diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 35bedf3..580757e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/) and
  
 ### Changed
 
+- all `read_file/3` and `write_file/3` functions on `RDF.Serialization` and the
+  modules of RDF serialization formats can use streaming via the `:stream` flag
+  option; for `read_file/3` and `write_file/3` it defaults to `false`, while for
+  `read_file!/3` and `write_file!/3` it defaults to `true` when the respective
+  format supports streams
 - the Inspect form of the RDF data structures are now Turtle-based and respect
   the usual `:limit` behaviour
 - more compact Inspect form for `RDF.PrefixMap`
@@ -27,7 +32,6 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/) and
   efficient in terms of performance and memory consumption than the previous
   ref-based blank nodes
   
-
 ### Fixed
 
 - `RDF.BlankNode`s based on refs weren't serializable to Turtle
diff --git a/lib/rdf/serialization/reader.ex b/lib/rdf/serialization/reader.ex
index 79719fd..2433b8f 100644
--- a/lib/rdf/serialization/reader.ex
+++ b/lib/rdf/serialization/reader.ex
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ defmodule RDF.Serialization.Reader do
              implicitly use the proper `RDF.Serialization.Decoder` module.
              """
 
-  alias RDF.{Dataset, Graph}
+  alias RDF.{Serialization, Dataset, Graph}
 
   @spec read_string(module, String.t(), keyword) :: {:ok, Graph.t() | Dataset.t()} | {:error, any}
   def read_string(decoder, content, opts \\ []) do
@@ -30,15 +30,44 @@ defmodule RDF.Serialization.Reader do
 
   @spec read_file(module, Path.t(), keyword) :: {:ok, Graph.t() | Dataset.t()} | {:error, any}
   def read_file(decoder, file, opts \\ []) do
+    decoder
+    |> Serialization.use_file_streaming(opts)
+    |> do_read_file(decoder, file, opts)
+  end
+
+  defp do_read_file(false, decoder, file, opts) do
     case File.read(file) do
-      {:ok, content} -> read_string(decoder, content, opts)
+      {:ok, content} -> decoder.decode(content, opts)
       {:error, reason} -> {:error, reason}
     end
   end
 
+  defp do_read_file(true, decoder, file, opts) do
+    {:ok,
+     file
+     |> File.stream!()
+     |> decoder.decode_from_stream(opts)}
+  rescue
+    error in RuntimeError -> {:error, error.message}
+    error -> {:error, error}
+  end
+
   @spec read_file!(module, Path.t(), keyword) :: Graph.t() | Dataset.t()
   def read_file!(decoder, file, opts \\ []) do
-    content = File.read!(file)
-    read_string!(decoder, content, opts)
+    decoder
+    |> Serialization.use_file_streaming!(opts)
+    |> do_read_file!(decoder, file, opts)
+  end
+
+  defp do_read_file!(false, decoder, file, opts) do
+    file
+    |> File.read!()
+    |> decoder.decode!(opts)
+  end
+
+  defp do_read_file!(true, decoder, file, opts) do
+    file
+    |> File.stream!()
+    |> decoder.decode_from_stream(opts)
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/rdf/serialization/serialization.ex b/lib/rdf/serialization/serialization.ex
index ff22f97..877d4ea 100644
--- a/lib/rdf/serialization/serialization.ex
+++ b/lib/rdf/serialization/serialization.ex
@@ -350,4 +350,37 @@ defmodule RDF.Serialization do
       {:error, "unable to detect serialization format"}
     end
   end
+
+  @doc false
+  def use_file_streaming(mod, opts) do
+    case Keyword.get(opts, :stream) do
+      true ->
+        if mod.stream_support?() do
+          true
+        else
+          raise "#{inspect(mod)} does not support streams"
+        end
+
+      _ ->
+        false
+    end
+  end
+
+  @doc false
+  def use_file_streaming!(mod, opts) do
+    case Keyword.get(opts, :stream) do
+      nil ->
+        mod.stream_support?()
+
+      true ->
+        if mod.stream_support?() do
+          true
+        else
+          raise "#{inspect(mod)} does not support streams"
+        end
+
+      false ->
+        false
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/rdf/serialization/writer.ex b/lib/rdf/serialization/writer.ex
index b0164ca..a0a3f9f 100644
--- a/lib/rdf/serialization/writer.ex
+++ b/lib/rdf/serialization/writer.ex
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ defmodule RDF.Serialization.Writer do
              implicitly use the proper `RDF.Serialization.Encoder` module.
              """
 
+  alias RDF.Serialization
+
   @default_file_mode ~w[write exclusive]a
 
   @spec write_string(module, RDF.Data.t(), keyword) :: {:ok, String.t()} | {:error, any}
@@ -30,16 +32,48 @@ defmodule RDF.Serialization.Writer do
 
   @spec write_file(module, RDF.Data.t(), Path.t(), keyword) :: :ok | {:error, any}
   def write_file(encoder, data, path, opts \\ []) do
-    with {:ok, encoded_string} <- write_string(encoder, data, opts) do
+    encoder
+    |> Serialization.use_file_streaming(opts)
+    |> do_write_file(encoder, data, path, opts)
+
+    :ok
+  rescue
+    error in RuntimeError -> {:error, error.message}
+    error -> {:error, error}
+  end
+
+  defp do_write_file(false, encoder, data, path, opts) do
+    with {:ok, encoded_string} <- encoder.encode(data, opts) do
       File.write(path, encoded_string, file_mode(encoder, opts))
     end
   end
 
