diff --git a/_pytest/pytester.py b/_pytest/pytester.py
index 539b7fdfa..835fed385 100644
--- a/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -1077,6 +1077,23 @@ class LineMatcher:
         return lines2
 
     def fnmatch_lines_random(self, lines2):
+        """Check lines exist in the output using ``fnmatch.fnmatch``, in any order.
+
+        The argument is a list of lines which have to occur in the
+        output, in any order.
+        """
+        self._match_lines_random(lines2, fnmatch)
+
+    def re_match_lines_random(self, lines2):
+        """Check lines exist in the output using ``re.match``, in any order.
+
+        The argument is a list of lines which have to occur in the
+        output, in any order.
+
+        """
+        self._match_lines_random(lines2, lambda name, pat: re.match(pat, name))
+
+    def _match_lines_random(self, lines2, match_func):
         """Check lines exist in the output.
 
         The argument is a list of lines which have to occur in the
@@ -1086,7 +1103,7 @@ class LineMatcher:
         lines2 = self._getlines(lines2)
         for line in lines2:
             for x in self.lines:
-                if line == x or fnmatch(x, line):
+                if line == x or match_func(x, line):
                     self._log("matched: ", repr(line))
                     break
             else:
@@ -1111,13 +1128,37 @@ class LineMatcher:
         return '\n'.join(self._log_output)
 
     def fnmatch_lines(self, lines2):
-        """Search the text for matching lines.
+        """Search captured text for matching lines using ``fnmatch.fnmatch``.
 
         The argument is a list of lines which have to match and can
-        use glob wildcards.  If they do not match an pytest.fail() is
+        use glob wildcards.  If they do not match a pytest.fail() is
         called.  The matches and non-matches are also printed on
         stdout.
 
+        """
+        self._match_lines(lines2, fnmatch, 'fnmatch')
+
+    def re_match_lines(self, lines2):
+        """Search captured text for matching lines using ``re.match``.
+
+        The argument is a list of lines which have to match using ``re.match``.
+        If they do not match a pytest.fail() is called.
+
+        The matches and non-matches are also printed on
+        stdout.
+        """
+        self._match_lines(lines2, lambda name, pat: re.match(pat, name), 're.match')
+
+    def _match_lines(self, lines2, match_func, match_nickname):
+        """Underlying implementation of ``fnmatch_lines`` and ``re_match_lines``.
+
+        :param list[str] lines2: list of string patterns to match. The actual format depends on
+            ``match_func``.
+        :param match_func: a callable ``match_func(line, pattern)`` where line is the captured
+            line from stdout/stderr and pattern is the matching pattern.
+
+        :param str match_nickname: the nickname for the match function that will be logged
+            to stdout when a match occurs.
         """
         lines2 = self._getlines(lines2)
         lines1 = self.lines[:]
@@ -1131,8 +1172,8 @@ class LineMatcher:
                 if line == nextline:
                     self._log("exact match:", repr(line))
                     break
-                elif fnmatch(nextline, line):
-                    self._log("fnmatch:", repr(line))
+                elif match_func(nextline, line):
+                    self._log("%s:" % match_nickname, repr(line))
                     self._log("   with:", repr(nextline))
                     break
                 else:
diff --git a/_pytest/terminal.py b/_pytest/terminal.py
index 2b13fe1ea..7a18b94a7 100644
--- a/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
                      choices=['yes', 'no', 'auto'],
                      help="color terminal output (yes/no/auto).")
 
