diff --git a/sys/include/net/coap.h b/sys/include/net/coap.h
index dca1f4bae0fd..7da367af581f 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/coap.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/coap.h
@@ -163,14 +163,20 @@ extern "C" {
  * @name    CoAP method codes used in header
  * @{
  */
-#define COAP_CLASS_REQ          (0)
-#define COAP_METHOD_GET         (1)
-#define COAP_METHOD_POST        (2)
-#define COAP_METHOD_PUT         (3)
-#define COAP_METHOD_DELETE      (4)
-#define COAP_METHOD_FETCH       (5)
-#define COAP_METHOD_PATCH       (6)
-#define COAP_METHOD_IPATCH      (7)
+#define COAP_CLASS_REQ          (0) /**< Code Class for Request */
+
+/**
+ * @brief   CoAP method codes used in request
+ */
+typedef enum {
+    COAP_METHOD_GET    = 1,         /**< GET request (no paylod) */
+    COAP_METHOD_POST   = 2,         /**< POST request (resource processes payload) */
+    COAP_METHOD_PUT    = 3,         /**< PUT request (update resource with payload) */
+    COAP_METHOD_DELETE = 4,         /**< DELETE request (no payload, remove resource)*/
+    COAP_METHOD_FETCH  = 5,         /**< FETCH request (RFC 8132) */
+    COAP_METHOD_PATCH  = 6,         /**< PATCH request (RFC 8132) */
+    COAP_METHOD_IPATCH = 7,         /**< iPATCH request (RFC 8132) */
+} coap_method_t;
 /** @} */
 
 /**
diff --git a/sys/include/net/nanocoap_sock.h b/sys/include/net/nanocoap_sock.h
index aee225d2c472..9917996df885 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/nanocoap_sock.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/nanocoap_sock.h
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ typedef struct {
     nanocoap_sock_t *sock;          /**< socket used for the request        */
     const char *path;               /**< path on the server                 */
     uint32_t blknum;                /**< current block number               */
-    uint8_t method;                 /**< request method (GET, POST, PUT)    */
+    coap_method_t method;           /**< request method (GET, POST, PUT)    */
     uint8_t blksize;                /**< CoAP blocksize exponent            */
 } coap_block_request_t;
 
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ ssize_t nanocoap_request(coap_pkt_t *pkt, const sock_udp_ep_t *local,
 static inline int nanocoap_block_request_connect_url(coap_block_request_t *ctx,
                                                      nanocoap_sock_t *sock,
                                                      const char *url,
-                                                     uint8_t method,
+                                                     coap_method_t method,
                                                      coap_blksize_t blksize)
 {
     ctx->sock = sock;