diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
index 7b011c98..97b402fe 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -463,6 +463,14 @@ const char *MyMesh::getLogDateTime() {
   return tmp;
 }
 
+namespace {
+const char* packetLogTypeLabel(const mesh::Packet* pkt) {
+  static char label[40];
+  mesh::formatPayloadType(pkt->getPayloadType(), label, sizeof label);
+  return label;
+}
+}
+
 void MyMesh::logRxRaw(float snr, float rssi, const uint8_t raw[], int len) {
 #if MESH_PACKET_LOGGING
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
@@ -474,8 +482,8 @@ void MyMesh::logRxRaw(float snr, float rssi, const uint8_t raw[], int len) {
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogRxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
-                 pkt->getPayloadType(), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
+  Serial.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
+                 packetLogTypeLabel(pkt), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
                  (int)_radio->getLastSNR(), (int)_radio->getLastRSSI(), (int)(score * 1000));
 
   if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -487,7 +495,7 @@ void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogRxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score)
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+  Serial.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                  pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
 
   if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -499,7 +507,7 @@ void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxFailToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+  Serial.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                  pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
   Serial.print("\r\n");
 }
@@ -515,8 +523,8 @@ void MyMesh::logRx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
-               pkt->getPayloadType(), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
+      f.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
+               packetLogTypeLabel(pkt), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
                (int)_radio->getLastSNR(), (int)_radio->getLastRSSI(), (int)(score * 1000));
 
       if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -544,7 +552,7 @@ void MyMesh::logTx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+      f.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
 
       if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -566,7 +574,7 @@ void MyMesh::logTxFail(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)\n", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+      f.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)\n", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
       f.close();
     }
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
index fce5c333..61927d03 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -199,6 +199,14 @@ int MyMesh::handleRequest(ClientInfo *sender, uint32_t sender_timestamp, uint8_t
   return 0; // unknown command
 }
 
+namespace {
+const char* packetLogTypeLabel(const mesh::Packet* pkt) {
+  static char label[40];
+  mesh::formatPayloadType(pkt->getPayloadType(), label, sizeof label);
+  return label;
+}
+}
+
 void MyMesh::logRxRaw(float snr, float rssi, const uint8_t raw[], int len) {
 #if MESH_PACKET_LOGGING
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
@@ -210,8 +218,8 @@ void MyMesh::logRxRaw(float snr, float rssi, const uint8_t raw[], int len) {
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogRxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
-                 pkt->getPayloadType(), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
+  Serial.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
+                 packetLogTypeLabel(pkt), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
                  (int)_radio->getLastSNR(), (int)_radio->getLastRSSI(), (int)(score * 1000));
 
   if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -223,7 +231,7 @@ void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogRxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score)
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+  Serial.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                  pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
 
   if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -235,7 +243,7 @@ void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
 
 void MyMesh::mirrorPacketLogTxFailToSerial(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
   Serial.print(getLogDateTime());
-  Serial.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+  Serial.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                  pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
   Serial.print("\r\n");
 }
@@ -245,8 +253,8 @@ void MyMesh::logRx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
-               pkt->getPayloadType(), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
+      f.printf(": RX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d) SNR=%d RSSI=%d score=%d", len,
+               packetLogTypeLabel(pkt), pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len,
                (int)_radio->getLastSNR(), (int)_radio->getLastRSSI(), (int)(score * 1000));
 
       if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -267,7 +275,7 @@ void MyMesh::logTx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+      f.printf(": TX, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
 
       if (pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH || pkt->getPayloadType() == PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ ||
@@ -288,7 +296,7 @@ void MyMesh::logTxFail(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
     if (f) {
       f.print(getLogDateTime());
-      f.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%d, route=%s, payload_len=%d)\n", len, pkt->getPayloadType(),
+      f.printf(": TX FAIL!, len=%d (type=%s, route=%s, payload_len=%d)\n", len, packetLogTypeLabel(pkt),
                pkt->isRouteDirect() ? "D" : "F", pkt->payload_len);
       f.close();
     }
diff --git a/src/Packet.cpp b/src/Packet.cpp
index aad3e2f4..f55af06f 100644
--- a/src/Packet.cpp
+++ b/src/Packet.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,49 @@
 #include "Packet.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <SHA256.h>
 
 namespace mesh {
 
+namespace {
+
+struct PayloadTypeName { uint8_t type; const char* name; };
+
+static const PayloadTypeName PAYLOAD_TYPE_NAMES[] = {
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_REQ" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESPONSE, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_RESPONSE" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_TXT_MSG" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_ACK, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ACK" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_ADVERT, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ADVERT" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_TXT, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_TXT" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_DATA, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_GRP_DATA" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_ANON_REQ" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_PATH" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_TRACE, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_TRACE" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_MULTIPART, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_MULTIPART" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_CONTROL, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_CONTROL" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_OTA, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_OTA" },
+  { PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM, "PAYLOAD_TYPE_RAW_CUSTOM" },
+};
+
+} // namespace
+
+const char* payloadTypeName(uint8_t type) {
+  for (unsigned i = 0; i < sizeof(PAYLOAD_TYPE_NAMES) / sizeof(PAYLOAD_TYPE_NAMES[0]); i++) {
+    if (PAYLOAD_TYPE_NAMES[i].type == type) return PAYLOAD_TYPE_NAMES[i].name;
+  }
+  return nullptr;
+}
+
+void formatPayloadType(uint8_t type, char* buf, size_t cap) {
+  const char* name = payloadTypeName(type);
+  if (name) {
+    snprintf(buf, cap, "%s (0x%02X)", name, type);
+  } else {
+    snprintf(buf, cap, "UNKNOWN (0x%02X)", type);
+  }
+}
+
 Packet::Packet() {
   header = 0;
   path_len = 0;
diff --git a/src/Packet.h b/src/Packet.h
index c19d9e9d..b5c976c9 100644
--- a/src/Packet.h
+++ b/src/Packet.h
@@ -111,4 +111,7 @@ public:
   bool readFrom(const uint8_t src[], uint8_t len);
 };
 
+const char* payloadTypeName(uint8_t type);
+void formatPayloadType(uint8_t type, char* buf, size_t cap);
+
 }