diff --git a/dynomite-derive/src/lib.rs b/dynomite-derive/src/lib.rs
index e401add..e85bb17 100644
--- a/dynomite-derive/src/lib.rs
+++ b/dynomite-derive/src/lib.rs
@@ -704,6 +704,12 @@ fn get_item_trait(
     let partition_key_insert = partition_key_field.map(get_key_inserter).transpose()?;
     let sort_key_insert = sort_key_field.map(get_key_inserter).transpose()?;
 
+    let partition_key_tuple = partition_key_field.map(get_key_tuple);
+    let sort_key_tuple = sort_key_field
+        .map(get_key_tuple)
+        .map(|tuple| quote! { Some(#tuple) })
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| quote! { None });
+
     Ok(partition_key_field
         .map(|_| {
             quote! {
@@ -714,6 +720,14 @@ fn get_item_trait(
                         #sort_key_insert
                         keys
                     }
+
+                    fn partition_key(&self) -> (String, ::dynomite::dynamodb::AttributeValue) {
+                        #partition_key_tuple
+                    }
+
+                    fn sort_key(&self) -> Option<(String, ::dynomite::dynamodb::AttributeValue)> {
+                        #sort_key_tuple
+                    }
                 }
             }
         })
@@ -738,6 +752,19 @@ fn get_key_inserter(field: &ItemField) -> syn::Result<impl ToTokens> {
     })
 }
 
+/// ```rust,ignore
+/// ("field_deser_name", to_attribute_value(field))
+/// ```
+fn get_key_tuple(field: &ItemField) -> impl ToTokens {
+    let to_attribute_value = quote!(::dynomite::Attribute::into_attr);
+
+    let field_deser_name = field.deser_name();
+    let field_ident = &field.field.ident;
+    quote! {
+        (#field_deser_name.to_string(), #to_attribute_value(self.#field_ident.clone()))
+    }
+}
+
 /// ```rust,ignore
 /// #[derive(Item, Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 /// pub struct NameKey {
diff --git a/dynomite/src/lib.rs b/dynomite/src/lib.rs
index 2ee2387..693e02f 100644
--- a/dynomite/src/lib.rs
+++ b/dynomite/src/lib.rs
@@ -398,9 +398,17 @@ pub type Attributes = HashMap<String, AttributeValue>;
 /// impl Item for Person {
 ///     fn key(&self) -> Attributes {
 ///         let mut attrs = HashMap::new();
-///         attrs.insert("id".into(), "123".to_string().into_attr());
+///         attrs.insert("id".into(), self.id.clone().into_attr());
 ///         attrs
 ///     }
+///
+///     fn partition_key(&self) -> (String, AttributeValue) {
+///         ("id".into(), self.id.clone().into_attr())
+///     }
+///
+///     fn sort_key(&self) -> Option<(String, AttributeValue)> {
+///         None
+///     }
 /// }
 ///
 /// impl FromAttributes for Person {
@@ -518,6 +526,12 @@ pub trait Item: IntoAttributes + FromAttributes {
     ///
     /// This is often used in item look ups
     fn key(&self) -> Attributes;
+
+    /// Returns a tuple containing the name and value of the partition key
+    fn partition_key(&self) -> (String, AttributeValue);
+
+    /// Returns a tuple containing the name and value of the sort key, if this item has one
+    fn sort_key(&self) -> Option<(String, AttributeValue)>;
 }
 
 /// A type capable of being converted into an or from and AWS `AttributeValue`
diff --git a/dynomite/tests/derived.rs b/dynomite/tests/derived.rs
index b1a1300..09d720d 100644
--- a/dynomite/tests/derived.rs
+++ b/dynomite/tests/derived.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ impl Default for Category {
 pub struct Book {
     #[dynomite(partition_key)]
     title: String,
+    #[dynomite(sort_key)]
     category: Category,
     authors: Option<Vec<Author>>,
 }
@@ -130,6 +131,32 @@ mod tests {
             servings: 1,
         };
         assert_eq!(value.key(), RecipeKey { id: "test".into() }.into());
+        assert_eq!(
+            value.partition_key(),
+            ("RecipeId".to_string(), "test".to_string().into_attr())
+        );
+        assert!(value.sort_key().is_none());
+
+        let value = Book {
+            title: "rust".into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(
+            value.key(),
+            BookKey {
+                title: "rust".into(),
+                category: Category::Foo,
+            }
+            .into()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            value.partition_key(),
+            ("title".to_string(), "rust".to_string().into_attr())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            value.sort_key(),
+            Some(("category".to_string(), "Foo".to_string().into_attr()))
+        )
     }
 
     #[test]