+    parser.addini("console_output_style",
+                  help="console output: classic or with additional progress information (classic|progress).",
+                  default='progress')
+
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
     config.option.verbose -= config.option.quiet
@@ -135,16 +139,20 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         self.showfspath = self.verbosity >= 0
         self.showlongtestinfo = self.verbosity > 0
         self._numcollected = 0
+        self._session = None
 
         self.stats = {}
         self.startdir = py.path.local()
         if file is None:
             file = sys.stdout
         self._writer = _pytest.config.create_terminal_writer(config, file)
+        self._screen_width = self.writer.fullwidth
         self.currentfspath = None
         self.reportchars = getreportopt(config)
         self.hasmarkup = self.writer.hasmarkup
         self.isatty = file.isatty()
+        self._progress_items_reported = 0
+        self._show_progress_info = self.config.getini('console_output_style') == 'progress'
 
     @property
     def writer(self):
@@ -163,6 +171,8 @@ class TerminalReporter:
     def write_fspath_result(self, nodeid, res):
         fspath = self.config.rootdir.join(nodeid.split("::")[0])
         if fspath != self.currentfspath:
+            if self.currentfspath is not None:
+                self._write_progress_information_filling_space()
             self.currentfspath = fspath
             fspath = self.startdir.bestrelpath(fspath)
             self.writer.line()
@@ -177,6 +187,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         if extra:
             self.writer.write(extra, **kwargs)
             self.currentfspath = -2
+            self._write_progress_information_filling_space()
 
     def ensure_newline(self):
         if self.currentfspath:
@@ -203,7 +214,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         """
         erase = markup.pop('erase', False)
         if erase:
-            fill_count = self.writer.fullwidth - len(line)
+            fill_count = self.writer.fullwidth - len(line) - 1
             fill = ' ' * fill_count
         else:
             fill = ''
@@ -256,20 +267,25 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         rep = report
         res = self.config.hook.pytest_report_teststatus(report=rep)
         cat, letter, word = res
+        if isinstance(word, tuple):
+            word, markup = word
+        else:
+            markup = None
         self.stats.setdefault(cat, []).append(rep)
         self._tests_ran = True
         if not letter and not word:
             # probably passed setup/teardown
             return
+        running_xdist = hasattr(rep, 'node')
+        self._progress_items_reported += 1
         if self.verbosity <= 0:
-            if not hasattr(rep, 'node') and self.showfspath:
+            if not running_xdist and self.showfspath:
                 self.write_fspath_result(rep.nodeid, letter)
             else:
                 self.writer.write(letter)
+            self._write_progress_if_past_edge()
         else:
-            if isinstance(word, tuple):
-                word, markup = word
-            else:
+            if markup is None:
                 if rep.passed:
                     markup = {'green': True}
                 elif rep.failed:
@@ -279,17 +295,45 @@ class TerminalReporter:
                 else:
                     markup = {}
             line = self._locationline(rep.nodeid, *rep.location)
-            if not hasattr(rep, 'node'):
+            if not running_xdist:
                 self.write_ensure_prefix(line, word, **markup)
-                # self.writer.write(word, **markup)
             else:
                 self.ensure_newline()
-                if hasattr(rep, 'node'):
-                    self.writer.write("[%s] " % rep.node.gateway.id)
+                self.writer.write("[%s]" % rep.node.gateway.id)
+                if self._show_progress_info:
+                    self.writer.write(self._get_progress_information_message() + " ", cyan=True)
+                else:
+                    self.writer.write(' ')
                 self.writer.write(word, **markup)
                 self.writer.write(" " + line)
                 self.currentfspath = -2
 
+    def _write_progress_if_past_edge(self):
+        if not self._show_progress_info:
+            return
+        last_item = self._progress_items_reported == self._session.testscollected
+        if last_item:
+            self._write_progress_information_filling_space()
+            return
+
+        past_edge = self.writer.chars_on_current_line + self._PROGRESS_LENGTH + 1 >= self._screen_width
+        if past_edge:
+            msg = self._get_progress_information_message()
+            self.writer.write(msg + '\n', cyan=True)
+
+    _PROGRESS_LENGTH = len(' [100%]')
+
+    def _get_progress_information_message(self):
+        progress = self._progress_items_reported * 100 // self._session.testscollected
+        return ' [{:3d}%]'.format(progress)
+
+    def _write_progress_information_filling_space(self):
+        if not self._show_progress_info:
+            return
+        msg = self._get_progress_information_message()
+        fill = ' ' * (self.writer.fullwidth - self.writer.chars_on_current_line - len(msg) - 1)
+        self.write(fill + msg, cyan=True)
+
     def pytest_collection(self):
         if not self.isatty and self.config.option.verbose >= 1:
             self.write("collecting ... ", bold=True)
@@ -332,6 +376,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
 
