog  (cost=0.00..35.50 rows=10 width=12)
+      Filter: (title = 'My Blog'::bpchar)
+
+The output differs significantly between databases.
+
+``explain()`` is supported by all built-in database backends except Oracle
+because an implementation there isn't straightforward.
+
+The ``format`` parameter changes the output format from the databases's default,
+usually text-based. PostgreSQL supports ``'TEXT'``, ``'JSON'``, ``'YAML'``, and
+``'XML'``. MySQL supports ``'TEXT'`` (also called ``'TRADITIONAL'``) and
+``'JSON'``.
+
+Some databases accept flags that can return more information about the query.
+Pass these flags as keyword arguments. For example, when using PostgreSQL::
+
+    >>> print(Blog.objects.filter(title='My Blog').explain(verbose=True))
+    Seq Scan on public.blog  (cost=0.00..35.50 rows=10 width=12) (actual time=0.004..0.004 rows=10 loops=1)
+      Output: id, title
+      Filter: (blog.title = 'My Blog'::bpchar)
+    Planning time: 0.064 ms
+    Execution time: 0.058 ms
+
+On some databases, flags may cause the query to be executed which could have
+adverse effects on your database. For example, PostgreSQL's ``ANALYZE`` flag
+could result in changes to data if there are triggers or if a function is
+called, even for a ``SELECT`` query.
+
 .. _field-lookups:
 
 ``Field`` lookups
diff --git a/docs/releases/2.1.txt b/docs/releases/2.1.txt
index 9044c3cd70..7b65b90b9c 100644
--- a/docs/releases/2.1.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/2.1.txt
@@ -236,6 +236,9 @@ Models
   encouraged instead of :class:`~django.db.models.NullBooleanField`, which will
   likely be deprecated in the future.
 
+* The new :meth:`.QuerySet.explain` method displays the database's execution
+  plan of a queryset's query.
+
 Requests and Responses
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/tests/basic/tests.py b/tests/basic/tests.py
index 1a5e95e9d6..76d92a7591 100644
--- a/tests/basic/tests.py
+++ b/tests/basic/tests.py
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ class ManagerTest(SimpleTestCase):
         'only',
         'using',
         'exists',
+        'explain',
         '_insert',
         '_update',
         'raw',
diff --git a/tests/queries/test_explain.py b/tests/queries/test_explain.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26baf6fb30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/queries/test_explain.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import unittest
+
+from django.db import NotSupportedError, connection, transaction
+from django.db.models import Count
+from django.test import TestCase, skipIfDBFeature, skipUnlessDBFeature
+from django.test.utils import CaptureQueriesContext
+
+from .models import Tag
+
+
+@skipUnlessDBFeature('supports_explaining_query_execution')
+class ExplainTests(TestCase):
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        querysets = [
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test'),
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').select_related('parent'),
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').prefetch_related('children'),
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').annotate(Count('children')),
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').values_list('name'),
+            Tag.objects.order_by().union(Tag.objects.order_by().filter(name='test')),
+            Tag.objects.all().select_for_update().filter(name='test'),
+        ]
+        supported_formats = connection.features.supported_explain_formats
+        all_formats = (None,) + tuple(supported_formats) + tuple(f.lower() for f in supported_formats)
+        for idx, queryset in enumerate(querysets):
+            for format in all_formats:
+                with self.subTest(format=format, queryset=idx):
+                    if connection.vendor == 'mysql':
+                        # This does a query and caches the result.
+                        connection.features.needs_explain_extended
+                    with self.assertNumQueries(1), CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as captured_queries:
+                        result = queryset.explain(format=format)
+                        self.assertTrue(captured_queries[0]['sql'].startswith(connection.ops.explain_prefix))
+                        self.assertIsInstance(result, str)
+                        self.assertTrue(result)
+
+    @skipUnlessDBFeature('validates_explain_options')
+    def test_unknown_options(self):
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(ValueError, 'Unknown options: test, test2'):
+            Tag.objects.all().explain(test=1, test2=1)
+
+    def test_unknown_format(self):
+        msg = 'DOES NOT EXIST is not a recognized format.'
+        if connection.features.supported_explain_formats:
+            msg += ' Allowed formats: %s' % ', '.join(sorted(connection.features.supported_explain_formats))
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(ValueError, msg):
+            Tag.objects.all().explain(format='does not exist')
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'postgresql', 'PostgreSQL specific')
+    def test_postgres_options(self):
+        qs = Tag.objects.filter(name='test')
+        test_options = [
+            {'COSTS': False, 'BUFFERS': True, 'ANALYZE': True},
+            {'costs': False, 'buffers': True, 'analyze': True},
+            {'verbose': True, 'timing': True, 'analyze': True},
+            {'verbose': False, 'timing': False, 'analyze': True},
+        ]
+        if connection.pg_version >= 100000:
+            test_options.append({'summary': True})
+        for options in test_options:
+            with self.subTest(**options), transaction.atomic():
+                with CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as captured_queries:
+                    qs.explain(format='text', **options)
+                self.assertEqual(len(captured_queries), 1)
+                for name, value in options.items():
+                    option = '{} {}'.format(name.upper(), 'true' if value else 'false')
+                    self.assertIn(option, captured_queries[0]['sql'])
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'mysql', 'MySQL specific')
+    def test_mysql_text_to_traditional(self):
+        with CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as captured_queries:
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').explain(format='text')
+        self.assertEqual(len(captured_queries), 1)
+        self.assertIn('FORMAT=TRADITIONAL', captured_queries[0]['sql'])
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'mysql', 'MySQL < 5.7 specific')
+    def test_mysql_extended(self):
+        # Inner skip to avoid module level query for MySQL version.
+        if not connection.features.needs_explain_extended:
+            raise unittest.SkipTest('MySQL < 5.7 specific')
+        qs = Tag.objects.filter(name='test')
+        with CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as captured_queries:
+            qs.explain(format='json')
+        self.assertEqual(len(captured_queries), 1)
+        self.assertNotIn('EXTENDED', captured_queries[0]['sql'])
+        with CaptureQueriesContext(connection) as captured_queries:
+            qs.explain(format='text')
+        self.assertEqual(len(captured_queries), 1)
+        self.assertNotIn('EXTENDED', captured_queries[0]['sql'])
+
+
+@skipIfDBFeature('supports_explaining_query_execution')
+class ExplainUnsupportedTests(TestCase):
+
+    def test_message(self):
+        msg = 'This backend does not support explaining query execution.'
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(NotSupportedError, msg):
+            Tag.objects.filter(name='test').explain()
diff --git a/tests/runtests.py b/tests/runtests.py
index 0302137dbb..c3d5ee427f 100755
--- a/tests/runtests.py
+++ b/tests/runtests.py
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ from django.test.utils import get_runner
 from django.utils.deprecation import RemovedInDjango30Warning
 from django.utils.log import DEFAULT_LOGGING
 
+try:
+    import MySQLdb
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+else:
+    # Ignore informational warnings from QuerySet.explain().
+    warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', '\(1003, *', category=MySQLdb.Warning)
+
 # Make deprecation warnings errors to ensure no usage of deprecated features.
 warnings.simplefilter("error", RemovedInDjango30Warning)
 # Make runtime warning errors to ensure no usage of error prone patterns.