diff --git a/sys/include/xtimer.h b/sys/include/xtimer.h
index dae327a6d2..31c85c5e35 100644
--- a/sys/include/xtimer.h
+++ b/sys/include/xtimer.h
@@ -375,6 +375,56 @@ static inline xtimer_ticks32_t xtimer_ticks(uint32_t ticks);
  */
 static inline xtimer_ticks64_t xtimer_ticks64(uint64_t ticks);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Compute difference between two xtimer time stamps
+ *
+ * @param[in] a  left operand
+ * @param[in] b  right operand
+ *
+ * @return @p a - @p b
+ */
+static inline xtimer_ticks32_t xtimer_diff(xtimer_ticks32_t a, xtimer_ticks32_t b);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Compute difference between two xtimer time stamps, 64 bit version
+ *
+ * @param[in] a  left operand
+ * @param[in] b  right operand
+ *
+ * @return @p a - @p b
+ */
+static inline xtimer_ticks64_t xtimer_diff64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Compute 32 bit difference between two 64 bit xtimer time stamps
+ *
+ * @param[in] a  left operand
+ * @param[in] b  right operand
+ *
+ * @return @p a - @p b cast truncated to 32 bit
+ */
+static inline xtimer_ticks32_t xtimer_diff32_64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Compare two xtimer time stamps
+ *
+ * @param[in] a  left operand
+ * @param[in] b  right operand
+ *
+ * @return @p a < @p b
+ */
+static inline bool xtimer_less(xtimer_ticks32_t a, xtimer_ticks32_t b);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Compare two xtimer time stamps, 64 bit version
+ *
+ * @param[in] a  left operand
+ * @param[in] b  right operand
+ *
+ * @return @p a < @p b
+ */
+static inline bool xtimer_less64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b);
+
 /**
  * @brief xtimer backoff value
  *
diff --git a/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h b/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
index e4c376de6d..1065d560fc 100644
--- a/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
+++ b/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
@@ -258,6 +258,35 @@ static inline xtimer_ticks64_t xtimer_ticks64(uint64_t ticks)
     return ret;
 }
 
+static inline xtimer_ticks32_t xtimer_diff(xtimer_ticks32_t a, xtimer_ticks32_t b)
+{
+    xtimer_ticks32_t ret = { .ticks32 = (a.ticks32 - b.ticks32) };
+    return ret;
+}
+
+static inline xtimer_ticks64_t xtimer_diff64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b)
+{
+    xtimer_ticks64_t ret = { .ticks64 = (a.ticks64 - b.ticks64) };
+    return ret;
+}
+
+static inline xtimer_ticks32_t xtimer_diff32_64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b)
+{
+    uint64_t diff = (a.ticks64 - b.ticks64);
+    xtimer_ticks32_t ret = { .ticks32 = (uint32_t) diff };
+    return ret;
+}
+
+static inline bool xtimer_less(xtimer_ticks32_t a, xtimer_ticks32_t b)
+{
+    return (a.ticks32 < b.ticks32);
+}
+
+static inline bool xtimer_less64(xtimer_ticks64_t a, xtimer_ticks64_t b)
+{
+    return (a.ticks64 < b.ticks64);
+}
+
 #endif /* !defined(DOXYGEN) */
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus