diff --git a/osxphotos/photosdb.py b/osxphotos/photosdb.py
index 326d56e9..3c408521 100644
--- a/osxphotos/photosdb.py
+++ b/osxphotos/photosdb.py
@@ -2156,3 +2156,7 @@ class PhotosDB:
             return self.__dict__ == other.__dict__
 
         return False
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        """ returns number of photos in the database """
+        return len(self._dbphotos)
diff --git a/tests/test_catalina_10_15_4.py b/tests/test_catalina_10_15_4.py
index dff2823e..95366fe8 100644
--- a/tests/test_catalina_10_15_4.py
+++ b/tests/test_catalina_10_15_4.py
@@ -118,6 +118,13 @@ def test_init5():
     with pytest.raises(Exception):
         assert osxphotos.PhotosDB()
 
+def test_db_len():
+    import osxphotos
+
+    photosdb = osxphotos.PhotosDB(dbfile=PHOTOS_DB)
+    # assert photosdb.db_version in osxphotos._TESTED_DB_VERSIONS
+    assert len(photosdb) == 8 
+
 
 def test_db_version():
     import osxphotos
diff --git a/tests/test_mojave_10_14_6.py b/tests/test_mojave_10_14_6.py
index 71de658f..ad33f24f 100644
--- a/tests/test_mojave_10_14_6.py
+++ b/tests/test_mojave_10_14_6.py
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ def test_db_version():
     assert photosdb.db_version in osxphotos._constants._TESTED_DB_VERSIONS
     assert photosdb.db_version == "4025"
 
+def test_db_len():
+    import osxphotos
+
+    photosdb = osxphotos.PhotosDB(dbfile=PHOTOS_DB)
+    # assert photosdb.db_version in osxphotos._TESTED_DB_VERSIONS
+    assert len(photosdb) == 7
+
 
 def test_os_version():
     import osxphotos