diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
index d8bbd952..071d165c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
@@ -470,6 +470,15 @@ public class CSVFormat implements Serializable {
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates a builder based on this format.
+     * 
+     * @return a new builder
+     */
+    public CSVFormatBuilder toBuilder() {
+        return new CSVFormatBuilder(this);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Builds CSVFormat objects.
      */
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatBuilderTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatBuilderTest.java
index 22530b73..f72ed65c 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatBuilderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatBuilderTest.java
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public class CSVFormatBuilderTest {
     public void testCopiedFormatWithChanges() {
         final CSVFormat newFormat = CSVFormat.newBuilder(RFC4180).withDelimiter('!').build();
         assertTrue(newFormat.getDelimiter() != RFC4180.getDelimiter());
+        final CSVFormat newFormat2 = RFC4180.toBuilder().withDelimiter('!').build();
+        assertTrue(newFormat2.getDelimiter() != RFC4180.getDelimiter());
     }
     
     @Test