diff --git a/examples/detect_color.rs b/examples/detect_color.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecfdd5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/detect_color.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+extern crate termion;
+
+use termion::color::{DetectColors, AnsiValue, Bg};
+use termion::raw::IntoRawMode;
+use std::io::stdout;
+
+fn main() {
+    let count;
+    {
+        let mut term = stdout().into_raw_mode().unwrap();
+        count = term.available_colors().unwrap();
+    }
+
+    println!("This terminal supports {} colors.", count);
+    for i in 0..count {
+        print!("{} {}", Bg(AnsiValue(i as u8)), Bg(AnsiValue(0)));
+    }
+    println!();
+}
diff --git a/src/color.rs b/src/color.rs
index c34517d..33a5ac2 100644
--- a/src/color.rs
+++ b/src/color.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 //! ```
 
 use std::fmt;
+use raw::RawTerminal;
+use std::io::{self, Write, Read};
+use std::time::{SystemTime, Duration};
+use async::async_stdin;
+use std::env;
 
 /// A terminal color.
 pub trait Color {
@@ -160,3 +165,76 @@ impl<C: Color> fmt::Display for Bg<C> {
         self.0.write_bg(f)
     }
 }
+
+/// Types that allow detection of the colors they support.
+pub trait DetectColors {
+    /// How many ANSI colors are supported (from 8 to 256)?
+    ///
+    /// Beware: the information given isn't authoritative, it's infered through escape codes or the
+    /// value of `TERM`, more colors may be available.
+    fn available_colors(&mut self) -> io::Result<u16>;
+}
+
+impl<W: Write> DetectColors for RawTerminal<W> {
+    fn available_colors(&mut self) -> io::Result<u16> {
+        let mut stdin = async_stdin();
+
+        if detect_color(self, &mut stdin, 0)? {
+            // OSC 4 is supported, detect how many colors there are.
+            // Do a binary search of the last supported color.
+            let mut min = 8;
+            let mut max = 256;
+            let mut i;
+            while min + 1 < max {
+                i = (min + max) / 2;
+                if detect_color(self, &mut stdin, i)? {
+                    min = i
+                } else {
+                    max = i
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(max)
+        } else {
+            // OSC 4 is not supported, trust TERM contents.
+            Ok(match env::var_os("TERM") {
+                Some(val) => {
+                    if val.to_str().unwrap_or("").contains("256color") {
+                        256
+                    } else {
+                        8
+                    }
+                }
+                None => 8,
+            })
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The timeout of an escape code control sequence, in milliseconds.
+const CONTROL_SEQUENCE_TIMEOUT: u64 = 100;
+
+/// Detect a color using OSC 4.
+fn detect_color<W: Write>(stdout: &mut RawTerminal<W>,
+                          stdin: &mut Read,
+                          color: u16)
+                          -> io::Result<bool> {
+    // Is the color available?
+    // Use `ESC ] 4 ; color ; ? BEL`.
+    write!(stdout, "\x1B]4;{};?\x07", color)?;
+    stdout.flush()?;
+
+    let mut buf: [u8; 1] = [0];
+    let mut total_read = 0;
+
+    let timeout = Duration::from_millis(CONTROL_SEQUENCE_TIMEOUT);
+    let now = SystemTime::now();
+    let bell = 7u8;
+
+    // Either consume all data up to bell or wait for a timeout.
+    while buf[0] != bell && now.elapsed().unwrap() < timeout {
+        total_read += stdin.read(&mut buf)?;
+    }
+
+    // If there was a response, the color is supported.
+    Ok(total_read > 0)
+}