diff --git a/docs/api-input.md b/docs/api-input.md
index 9c1167a3..0e6a4947 100644
--- a/docs/api-input.md
+++ b/docs/api-input.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ A `Promise` is returned when `callback` is not provided.
 *   `pagePrimary`: Number of the primary page in a HEIF image
 *   `levels`: Details of each level in a multi-level image provided as an array of objects, requires libvips compiled with support for OpenSlide
 *   `subifds`: Number of Sub Image File Directories in an OME-TIFF image
+*   `compression`: The encoder used to compress an HEIF file, `av1` (AVIF) or `hevc` (HEIC)
 *   `hasProfile`: Boolean indicating the presence of an embedded ICC profile
 *   `hasAlpha`: Boolean indicating the presence of an alpha transparency channel
 *   `orientation`: Number value of the EXIF Orientation header, if present
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index bdfe1478..ee590bfe 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.11.0
 
 * Drop support for Node.js 10, now requires Node.js >= 12.13.0.
 
+* Add `compression` property to HEIF image metadata.
+  [#2504](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/2504)
+
 * AVIF encoding now defaults to `4:4:4` chroma subsampling.
   [#2562](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/2562)
 
diff --git a/lib/input.js b/lib/input.js
index 4c28d6a2..38f6105d 100644
--- a/lib/input.js
+++ b/lib/input.js
@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@ function _isStreamInput () {
  * - `pagePrimary`: Number of the primary page in a HEIF image
  * - `levels`: Details of each level in a multi-level image provided as an array of objects, requires libvips compiled with support for OpenSlide
  * - `subifds`: Number of Sub Image File Directories in an OME-TIFF image
+ * - `compression`: The encoder used to compress an HEIF file, `av1` (AVIF) or `hevc` (HEIC)
  * - `hasProfile`: Boolean indicating the presence of an embedded ICC profile
  * - `hasAlpha`: Boolean indicating the presence of an alpha transparency channel
  * - `orientation`: Number value of the EXIF Orientation header, if present
diff --git a/test/unit/metadata.js b/test/unit/metadata.js
index c5699b03..1aa2f343 100644
--- a/test/unit/metadata.js
+++ b/test/unit/metadata.js
@@ -724,6 +724,25 @@ describe('Image metadata', function () {
       })
   );
 
+  it('AVIF', async () => {
+    const metadata = await sharp(fixtures.inputAvif).metadata();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(metadata, {
+      format: 'heif',
+      width: 2048,
+      height: 858,
+      space: 'srgb',
+      channels: 3,
+      depth: 'uchar',
+      isProgressive: false,
+      pages: 1,
+      pageHeight: 858,
+      pagePrimary: 0,
+      compression: 'av1',
+      hasProfile: false,
+      hasAlpha: false
+    });
+  });
+
   it('File input with corrupt header fails gracefully', function (done) {
     sharp(fixtures.inputJpgWithCorruptHeader)
       .metadata(function (err) {