     @pytest.hookimpl(trylast=True)
     def pytest_sessionstart(self, session):
+        self._session = session
         self._sessionstarttime = time.time()
         if not self.showheader:
             return
diff --git a/changelog/2657.feature b/changelog/2657.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0cc3bfd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/2657.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Now pytest displays the total progress percentage while running tests. The previous output style can be set by setting the new ``console_output_style`` to ``classic``.
diff --git a/doc/en/customize.rst b/doc/en/customize.rst
index 21deb582e..8133704a5 100644
--- a/doc/en/customize.rst
+++ b/doc/en/customize.rst
@@ -312,3 +312,22 @@ Builtin configuration file options
    relative to :ref:`rootdir <rootdir>`. Additionally path may contain environment
    variables, that will be expanded. For more information about cache plugin
    please refer to :ref:`cache_provider`.
+
+
+.. confval:: console_output_style
+
+   .. versionadded:: 3.3
+
+   Sets the console output style while running tests:
+
+   * ``classic``: classic pytest output.
+   * ``progress``: like classic pytest output, but with a progress indicator.
+
+   The default is ``progress``, but you can fallback to ``classic`` if you prefer or
+   the new mode is causing unexpected problems:
+
+   .. code-block:: ini
+
+        # content of pytest.ini
+        [pytest]
+        console_output_style = classic
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d684072ab..f586101ea 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def has_environment_marker_support():
 def main():
     extras_require = {}
     install_requires = [
-        'py>=1.4.33,<1.5',
+        'py>=1.5.0',
         'six>=1.10.0',
         'setuptools',
         'attrs>=17.2.0',
diff --git a/testing/acceptance_test.py b/testing/acceptance_test.py
index 111be956b..48eb60a3f 100644
--- a/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -630,10 +630,10 @@ class TestInvocationVariants(object):
         testdir.chdir()
         assert result.ret == 0
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_hello.py::test_hello*PASSED",
-            "*test_hello.py::test_other*PASSED",
-            "*test_world.py::test_world*PASSED",
-            "*test_world.py::test_other*PASSED",
+            "*test_hello.py::test_hello*PASSED*",
+            "*test_hello.py::test_other*PASSED*",
+            "*test_world.py::test_world*PASSED*",
+            "*test_world.py::test_other*PASSED*",
             "*4 passed*"
         ])
 
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ class TestInvocationVariants(object):
         result = testdir.runpytest("--pyargs", "-v", "ns_pkg.world.test_world::test_other")
         assert result.ret == 0
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_world.py::test_other*PASSED",
+            "*test_world.py::test_other*PASSED*",
             "*1 passed*"
         ])
 
diff --git a/testing/python/fixture.py b/testing/python/fixture.py
index 1a0603a80..b159e8ebb 100644
--- a/testing/python/fixture.py
+++ b/testing/python/fixture.py
@@ -2119,6 +2119,10 @@ class TestFixtureMarker(object):
         assert values == [1, 1, 2, 2]
 
     def test_module_parametrized_ordering(self, testdir):
+        testdir.makeini("""
+            [pytest]
+            console_output_style=classic
+        """)
         testdir.makeconftest("""
             import pytest
 
