diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+## 0.4.1.0
+* Added the utility functions `toStrictText` and `toString` for working with `Builder`s.
+
 # 0.4
 * Due to [GHC bug #5289](http://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/5289), projects that depend on the `double-conversion` library (such as `text-format`, a dependency of `text-show`) may break due to GHC incorrectly linking against libstdc++. Therefore, `text-show` was changed so that it does not depend on `text-format` by default. This behavior can be changed by using the `-ftext-format` flag when using `cabal`.
 * Add `showbZonedTime` to `Text.Show.Text.Data.Time` (and corresponding `Show` instance for `ZonedTime`)
@@ -5,7 +8,7 @@
 * If using GHC 7.6 or earlier, depend on tagged so that Data.Proxy can be used
 * Refactor code to use Template Haskell derivations when possible
 
-# 0.3.1.0
+## 0.3.1.0
 * Add `showList` and `showListLazy`
 * Don't use showbListDefault to show `containers` data types
 * Add the ability to splice `show` functions for arbitrary data types (even if they aren't `Show` instances). These functions are `mkShow`, `mkShowLazy`, `mkShowPrec`, `mkShowPrecLazy`, `mkShowb`, `mkShowbPrec`, `mkPrint`, `mkPrintLazy`, `mkHPrint`, and `mkHPrintLazy`.
diff --git a/src/Text/Show/Text.hs b/src/Text/Show/Text.hs
--- a/src/Text/Show/Text.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Show/Text.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
     , showbParen
       -- * 'Builder's
     , module Data.Text.Lazy.Builder
+    , toString
+    , toText
     , lengthB
     , replicateB
     , unlinesB
@@ -39,4 +41,5 @@
 
 import Text.Show.Text.Class
 import Text.Show.Text.Instances ()
-import Text.Show.Text.Utils (lengthB, replicateB, unlinesB, unwordsB)
+import Text.Show.Text.Utils (toString, toText, lengthB,
+                             replicateB, unlinesB, unwordsB)
diff --git a/src/Text/Show/Text/Utils.hs b/src/Text/Show/Text/Utils.hs
--- a/src/Text/Show/Text/Utils.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Show/Text/Utils.hs
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 
 import Data.Int (Int64)
 import Data.Monoid (Monoid(mappend, mempty))
-import Data.Text.Lazy (length, replicate)
+import Data.Text (Text)
+import Data.Text.Lazy (length, replicate, toStrict, unpack)
 import Data.Text.Lazy.Builder (Builder, fromLazyText, singleton, toLazyText)
 
 import GHC.Exts (Char(C#), Int(I#))
@@ -51,6 +52,17 @@
 replicateB :: Int64 -> Builder -> Builder
 replicateB n = fromLazyText . replicate n . toLazyText
 {-# INLINE replicateB #-}
+
+-- | Convert a 'Builder' to a 'String' (without surrounding it with double quotes,
+--   as 'show' would).
+toString :: Builder -> String
+toString = unpack . toLazyText
+{-# INLINE toString #-}
+
+-- | Convert a 'Builder' to a strict 'Text'.
+toText :: Builder -> Text
+toText = toStrict . toLazyText
+{-# INLINE toText #-}
 
 -- | Merges several 'Builder's, separating them by newlines.
 unlinesB :: [Builder] -> Builder
diff --git a/tests/Properties.hs b/tests/Properties.hs
--- a/tests/Properties.hs
+++ b/tests/Properties.hs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 module Main (main) where
 
 import Properties.BaseAndFriends (baseAndFriendsTests)
+import Properties.Builder        (builderTests)
 import Properties.Derived        (derivedTests)
 import Properties.MkShow         (mkShowTests)
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
 
 allTests :: [TestTree]
 allTests = concat [ baseAndFriendsTests
+                  , builderTests
                   , derivedTests
                   , mkShowTests
                   ]
diff --git a/tests/Properties/BaseAndFriends.hs b/tests/Properties/BaseAndFriends.hs
--- a/tests/Properties/BaseAndFriends.hs
+++ b/tests/Properties/BaseAndFriends.hs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 -- Stability   :  Experimental
 -- Portability :  GHC
 -- 
--- @QuickCheck@ properties for for data types located in @base@ and other
+-- @QuickCheck@ properties for data types located in @base@ and other
 -- common libraries.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 module Properties.BaseAndFriends (baseAndFriendsTests) where
diff --git a/tests/Properties/Builder.hs b/tests/Properties/Builder.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Properties/Builder.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- |
+-- Module      :  Properties
+-- Copyright   :  (C) 2014 Ryan Scott
+-- License     :  BSD-style (see the file LICENSE)
+-- Maintainer  :  Ryan Scott
+-- Stability   :  Experimental
+-- Portability :  GHC
+-- 
+-- @QuickCheck@ properties for functions that manipulate 'Builder's.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+module Properties.Builder (builderTests) where
+
+import Instances.BaseAndFriends ()
+
+import Test.Tasty (TestTree, testGroup)
+import Test.Tasty.QuickCheck (testProperty)
+
+import Text.Show.Text (Builder, fromString, fromText, lengthB, replicateB,
+                       singleton, toString, toText, unlinesB, unwordsB)
+
+-- | Verifies 'lengthB' and 'length' produce the same output.
+prop_lengthB :: String -> Bool
+prop_lengthB s = fromIntegral (lengthB $ fromString s) == length s
+
+-- | Verifies 'replicateB' and 'replicate' produce the same output.
+prop_replicateB :: Int -> Char -> Bool
+prop_replicateB i c = replicateB (fromIntegral i) (singleton c) == fromString (replicate i c)
+
+-- | Verifies @fromText . toText = id@.
+prop_toText :: Builder -> Bool
+prop_toText b = fromText (toText b) == b
+
+-- | Verifies @fromString . toString = id@.
+prop_toString :: Builder -> Bool
+prop_toString b = fromString (toString b) == b
+
+-- | Verifies 'unlinesB' and 'unlines' produce the same output.
+prop_unlinesB :: [String] -> Bool
+prop_unlinesB strs = unlinesB (map fromString strs) == fromString (unlines strs)
+
+-- | Verifies 'unwordsB' and 'unwords' produce the same output.
+prop_unwordsB :: [String] -> Bool
+prop_unwordsB strs = unwordsB (map fromString strs) == fromString (unwords strs)
+
+builderTests :: [TestTree]
+builderTests =
+    [ testGroup "Builder-related functions"
+        [ testProperty "lengthB output"             prop_lengthB
+        , testProperty "replicateB output"          prop_replicateB
+        , testProperty "fromString . toString = id" prop_toString
+        , testProperty "fromText . toText = id"     prop_toText
+        , testProperty "unlinesB output"            prop_unlinesB
+        , testProperty "unwordsB output"            prop_unwordsB
+        ]
+    ]
diff --git a/text-show.cabal b/text-show.cabal
--- a/text-show.cabal
+++ b/text-show.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                text-show
-version:             0.4
+version:             0.4.1
 synopsis:            Efficient conversion of values into Text
 description:         @text-show@ offers a replacement for the @Show@ typeclass intended
                      for use with @Text@ instead of @String@s. This package was created
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@
   other-modules:       Instances.BaseAndFriends
                        Instances.Derived
                        Properties.BaseAndFriends
+                       Properties.Builder
                        Properties.Derived
                        Properties.MkShow
                        Properties.Utils