diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
index fc3270b5f0..9149f4de8e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
@@ -169,4 +169,26 @@ sealed trait IorFunctions {
   def left[A, B](a: A): A Ior B = Ior.Left(a)
   def right[A, B](b: B): A Ior B = Ior.Right(b)
   def both[A, B](a: A, b: B): A Ior B = Ior.Both(a, b)
+
+  /**
+   * Create an `Ior` from two Options if at least one of them is defined.
+   *
+   * @param oa an element (optional) for the left side of the `Ior`
+   * @param ob an element (optional) for the right side of the `Ior`
+   *
+   * @return `None` if both `oa` and `ob` are `None`. Otherwise `Some` wrapping
+   * an [[Ior.Left]], [[Ior.Right]], or [[Ior.Both]] if `oa`, `ob`, or both are
+   * defined (respectively).
+   */
+  def fromOptions[A, B](oa: Option[A], ob: Option[B]): Option[A Ior B] =
+    oa match {
+      case Some(a) => ob match {
+        case Some(b) => Some(Ior.Both(a, b))
+        case None => Some(Ior.Left(a))
+      }
+      case None => ob match {
+        case Some(b) => Some(Ior.Right(b))
+        case None => None
+      }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
index 7071272e52..2a5d06ca3f 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
@@ -116,4 +116,19 @@ class IorTests extends CatsSuite {
       i.append(j).right should === (i.right.map(_ + j.right.getOrElse("")).orElse(j.right))
     }
   }
+
+  test("fromOptions left/right consistent with input options"){
+    forAll { (oa: Option[String], ob: Option[Int]) =>
+      val x = Ior.fromOptions(oa, ob)
+      x.flatMap(_.left) should === (oa)
+      x.flatMap(_.right) should === (ob)
+    }
+  }
+
+  test("Option roundtrip"){
+    forAll { ior: String Ior Int =>
+      val iorMaybe = Ior.fromOptions(ior.left, ior.right)
+      iorMaybe should === (Some(ior))
+    }
+  }
 }