diff --git a/tonic/src/metadata/map.rs b/tonic/src/metadata/map.rs
index 8ddccf194..cbef3e101 100644
--- a/tonic/src/metadata/map.rs
+++ b/tonic/src/metadata/map.rs
@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@ pub struct OccupiedEntry<'a, VE: ValueEncoding> {
     phantom: PhantomData<VE>,
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "transport")]
 pub(crate) const GRPC_TIMEOUT_HEADER: &str = "grpc-timeout";
 
 // ===== impl MetadataMap =====
diff --git a/tonic/src/metadata/mod.rs b/tonic/src/metadata/mod.rs
index 50bfb49e4..4e796748f 100644
--- a/tonic/src/metadata/mod.rs
+++ b/tonic/src/metadata/mod.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ pub use self::value::AsciiMetadataValue;
 pub use self::value::BinaryMetadataValue;
 pub use self::value::MetadataValue;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "transport")]
 pub(crate) use self::map::GRPC_TIMEOUT_HEADER;
 
 /// The metadata::errors module contains types for errors that can occur
diff --git a/tonic/src/request.rs b/tonic/src/request.rs
index f2f047ffc..7d8f80260 100644
--- a/tonic/src/request.rs
+++ b/tonic/src/request.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-use crate::metadata::MetadataMap;
+use crate::metadata::{MetadataMap, MetadataValue};
 #[cfg(feature = "transport")]
 use crate::transport::Certificate;
 use futures_core::Stream;
 use http::Extensions;
-use std::net::SocketAddr;
 #[cfg(feature = "transport")]
 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{net::SocketAddr, time::Duration};
 
 /// A gRPC request and metadata from an RPC call.
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -221,6 +221,39 @@ impl<T> Request<T> {
     pub(crate) fn get<I: Send + Sync + 'static>(&self) -> Option<&I> {
         self.extensions.get::<I>()
     }
+
+    /// Set the max duration the request is allowed to take.
+    ///
+    /// Requires the server to support the `grpc-timeout` metadata, which Tonic does.
+    ///
+    /// The duration will be formatted according to [the spec] and use the most precise unit
+    /// possible.
+    ///
+    /// Example:
+    ///
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use std::time::Duration;
+    /// use tonic::Request;
+    ///
+    /// let mut request = Request::new(());
+    ///
+    /// request.set_timeout(Duration::from_secs(30));
+    ///
+    /// let value = request.metadata().get("grpc-timeout").unwrap();
+    ///
+    /// assert_eq!(
+    ///     value,
+    ///     // equivalent to 30 seconds
+    ///     "30000000u"
+    /// );
+    /// ```
+    ///
+    /// [the spec]: https://github.com/grpc/grpc/blob/master/doc/PROTOCOL-HTTP2.md
+    pub fn set_timeout(&mut self, deadline: Duration) {
+        let value = MetadataValue::from_str(&duration_to_grpc_timeout(deadline)).unwrap();
+        self.metadata_mut()
+            .insert(crate::metadata::GRPC_TIMEOUT_HEADER, value);
+    }
 }
 
 impl<T> IntoRequest<T> for T {
@@ -265,6 +298,40 @@ mod sealed {
     pub trait Sealed {}
 }
 
+fn duration_to_grpc_timeout(duration: Duration) -> String {
+    fn try_format<T: Into<u128>>(
+        duration: Duration,
+        unit: char,
+        convert: impl FnOnce(Duration) -> T,
+    ) -> Option<String> {
+        // The gRPC spec specifies that the timeout most be at most 8 digits. So this is the largest a
+        // value can be before we need to use a bigger unit.
+        let max_size: u128 = 99_999_999; // exactly 8 digits
+
+        let value = convert(duration).into();
+        if value > max_size {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(format!("{}{}", value, unit))
+        }
+    }
+
+    // pick the most precise unit that is less than or equal to 8 digits as per the gRPC spec
+    try_format(duration, 'n', |d| d.as_nanos())
+        .or_else(|| try_format(duration, 'u', |d| d.as_micros()))
+        .or_else(|| try_format(duration, 'm', |d| d.as_millis()))
+        .or_else(|| try_format(duration, 'S', |d| d.as_secs()))
+        .or_else(|| try_format(duration, 'M', |d| d.as_secs() / 60))
+        .or_else(|| {
+            try_format(duration, 'H', |d| {
+                let minutes = d.as_secs() / 60;
+                minutes / 60
+            })
+        })
+        // duration has to be more than 11_415 years for this to happen
+        .expect("duration is unrealistically large")
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -283,4 +350,25 @@ mod tests {
         let http_request = r.into_http(Uri::default());
         assert!(http_request.headers().is_empty());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn duration_to_grpc_timeout_less_than_second() {
+        let timeout = Duration::from_millis(500);
+        let value = duration_to_grpc_timeout(timeout);
+        assert_eq!(value, format!("{}u", timeout.as_micros()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn duration_to_grpc_timeout_more_than_second() {
+        let timeout = Duration::from_secs(30);
+        let value = duration_to_grpc_timeout(timeout);
+        assert_eq!(value, format!("{}u", timeout.as_micros()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn duration_to_grpc_timeout_a_very_long_time() {
+        let one_hour = Duration::from_secs(60 * 60);
+        let value = duration_to_grpc_timeout(one_hour);
+        assert_eq!(value, format!("{}m", one_hour.as_millis()));
+    }
 }