diff --git a/prometheus_client/metrics.py b/prometheus_client/metrics.py
index 95770ebd..079fbf27 100644
--- a/prometheus_client/metrics.py
+++ b/prometheus_client/metrics.py
@@ -257,6 +257,11 @@ def inc(self, amount=1):
             raise ValueError('Counters can only be incremented by non-negative amounts.')
         self._value.inc(amount)
 
+    def reset(self):
+        """Reset counter to zero."""
+        if hasattr(self, '_value'):
+            self._value.set(0)
+
     def count_exceptions(self, exception=Exception):
         """Count exceptions in a block of code or function.
 
diff --git a/prometheus_client/registry.py b/prometheus_client/registry.py
index fff1f98c..8f70a53d 100644
--- a/prometheus_client/registry.py
+++ b/prometheus_client/registry.py
@@ -149,5 +149,17 @@ def get_sample_value(self, name, labels=None):
                     return s.value
         return None
 
+    def reset_metrics(self):
+        """Reset all the counter type metrics from all collectors in registry"""
+
+        for metric in self.collect():
+            if metric.type == 'counter':
+                if hasattr(self._names_to_collectors[metric.name], '_metrics'):
+                    for sub_metric in self._names_to_collectors[metric.name]._metrics:
+                        self._names_to_collectors[metric.name]._metrics[sub_metric].reset()
+                else:
+                    if hasattr(self._names_to_collectors[metric.name], 'reset'):
+                        self._names_to_collectors[metric.name].reset()
+
 
 REGISTRY = CollectorRegistry(auto_describe=True)
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 5a81f122..40347df2 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -30,13 +30,21 @@ def test_increment(self):
         self.assertEqual(1, self.registry.get_sample_value('c_total'))
         self.counter.inc(7)
         self.assertEqual(8, self.registry.get_sample_value('c_total'))
-    
+
     def test_repr(self):
         self.assertEqual(repr(self.counter), "prometheus_client.metrics.Counter(c)")
 
     def test_negative_increment_raises(self):
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.counter.inc, -1)
-    
+
+    def test_reset(self):
+        self.assertEqual(0, self.registry.get_sample_value('c_total'))
+        self.counter.inc()
+        self.counter.reset()
+        self.assertEqual(0, self.registry.get_sample_value('c_total'))
+        self.counter.inc()
+        self.registry.reset_metrics()
+        self.assertEqual(0, self.registry.get_sample_value('c_total'))
 
     def test_function_decorator(self):
         @self.counter.count_exceptions(ValueError)
@@ -87,7 +95,7 @@ class TestGauge(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.registry = CollectorRegistry()
         self.gauge = Gauge('g', 'help', registry=self.registry)
-    
+
     def test_repr(self):
         self.assertEqual(repr(self.gauge), "prometheus_client.metrics.Gauge(g)")