diff --git a/gax-grpc/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/grpc/SettingsTest.java b/gax-grpc/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/grpc/SettingsTest.java
index daa2b31ad..65ca3d061 100644
--- a/gax-grpc/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/grpc/SettingsTest.java
+++ b/gax-grpc/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/grpc/SettingsTest.java
@@ -256,39 +256,6 @@ public BatchingCallSettings.Builder<Integer, Integer> fakeMethodBatching() {
     }
   }
 
-  // RetrySettings
-  // ====
-
-  @Test
-  public void retrySettingsMerge() {
-    RetrySettings.Builder builder =
-        RetrySettings.newBuilder()
-            .setTotalTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(45000))
-            .setInitialRpcTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(2000))
-            .setRpcTimeoutMultiplier(1.5)
-            .setMaxRpcTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(30000))
-            .setInitialRetryDelay(Duration.ofMillis(100))
-            .setRetryDelayMultiplier(1.2)
-            .setMaxRetryDelay(Duration.ofMillis(1000));
-    RetrySettings.Builder mergedBuilder = RetrySettings.newBuilder();
-    mergedBuilder.merge(builder);
-
-    RetrySettings settingsA = builder.build();
-    RetrySettings settingsB = mergedBuilder.build();
-
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getTotalTimeout()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getTotalTimeout());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getInitialRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getInitialRetryDelay());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getRpcTimeoutMultiplier())
-        .isWithin(0)
-        .of(settingsB.getRpcTimeoutMultiplier());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getMaxRpcTimeout()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getMaxRpcTimeout());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getInitialRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getInitialRetryDelay());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getRetryDelayMultiplier())
-        .isWithin(0)
-        .of(settingsB.getRetryDelayMultiplier());
-    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getMaxRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getMaxRetryDelay());
-  }
-
   // GrpcTransportProvider
   // ====
 
diff --git a/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettings.java b/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettings.java
index 2276eb407..3607bf643 100644
--- a/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettings.java
+++ b/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettings.java
@@ -296,6 +296,22 @@ public abstract static class Builder {
      */
     public abstract Duration getMaxRpcTimeout();
 
+    /**
+     * Configures the timeout settings with the given timeout such that the logical call will take
+     * no longer than the given timeout and each RPC attempt will use only the time remaining in the
+     * logical call as a timeout.
+     *
+     * <p>Using this method in conjunction with individual {@link RetrySettings} timeout field
+     * setters is not advised, because only the order in which they are invoked determines which
+     * setter is respected.
+     */
+    public Builder setLogicalTimeout(Duration timeout) {
+      return setRpcTimeoutMultiplier(1)
+          .setInitialRpcTimeout(timeout)
+          .setMaxRpcTimeout(timeout)
+          .setTotalTimeout(timeout);
+    }
+
     abstract RetrySettings autoBuild();
 
     public RetrySettings build() {
diff --git a/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/rpc/ApiCallContext.java b/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/rpc/ApiCallContext.java
index 38ed1dd4e..a9366fbc5 100644
--- a/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/rpc/ApiCallContext.java
+++ b/gax/src/main/java/com/google/api/gax/rpc/ApiCallContext.java
@@ -191,6 +191,22 @@ public interface ApiCallContext extends RetryingContext {
    *     StatusCode.Code.UNAVAILABLE,
    *     StatusCode.Code.DEADLINE_EXCEEDED));
    * }</pre>
+   *
+   * Setting a logical call timeout for the context can be done similarly with {@link
+   * RetrySettings.Builder#setLogicalTimeout(Duration timeout)}.
+   *
+   * <p>Example usage:
+   *
+   * <pre>{@code
+   * ApiCallContext context = GrpcCallContext.createDefault()
+   *   .withRetrySettings(RetrySettings.newBuilder()
+   *     .setInitialRetryDelay(Duration.ofMillis(10L))
+   *     .setMaxRetryDelay(Duration.ofSeconds(10L))
+   *     .setRetryDelayMultiplier(1.4)
+   *     .setMaxAttempts(10)
+   *     .setLogicalTimeout(Duration.ofSeconds(30L))
+   *     .build());
+   * }</pre>
    */
   @BetaApi
   ApiCallContext withRetrySettings(RetrySettings retrySettings);
diff --git a/gax/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettingsTest.java b/gax/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettingsTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8bcdea4cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gax/src/test/java/com/google/api/gax/retrying/RetrySettingsTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google LLC nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+package com.google.api.gax.retrying;
+
+import com.google.common.truth.Truth;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.threeten.bp.Duration;
+
+public class RetrySettingsTest {
+
+  @Test
+  public void retrySettingsSetLogicalTimeout() {
+    Duration timeout = Duration.ofMillis(60000);
+    RetrySettings retrySettings = RetrySettings.newBuilder().setLogicalTimeout(timeout).build();
+
+    Truth.assertThat(retrySettings.getRpcTimeoutMultiplier()).isEqualTo(1);
+    Truth.assertThat(retrySettings.getInitialRpcTimeout()).isEqualTo(timeout);
+    Truth.assertThat(retrySettings.getMaxRpcTimeout()).isEqualTo(timeout);
+    Truth.assertThat(retrySettings.getTotalTimeout()).isEqualTo(timeout);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void retrySettingsMerge() {
+    RetrySettings.Builder builder =
+        RetrySettings.newBuilder()
+            .setTotalTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(45000))
+            .setInitialRpcTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(2000))
+            .setRpcTimeoutMultiplier(1.5)
+            .setMaxRpcTimeout(Duration.ofMillis(30000))
+            .setInitialRetryDelay(Duration.ofMillis(100))
+            .setRetryDelayMultiplier(1.2)
+            .setMaxRetryDelay(Duration.ofMillis(1000));
+    RetrySettings.Builder mergedBuilder = RetrySettings.newBuilder();
+    mergedBuilder.merge(builder);
+
+    RetrySettings settingsA = builder.build();
+    RetrySettings settingsB = mergedBuilder.build();
+
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getTotalTimeout()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getTotalTimeout());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getInitialRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getInitialRetryDelay());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getRpcTimeoutMultiplier())
+        .isWithin(0)
+        .of(settingsB.getRpcTimeoutMultiplier());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getMaxRpcTimeout()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getMaxRpcTimeout());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getInitialRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getInitialRetryDelay());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getRetryDelayMultiplier())
+        .isWithin(0)
+        .of(settingsB.getRetryDelayMultiplier());
+    Truth.assertThat(settingsA.getMaxRetryDelay()).isEqualTo(settingsB.getMaxRetryDelay());
+  }
+}