diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Foldable.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Foldable.scala
index 0d81c48eb8..65c0630ebb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Foldable.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Foldable.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cats
 import cats.Foldable.sentinel
 import cats.instances.either._
 import cats.kernel.CommutativeMonoid
+import cats.syntax.foldable
 import simulacrum.typeclass
 
 import scala.collection.mutable
@@ -239,9 +240,7 @@ import scala.collection.mutable
    * Fold implemented using the given Monoid[A] instance.
    */
   def fold[A](fa: F[A])(implicit A: Monoid[A]): A =
-    foldLeft(fa, A.empty) { (acc, a) =>
-      A.combine(acc, a)
-    }
+    A.combineAll(foldable.catsSyntaxFoldableOps0(fa).toIterable(this))
 
   /**
    * Alias for [[fold]].
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/foldable.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/foldable.scala
index 4fdf6f86e3..322a4594e7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/foldable.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/foldable.scala
@@ -332,6 +332,18 @@ final class FoldableOps0[F[_], A](private val fa: F[A]) extends AnyVal {
   def maximumByOption[B: Order](f: A => B)(implicit F: Foldable[F]): Option[A] =
     F.maximumOption(fa)(Order.by(f))
 
+  def combineAllOption(implicit ev: Semigroup[A], F: Foldable[F]): Option[A] =
+    if (F.isEmpty(fa)) None else ev.combineAllOption(toIterable)
+
+  /**
+   * Convert F[A] to an Iterable[A].
+   *
+   * This method may be overridden for the sake of performance, but implementers should take care
+   * not to force a full materialization of the collection.
+   */
+  def toIterable(implicit F: Foldable[F]): Iterable[A] =
+    F.foldRight[A, Stream[A]](fa, Eval.now(Stream.empty))((a, eb) => eb.map(Stream.cons(a, _))).value
+
   /**
    * Implementers are responsible for ensuring they maintain consistency with foldRight; this is not checked by laws on Scala 2.11
    */
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/FoldableSuite.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/FoldableSuite.scala
index 6f25d19db8..f3fd05e362 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/FoldableSuite.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/FoldableSuite.scala
@@ -214,6 +214,20 @@ abstract class FoldableSuite[F[_]: Foldable](name: String)(implicit ArbFInt: Arb
     }
   }
 
+  test(s"Foldable[$name].combineAllOption") {
+    forAll { (fa: F[Int]) =>
+      fa.combineAllOption should ===(fa.toList.combineAllOption)
+      fa.combineAllOption should ===(iterator(fa).toList.combineAllOption)
+    }
+  }
+
+  test(s"Foldable[$name].iterable") {
+    forAll { (fa: F[Int]) =>
+      fa.toIterable.toList should ===(fa.toList)
+      fa.toIterable.toList should ===(iterator(fa).toList)
+    }
+  }
+
   test(s"Foldable[$name].intercalate") {
     forAll { (fa: F[String], a: String) =>
       fa.intercalate(a) should ===(fa.toList.mkString(a))