diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/StringUtil.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/StringUtil.as
index e035d26dd..96ef27b66 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/util/StringUtil.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/StringUtil.as
@@ -43,6 +43,32 @@ public class StringUtil
         return (str.lastIndexOf(substr, 0) == 0);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Append 0 or more copies of the padChar String to the input String
+     * until it is at least the specified length.
+     */
+    public static function pad (
+        str :String, length :int, padChar :String = " ") :String
+    {
+        while (str.length < length) {
+            str += padChar;
+        }
+        return str;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Prepend 0 or more copies of the padChar String to the input String
+     * until it is at least the specified length.
+     */
+    public static function prepad (
+        str :String, length :int, padChar :String = " ") :String
+    {
+        while (str.length < length) {
+            str = padChar + str;
+        }
+        return str;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Utility function that strips whitespace from the ends of a String.
      */