diff --git a/docs/api-input.md b/docs/api-input.md
index c42ee78e..09e8b8b2 100644
--- a/docs/api-input.md
+++ b/docs/api-input.md
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ A Promises/A+ promise is returned when `callback` is not provided.
 -   `format`: Name of decoder used to decompress image data e.g. `jpeg`, `png`, `webp`, `gif`, `svg`
 -   `width`: Number of pixels wide
 -   `height`: Number of pixels high
--   `space`: Name of colour space interpretation e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L568)
+-   `space`: Name of colour space interpretation e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L636)
 -   `channels`: Number of bands e.g. `3` for sRGB, `4` for CMYK
+-   `depth`: Name of pixel depth format e.g. `uchar`, `char`, `ushort`, `float` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L672)
 -   `density`: Number of pixels per inch (DPI), if present
 -   `hasProfile`: Boolean indicating the presence of an embedded ICC profile
 -   `hasAlpha`: Boolean indicating the presence of an alpha transparency channel
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 5bba943c..dd5ebe5b 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ Requires libvips v8.5.2.
   [#573](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/573)
   [@strarsis](https://github.com/strarsis)
 
+* Include pixel depth (e.g. "uchar") when reading metadata.
+  [#577](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/577)
+  [@moedusa](https://github.com/moedusa)
+
 * Add support for Buffer and Stream-based TIFF output.
   [#587](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/587)
   [@strarsis](https://github.com/strarsis)
diff --git a/lib/input.js b/lib/input.js
index b8c6ad83..368af83e 100644
--- a/lib/input.js
+++ b/lib/input.js
@@ -163,8 +163,9 @@ function clone () {
  * - `format`: Name of decoder used to decompress image data e.g. `jpeg`, `png`, `webp`, `gif`, `svg`
  * - `width`: Number of pixels wide
  * - `height`: Number of pixels high
- * - `space`: Name of colour space interpretation e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L568)
+ * - `space`: Name of colour space interpretation e.g. `srgb`, `rgb`, `cmyk`, `lab`, `b-w` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L636)
  * - `channels`: Number of bands e.g. `3` for sRGB, `4` for CMYK
+ * - `depth`: Name of pixel depth format e.g. `uchar`, `char`, `ushort`, `float` [...](https://github.com/jcupitt/libvips/blob/master/libvips/iofuncs/enumtypes.c#L672)
  * - `density`: Number of pixels per inch (DPI), if present
  * - `hasProfile`: Boolean indicating the presence of an embedded ICC profile
  * - `hasAlpha`: Boolean indicating the presence of an alpha transparency channel
diff --git a/src/metadata.cc b/src/metadata.cc
index fb9e352e..3e6ed9b8 100644
--- a/src/metadata.cc
+++ b/src/metadata.cc
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ class MetadataWorker : public Nan::AsyncWorker {
       baton->height = image.height();
       baton->space = vips_enum_nick(VIPS_TYPE_INTERPRETATION, image.interpretation());
       baton->channels = image.bands();
+      baton->depth = vips_enum_nick(VIPS_TYPE_BAND_FORMAT, image.format());
       if (sharp::HasDensity(image)) {
         baton->density = sharp::GetDensity(image);
       }
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ class MetadataWorker : public Nan::AsyncWorker {
       Set(info, New("height").ToLocalChecked(), New<v8::Uint32>(baton->height));
       Set(info, New("space").ToLocalChecked(), New<v8::String>(baton->space).ToLocalChecked());
       Set(info, New("channels").ToLocalChecked(), New<v8::Uint32>(baton->channels));
+      Set(info, New("depth").ToLocalChecked(), New<v8::String>(baton->depth).ToLocalChecked());
       if (baton->density > 0) {
         Set(info, New("density").ToLocalChecked(), New<v8::Uint32>(baton->density));
       }
diff --git a/src/metadata.h b/src/metadata.h
index 498f213f..50175639 100644
--- a/src/metadata.h
+++ b/src/metadata.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct MetadataBaton {
   int height;
   std::string space;
   int channels;
+  std::string depth;
   int density;
   bool hasProfile;
   bool hasAlpha;
diff --git a/test/unit/metadata.js b/test/unit/metadata.js
index 70438db4..cb8db649 100644
--- a/test/unit/metadata.js
+++ b/test/unit/metadata.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2225, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(600, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual(72, metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(true, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -56,25 +58,24 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
     });
   });
 
