diff --git a/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md b/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
index 4cb275f5f3e..36a87c8380f 100644
--- a/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
+++ b/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ All parameters from `stdenv.mkDerivation` function are still supported. The foll
 * `disabled` ? false: If `true`, package is not build for the particular Python interpreter version.
 * `dontWrapPythonPrograms ? false`: Skip wrapping of python programs.
 * `installFlags ? []`: A list of strings. Arguments to be passed to `pip install`. To pass options to `python setup.py install`, use `--install-option`. E.g., `installFlags=["--install-option='--cpp_implementation'"]`.
-* `format ? "setuptools"`: Format of the source. Valid options are `"setuptools"`, `"flit"`, `"wheel"`, and `"other"`. `"setuptools"` is for when the source has a `setup.py` and `setuptools` is used to build a wheel, `flit`, in case `flit` should be used to build a wheel, and `wheel` in case a wheel is provided. Use `other` when a custom `buildPhase` and/or `installPhase` is needed.
+* `format ? "setuptools"`: Format of the source. Valid options are `"setuptools"`, `"pyproject"`, `"flit"`, `"wheel"`, and `"other"`. `"setuptools"` is for when the source has a `setup.py` and `setuptools` is used to build a wheel, `flit`, in case `flit` should be used to build a wheel, and `wheel` in case a wheel is provided. Use `other` when a custom `buildPhase` and/or `installPhase` is needed.
 * `makeWrapperArgs ? []`: A list of strings. Arguments to be passed to `makeWrapper`, which wraps generated binaries. By default, the arguments to `makeWrapper` set `PATH` and `PYTHONPATH` environment variables before calling the binary. Additional arguments here can allow a developer to set environment variables which will be available when the binary is run. For example, `makeWrapperArgs = ["--set FOO BAR" "--set BAZ QUX"]`.
 * `namePrefix`: Prepends text to `${name}` parameter. In case of libraries, this defaults to `"python3.5-"` for Python 3.5, etc., and in case of applications to `""`.
 * `pythonPath ? []`: List of packages to be added into `$PYTHONPATH`. Packages in `pythonPath` are not propagated (contrary to `propagatedBuildInputs`).
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package-pyproject.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package-pyproject.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86c450fcf92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package-pyproject.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# This function provides specific bits for building a setuptools-based Python package.
+
+{ lib
+, python
+}:
+
+{
+# passed to "python setup.py build_ext"
+# https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/881
+# Rename to `buildOptions` because it is not setuptools specific?
+  setupPyBuildFlags ? []
+# Execute before shell hook
+, preShellHook ? ""
+# Execute after shell hook
+, postShellHook ? ""
+, ... } @ attrs:
+
+let
+  options = lib.concatMapStringsSep " " (option: "--global-option ${option}") setupPyBuildFlags;
+in attrs // {
+  buildPhase = attrs.buildPhase or ''
+    runHook preBuild
+    mkdir -p dist
+    echo "Creating a wheel..."
+    ${python.pythonForBuild.interpreter} -m pip wheel --no-index --no-deps --no-clean --no-build-isolation --wheel-dir dist ${options} .
+    echo "Finished creating a wheel..."
+    runHook postBuild
+  '';
+
+  installCheckPhase = ''
+    runHook preCheck
+    echo "No checkPhase defined. Either provide a checkPhase or disable tests in case tests are not available."; exit 1
+    runHook postCheck
+  '';
+
+  # With Python it's a common idiom to run the tests
+  # after the software has been installed.
+  doCheck = attrs.doCheck or true;
+
+  shellHook = attrs.shellHook or ''
+    ${preShellHook}
+    # Long-term setup.py should be dropped.
+    if [ -e pyproject.toml ]; then
+      tmp_path=$(mktemp -d)
+      export PATH="$tmp_path/bin:$PATH"
+      export PYTHONPATH="$tmp_path/${python.pythonForBuild.sitePackages}:$PYTHONPATH"
+      mkdir -p $tmp_path/${python.pythonForBuild.sitePackages}
+      ${python.pythonForBuild.pkgs.bootstrapped-pip}/bin/pip install -e . --prefix $tmp_path >&2
+    fi
+    ${postShellHook}
+  '';
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package.nix
index b664cf0b14f..98322312f7f 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/build-python-package.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 let
   setuptools-specific = import ./build-python-package-setuptools.nix { inherit lib python; };
+  pyproject-specific = import ./build-python-package-pyproject.nix { inherit lib python; };
   flit-specific = import ./build-python-package-flit.nix { inherit python flit; };
   wheel-specific = import ./build-python-package-wheel.nix { };
   common = import ./build-python-package-common.nix { inherit python; };
@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@ format ? "setuptools"
 
 let
   formatspecific =
-    if format == "setuptools" then common (setuptools-specific attrs)
+    if format == "pyproject" then common (pyproject-specific attrs)
+    else if format == "setuptools" then common (setuptools-specific attrs)
     else if format == "flit" then common (flit-specific attrs)
     else if format == "wheel" then common (wheel-specific attrs)
     else if format == "other" then {}