diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 515ab42..ccb1f7c 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -492,8 +492,17 @@ Checks for local mail in mbox
 Settings:
 
 
+maildir.MaildirMail
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
+Checks for new mail in a Maildir folder
+
+
+Settings:
+
+:directory:  (required, e.g. '/home/foo/mail/INBOX')
+
 
 notmuchmail.Notmuch
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eaccf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import sys
+from i3pystatus.mail import Backend
+import subprocess
+
+class MaildirMail(Backend):
+    """
+    Checks for local mail in Maildir
+    """
+
+    settings = (
+            "directory",
+            )
+    required = ("directory",)
+
+    directory=""
+
+    @property
+    def unread(self):
+        p = subprocess.Popen(['ls','-l',self.directory+'/new'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+        stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
+        stdout=stdout.decode('utf8')
+        return len(stdout.split('\n'))-2
+
+Backend = MaildirMail