@@ -2165,6 +2169,10 @@ class TestFixtureMarker(object):
         """)
 
     def test_class_ordering(self, testdir):
+        testdir.makeini("""
+            [pytest]
+            console_output_style=classic
+        """)
         testdir.makeconftest("""
             import pytest
 
diff --git a/testing/python/metafunc.py b/testing/python/metafunc.py
index a8b6d685b..2ffb7bb5d 100644
--- a/testing/python/metafunc.py
+++ b/testing/python/metafunc.py
@@ -960,6 +960,10 @@ class TestMetafuncFunctional(object):
         ])
 
     def test_parametrize_with_ids(self, testdir):
+        testdir.makeini("""
+            [pytest]
+            console_output_style=classic
+        """)
         testdir.makepyfile("""
             import pytest
             def pytest_generate_tests(metafunc):
@@ -1005,9 +1009,9 @@ class TestMetafuncFunctional(object):
         result = testdir.runpytest("-v")
         assert result.ret == 1
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines_random([
-            "*test_function*basic*PASSED",
-            "*test_function*1-1*PASSED",
-            "*test_function*advanced*FAILED",
+            "*test_function*basic*PASSED*",
+            "*test_function*1-1*PASSED*",
+            "*test_function*advanced*FAILED*",
         ])
 
     def test_fixture_parametrized_empty_ids(self, testdir):
@@ -1062,8 +1066,8 @@ class TestMetafuncFunctional(object):
         result = testdir.runpytest("-v")
         assert result.ret == 1
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines_random([
-            "*test_function*a0*PASSED",
-            "*test_function*a1*FAILED"
+            "*test_function*a0*PASSED*",
+            "*test_function*a1*FAILED*"
         ])
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(("scope", "length"),
diff --git a/testing/python/setup_only.py b/testing/python/setup_only.py
index 18af56477..ab34312fc 100644
--- a/testing/python/setup_only.py
+++ b/testing/python/setup_only.py
@@ -238,6 +238,6 @@ def test_show_fixtures_and_execute_test(testdir):
 
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
         '*SETUP    F arg*',
-        '*test_arg (fixtures used: arg)F',
+        '*test_arg (fixtures used: arg)F*',
         '*TEARDOWN F arg*',
     ])
diff --git a/testing/test_assertion.py b/testing/test_assertion.py
index 4cd050d8c..6c1443c30 100644
--- a/testing/test_assertion.py
+++ b/testing/test_assertion.py
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ def test_traceback_failure(testdir):
     """)
     result = testdir.runpytest(p1, "--tb=long")
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-        "*test_traceback_failure.py F",
+        "*test_traceback_failure.py F*",
         "====* FAILURES *====",
         "____*____",
         "",
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ def test_traceback_failure(testdir):
 
     result = testdir.runpytest(p1)  # "auto"
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-        "*test_traceback_failure.py F",
+        "*test_traceback_failure.py F*",
         "====* FAILURES *====",
         "____*____",
         "",
diff --git a/testing/test_capture.py b/testing/test_capture.py
index 3e8162f71..f769a725d 100644
--- a/testing/test_capture.py
+++ b/testing/test_capture.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class TestPerTestCapturing(object):
         """)
         result = testdir.runpytest(p1)
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_capturing_outerr.py .F",
+            "*test_capturing_outerr.py .F*",
             "====* FAILURES *====",
             "____*____",
             "*test_capturing_outerr.py:8: ValueError",
diff --git a/testing/test_terminal.py b/testing/test_terminal.py
index b7c880feb..485a3d8c4 100644
--- a/testing/test_terminal.py
+++ b/testing/test_terminal.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class TestTerminal(object):
             ])
         else:
             result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-                "*test_pass_skip_fail.py .sF"
+                "*test_pass_skip_fail.py .sF*"
             ])
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
             "    def test_func():",
@@ -142,12 +142,12 @@ class TestTerminal(object):
         """)
         result = testdir.runpytest(p2)
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_p2.py .",
+            "*test_p2.py .*",
             "*1 passed*",
         ])
         result = testdir.runpytest("-v", p2)
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_p2.py::TestMore::test_p1* <- *test_p1.py*PASSED",
+            "*test_p2.py::TestMore::test_p1* <- *test_p1.py*PASSED*",
         ])
 