-  if (sharp.format.tiff.input.file) {
-    it('TIFF', function (done) {
-      sharp(fixtures.inputTiff).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
-        if (err) throw err;
-        assert.strictEqual('tiff', metadata.format);
-        assert.strictEqual(2464, metadata.width);
-        assert.strictEqual(3248, metadata.height);
-        assert.strictEqual('b-w', metadata.space);
-        assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.channels);
-        assert.strictEqual(300, metadata.density);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
-        assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.orientation);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
-        done();
-      });
+  it('TIFF', function (done) {
+    sharp(fixtures.inputTiff).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
+      if (err) throw err;
+      assert.strictEqual('tiff', metadata.format);
+      assert.strictEqual(2464, metadata.width);
+      assert.strictEqual(3248, metadata.height);
+      assert.strictEqual('b-w', metadata.space);
+      assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
+      assert.strictEqual(300, metadata.density);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
+      assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.orientation);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
+      done();
     });
-  }
+  });
 
   it('PNG', function (done) {
     sharp(fixtures.inputPng).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2074, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('b-w', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual(300, metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -102,6 +104,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(1536, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(4, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual(72, metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(true, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -112,80 +115,59 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
     });
   });
 
-  if (sharp.format.webp.input.file) {
-    it('WebP', function (done) {
-      sharp(fixtures.inputWebP).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
-        if (err) throw err;
-        assert.strictEqual('webp', metadata.format);
-        assert.strictEqual(1024, metadata.width);
-        assert.strictEqual(772, metadata.height);
-        assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
-        assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
-        done();
-      });
+  it('WebP', function (done) {
+    sharp(fixtures.inputWebP).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
+      if (err) throw err;
+      assert.strictEqual('webp', metadata.format);
+      assert.strictEqual(1024, metadata.width);
+      assert.strictEqual(772, metadata.height);
+      assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
+      assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
+      done();
     });
-  }
+  });
 
-  if (sharp.format.gif.input.file) {
-    it('GIF via giflib', function (done) {
-      sharp(fixtures.inputGif).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
-        if (err) throw err;
-        assert.strictEqual('gif', metadata.format);
-        assert.strictEqual(800, metadata.width);
-        assert.strictEqual(533, metadata.height);
-        assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
-        done();
-      });
+  it('GIF via giflib', function (done) {
+    sharp(fixtures.inputGif).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
+      if (err) throw err;
+      assert.strictEqual('gif', metadata.format);
+      assert.strictEqual(800, metadata.width);
+      assert.strictEqual(533, metadata.height);
+      assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
+      done();
     });
-    it('GIF grey+alpha via giflib', function (done) {
-      sharp(fixtures.inputGifGreyPlusAlpha).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
-        if (err) throw err;
-        assert.strictEqual('gif', metadata.format);
-        assert.strictEqual(2, metadata.width);
-        assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.height);
-        assert.strictEqual(2, metadata.channels);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
-        assert.strictEqual(true, metadata.hasAlpha);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
-        done();
-      });
+  });
+  it('GIF grey+alpha via giflib', function (done) {
+    sharp(fixtures.inputGifGreyPlusAlpha).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
+      if (err) throw err;
+      assert.strictEqual('gif', metadata.format);
+      assert.strictEqual(2, metadata.width);
+      assert.strictEqual(1, metadata.height);
+      assert.strictEqual(2, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
+      assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
+      assert.strictEqual(true, metadata.hasAlpha);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
+      assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
+      done();
     });
-  }
-
-  if (sharp.format.openslide.input.file) {
-    it('Aperio SVS via openslide', function (done) {
-      sharp(fixtures.inputSvs).metadata(function (err, metadata) {
-        if (err) throw err;
-        assert.strictEqual('openslide', metadata.format);
-        assert.strictEqual(2220, metadata.width);
-        assert.strictEqual(2967, metadata.height);
-        assert.strictEqual(4, metadata.channels);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
-        assert.strictEqual('rgb', metadata.space);
-        assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
-        assert.strictEqual(true, metadata.hasAlpha);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.orientation);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.exif);
-        assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.icc);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-  }
+  });
 
   it('File in, Promise out', function (done) {
     sharp(fixtures.inputJpg).metadata().then(function (metadata) {
@@ -194,6 +176,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2225, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -222,6 +205,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2225, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -244,6 +228,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2225, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);
@@ -264,6 +249,7 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       assert.strictEqual(2225, metadata.height);
       assert.strictEqual('srgb', metadata.space);
       assert.strictEqual(3, metadata.channels);
+      assert.strictEqual('uchar', metadata.depth);
       assert.strictEqual('undefined', typeof metadata.density);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasProfile);
       assert.strictEqual(false, metadata.hasAlpha);