diff --git a/mq/lib.go b/mq/lib.go
index f93bda3..ccf704e 100644
--- a/mq/lib.go
+++ b/mq/lib.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 package mq
 
 import (
+	"iter"
 	"sync"
 
 	"gogs.humancabbage.net/sam/priorityq"
@@ -199,3 +200,18 @@ func (s *state[T]) trySend(value T, buf *queue.Q[T]) error {
 	s.canRecv.Broadcast()
 	return nil
 }
+
+// Iter returns an iterator that consumes values until the queue is closed.
+func (s *state[T]) Iter() iter.Seq[T] {
+	return func(yield func(T) bool) {
+		for {
+			t, ok := s.Recv()
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			if !yield(t) {
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/mq/lib_test.go b/mq/lib_test.go
index 5b3eb0a..dfcfa5b 100644
--- a/mq/lib_test.go
+++ b/mq/lib_test.go
@@ -164,6 +164,30 @@ func TestConcProducerConsumer(t *testing.T) {
 	wg.Wait()
 }
 
+func TestIter(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	q := mq.Make[int](4)
+	q.Send(1)
+	q.Send(2)
+	q.Send(3)
+	q.SendHigh(0)
+	q.Close()
+	i := 0
+	for v := range q.Iter() {
+		if v != i {
+			t.Errorf("expected %d, got %d", i, v)
+		}
+		i++
+	}
+
+	// to test yield() returning false
+	q = mq.Make[int](4)
+	q.Send(3)
+	for _ = range q.Iter() {
+		break
+	}
+}
+
 func BenchmarkSend(b *testing.B) {
 	q := mq.Make[int](b.N)
 	b.ResetTimer()
diff --git a/npq/lib.go b/npq/lib.go
index 2e0d79f..229e911 100644
--- a/npq/lib.go
+++ b/npq/lib.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ package npq
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"iter"
 	"sync"
 
 	"gogs.humancabbage.net/sam/priorityq"
@@ -212,3 +213,18 @@ func (s *state[P, T]) validatePriority(priority P) {
 			priority, s.min, s.max))
 	}
 }
+
+// Iter returns an iterator that consumes values until the queue is closed.
+func (s *state[P, T]) Iter() iter.Seq[T] {
+	return func(yield func(T) bool) {
+		for {
+			t, ok := s.Recv()
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			if !yield(t) {
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/npq/lib_test.go b/npq/lib_test.go
index 026a701..e24ac90 100644
--- a/npq/lib_test.go
+++ b/npq/lib_test.go
@@ -186,6 +186,30 @@ func TestConcProducerConsumer(t *testing.T) {
 	wg.Wait()
 }
 
+func TestIter(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	q := npq.Make[int, int](4, 0, 16)
+	q.Send(4, 0)
+	q.Send(3, 1)
+	q.Send(2, 2)
+	q.Send(1, 3)
+	q.Close()
+	i := 0
+	for v := range q.Iter() {
+		if v != i {
+			t.Errorf("expected %d, got %d", i, v)
+		}
+		i++
+	}
+
+	// to test yield() returning false
+	q = npq.Make[int, int](4, 0, 16)
+	q.Send(1, 3)
+	for _ = range q.Iter() {
+		break
+	}
+}
+
 const highPriority = 2
 
 func BenchmarkSend(b *testing.B) {