diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
index c71e51eb32..46b50a3021 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ void PulseCounterSensor::update() {
 
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Retrieved counter: %0.2f pulses/min", this->get_name().c_str(), value);
   this->publish_state(value);
+
+  if (this->total_sensor_ != nullptr) {
+    current_total_ += raw;
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Total : %i pulses", this->get_name().c_str(), current_total_);
+    this->total_sensor_->publish_state(current_total_);
+  }
 }
 
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
index 483036ac34..b3e3f42c01 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class PulseCounterSensor : public sensor::Sensor, public PollingComponent {
   void set_rising_edge_mode(PulseCounterCountMode mode) { storage_.rising_edge_mode = mode; }
   void set_falling_edge_mode(PulseCounterCountMode mode) { storage_.falling_edge_mode = mode; }
   void set_filter_us(uint32_t filter) { storage_.filter_us = filter; }
+  void set_total_sensor(sensor::Sensor *total_sensor) { total_sensor_ = total_sensor; }
 
   /// Unit of measurement is "pulses/min".
   void setup() override;
@@ -64,6 +65,8 @@ class PulseCounterSensor : public sensor::Sensor, public PollingComponent {
  protected:
   GPIOPin *pin_;
   PulseCounterStorage storage_;
+  uint32_t current_total_ = 0;
+  sensor::Sensor *total_sensor_;
 };
 
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/sensor.py b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/sensor.py
index 61d3f3d5b5..7550d5693a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/sensor.py
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/sensor.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome import pins
 from esphome.components import sensor
 from esphome.const import CONF_COUNT_MODE, CONF_FALLING_EDGE, CONF_ID, CONF_INTERNAL_FILTER, \
-    CONF_PIN, CONF_RISING_EDGE, CONF_NUMBER, \
-    ICON_PULSE, UNIT_PULSES_PER_MINUTE
+    CONF_PIN, CONF_RISING_EDGE, CONF_NUMBER, CONF_TOTAL, \
+    ICON_PULSE, UNIT_PULSES_PER_MINUTE, UNIT_PULSES
 from esphome.core import CORE
 
 pulse_counter_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace('pulse_counter')
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = sensor.sensor_schema(UNIT_PULSES_PER_MINUTE, ICON_PULSE, 2).exte
         cv.Required(CONF_FALLING_EDGE): COUNT_MODE_SCHEMA,
     }), validate_count_mode),
     cv.Optional(CONF_INTERNAL_FILTER, default='13us'): validate_internal_filter,
+    cv.Optional(CONF_TOTAL): sensor.sensor_schema(UNIT_PULSES, ICON_PULSE, 0),
+
 }).extend(cv.polling_component_schema('60s'))
 
 
@@ -72,3 +74,7 @@ def to_code(config):
     cg.add(var.set_rising_edge_mode(count[CONF_RISING_EDGE]))
     cg.add(var.set_falling_edge_mode(count[CONF_FALLING_EDGE]))
     cg.add(var.set_filter_us(config[CONF_INTERNAL_FILTER]))
+
+    if CONF_TOTAL in config:
+        sens = yield sensor.new_sensor(config[CONF_TOTAL])
+        cg.add(var.set_total_sensor(sens))
diff --git a/esphome/const.py b/esphome/const.py
index d8a8ca9905..4d45d68839 100644
--- a/esphome/const.py
+++ b/esphome/const.py
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@ CONF_TO = 'to'
 CONF_TOLERANCE = 'tolerance'
 CONF_TOPIC = 'topic'
 CONF_TOPIC_PREFIX = 'topic_prefix'
+CONF_TOTAL = "total"
 CONF_TRANSITION_LENGTH = 'transition_length'
 CONF_TRIGGER_ID = 'trigger_id'
 CONF_TRIGGER_PIN = 'trigger_pin'
@@ -641,6 +642,7 @@ UNIT_OHM = 'Ω'
 UNIT_PARTS_PER_BILLION = 'ppb'
 UNIT_PARTS_PER_MILLION = 'ppm'
 UNIT_PERCENT = '%'
+UNIT_PULSES = "pulses"
 UNIT_PULSES_PER_MINUTE = 'pulses/min'
 UNIT_SECOND = 's'
 UNIT_STEPS = 'steps'