+  defp do_write_file(true, encoder, data, path, opts) do
+    data
+    |> encoder.stream(opts)
+    |> Enum.into(File.stream!(path, file_mode(encoder, opts)))
+  end
+
   @spec write_file!(module, RDF.Data.t(), Path.t(), keyword) :: :ok
   def write_file!(encoder, data, path, opts \\ []) do
-    encoded_string = write_string!(encoder, data, opts)
+    encoder
+    |> Serialization.use_file_streaming!(opts)
+    |> do_write_file!(encoder, data, path, opts)
+  end
+
+  defp do_write_file!(false, encoder, data, path, opts) do
+    encoded_string = encoder.encode!(data, opts)
     File.write!(path, encoded_string, file_mode(encoder, opts))
   end
+  defp do_write_file!(true, encoder, data, path, opts) do
+    data
+    |> encoder.stream(opts)
+    |> Enum.into(File.stream!(path, file_mode(encoder, opts)))
+
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  end
 
   defp file_mode(_encoder, opts) do
     file_mode = Keyword.get(opts, :file_mode, @default_file_mode)
diff --git a/test/unit/serialization/serialization_test.exs b/test/unit/serialization/serialization_test.exs
index 06c4373..de7a394 100644
--- a/test/unit/serialization/serialization_test.exs
+++ b/test/unit/serialization/serialization_test.exs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ defmodule RDF.SerializationTest do
 
   doctest RDF.Serialization
 
-  alias RDF.Serialization
+  alias RDF.{Serialization, NTriples, Turtle}
 
   @example_graph Graph.new([{EX.S, RDF.type(), EX.O}], prefixes: %{"" => EX})
   @example_ntriples_file "test/data/serialization_test_graph.nt"
@@ -211,19 +211,17 @@ defmodule RDF.SerializationTest do
   end
 
   describe "write_file/2" do
-    test "without arguments, i.e. via file extension" do
-      file = file("write_file_test.ttl")
+    test "without :format option, i.e. via file extension and with streaming" do
+      file = file("write_file_test.nt")
       if File.exists?(file), do: File.rm(file)
 
-      assert Serialization.write_file(@example_graph, file, prefixes: %{"" => EX.__base_iri__()}) ==
-               :ok
-
+      assert Serialization.write_file(@example_graph, file, stream: true) == :ok
       assert File.exists?(file)
-      assert File.read!(file) == @example_turtle_string
+      assert File.read!(file) == @example_ntriples_string
       File.rm(file)
     end
 
-    test "with format name" do
+    test "with format name and without streaming" do
       file = file("write_file_test.nt")
       if File.exists?(file), do: File.rm(file)
 
@@ -239,7 +237,7 @@ defmodule RDF.SerializationTest do
   end
 
   describe "write_file!/2" do
-    test "without arguments, i.e. via file extension" do
+    test "without :format option, i.e. via file extension and without streaming" do
       file = file("write_file_test.ttl")
       if File.exists?(file), do: File.rm(file)
 
@@ -251,18 +249,62 @@ defmodule RDF.SerializationTest do
       File.rm(file)
     end
 
-    test "with format name" do
+    test "with format name and with streaming" do
       file = file("write_file_test.nt")
       if File.exists?(file), do: File.rm(file)
 
-      assert Serialization.write_file!(@example_graph, file,
-               format: :turtle,
-               prefixes: %{"" => EX.__base_iri__()}
-             ) == :ok
-
+      assert Serialization.write_file!(@example_graph, file, format: :ntriples) == :ok
       assert File.exists?(file)
-      assert File.read!(file) == @example_turtle_string
+      assert File.read!(file) == @example_ntriples_string
       File.rm(file)
     end
   end
+
+  describe "use_file_streaming/2" do
+    test "without opts" do
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming(NTriples.Decoder, [])
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming(NTriples.Encoder, [])
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming(Turtle.Decoder, [])
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming(Turtle.Encoder, [])
+    end
+
+    test "when stream: true and format does support streams" do
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming(NTriples.Decoder, stream: true)
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming(NTriples.Encoder, stream: true)
+    end
+
+    test "when stream: true and format does not support streams" do
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "RDF.Turtle.Decoder does not support streams", fn ->
+        Serialization.use_file_streaming(Turtle.Decoder, stream: true)
+      end
+
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "RDF.Turtle.Encoder does not support streams", fn ->
+        Serialization.use_file_streaming(Turtle.Encoder, stream: true)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "use_file_streaming!/2" do
+    test "without opts" do
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming!(NTriples.Decoder, [])
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming!(NTriples.Encoder, [])
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming!(Turtle.Decoder, [])
+      refute Serialization.use_file_streaming!(Turtle.Encoder, [])
+    end
+
+    test "when stream: true and format does support streams" do
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming!(NTriples.Decoder, stream: true)
+      assert Serialization.use_file_streaming!(NTriples.Encoder, stream: true)
+    end
+
+    test "when stream: true and format does not support streams" do
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "RDF.Turtle.Decoder does not support streams", fn ->
+        Serialization.use_file_streaming!(Turtle.Decoder, stream: true)
+      end
+
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "RDF.Turtle.Encoder does not support streams", fn ->
+        Serialization.use_file_streaming!(Turtle.Encoder, stream: true)
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end