     def test_itemreport_directclasses_not_shown_as_subclasses(self, testdir):
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class TestTerminal(object):
         tr.writer.fullwidth = 10
         tr.write('hello')
         tr.rewrite('hey', erase=True)
-        assert f.getvalue() == 'hello' + '\r' + 'hey' + (7 * ' ')
+        assert f.getvalue() == 'hello' + '\r' + 'hey' + (6 * ' ')
 
 
 class TestCollectonly(object):
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ class TestTerminalFunctional(object):
                                       )
         result = testdir.runpytest("-k", "test_two:", testpath)
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "*test_deselected.py ..",
+            "*test_deselected.py ..*",
             "=* 1 test*deselected *=",
         ])
         assert result.ret == 0
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ class TestTerminalFunctional(object):
         finally:
             old.chdir()
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
-            "test_passes.py ..",
+            "test_passes.py ..*",
             "* 2 pass*",
         ])
         assert result.ret == 0
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ class TestTerminalFunctional(object):
             "platform %s -- Python %s*pytest-%s*py-%s*pluggy-%s" % (
                 py.std.sys.platform, verinfo,
                 pytest.__version__, py.__version__, pluggy.__version__),
-            "*test_header_trailer_info.py .",
+            "*test_header_trailer_info.py .*",
             "=* 1 passed*in *.[0-9][0-9] seconds *=",
         ])
         if pytest.config.pluginmanager.list_plugin_distinfo():
@@ -964,3 +964,58 @@ def test_no_trailing_whitespace_after_inifile_word(testdir):
     testdir.makeini('[pytest]')
     result = testdir.runpytest('')
     assert 'inifile: tox.ini\n' in result.stdout.str()
+
+
+class TestProgress:
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def many_tests_file(self, testdir):
+        testdir.makepyfile(
+            test_bar="""
+                import pytest
+                @pytest.mark.parametrize('i', range(10))
+                def test_bar(i): pass
+            """,
+            test_foo="""
+                import pytest
+                @pytest.mark.parametrize('i', range(5))
+                def test_foo(i): pass
+            """,
+            test_foobar="""
+                import pytest
+                @pytest.mark.parametrize('i', range(5))
+                def test_foobar(i): pass
+            """,
+        )
+
+    def test_normal(self, many_tests_file, testdir):
+        output = testdir.runpytest()
+        output.stdout.re_match_lines([
+            r'test_bar.py \.{10} \s+ \[ 50%\]',
+            r'test_foo.py \.{5} \s+ \[ 75%\]',
+            r'test_foobar.py \.{5} \s+ \[100%\]',
+        ])
+
+    def test_verbose(self, many_tests_file, testdir):
+        output = testdir.runpytest('-v')
+        output.stdout.re_match_lines([
+            r'test_bar.py::test_bar\[0\] PASSED \s+ \[  5%\]',
+            r'test_foo.py::test_foo\[4\] PASSED \s+ \[ 75%\]',
+            r'test_foobar.py::test_foobar\[4\] PASSED \s+ \[100%\]',
+        ])
+
+    def test_xdist_normal(self, many_tests_file, testdir):
+        pytest.importorskip('xdist')
+        output = testdir.runpytest('-n2')
+        output.stdout.re_match_lines([
+            r'\.{20} \s+ \[100%\]',
+        ])
+
+    def test_xdist_verbose(self, many_tests_file, testdir):
+        pytest.importorskip('xdist')
+        output = testdir.runpytest('-n2', '-v')
+        output.stdout.re_match_lines_random([
+            r'\[gw\d\] \[\s*\d+%\] PASSED test_bar.py::test_bar\[1\]',
+            r'\[gw\d\] \[\s*\d+%\] PASSED test_foo.py::test_foo\[1\]',
+            r'\[gw\d\] \[\s*\d+%\] PASSED test_foobar.py::test_foobar\[1\]',
+        ])