diff --git a/include/net/can_emu.h b/include/net/can_emu.h
index cab98ee8ec..6f9b206bb5 100644
--- a/include/net/can_emu.h
+++ b/include/net/can_emu.h
@@ -122,4 +122,8 @@ int can_bus_client_set_filters(CanBusClientState *,
                                const struct qemu_can_filter *filters,
                                size_t filters_cnt);
 
+uint8_t can_dlc2len(uint8_t can_dlc);
+
+uint8_t can_len2dlc(uint8_t len);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/net/can/can_core.c b/net/can/can_core.c
index 90f4d8576a..0115d78794 100644
--- a/net/can/can_core.c
+++ b/net/can/can_core.c
@@ -33,6 +33,42 @@
 #include "net/can_emu.h"
 #include "qom/object_interfaces.h"
 
+/* CAN DLC to real data length conversion helpers */
+
+static const uint8_t dlc2len[] = {
+    0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
+    8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 48, 64
+};
+
+/* get data length from can_dlc with sanitized can_dlc */
+uint8_t can_dlc2len(uint8_t can_dlc)
+{
+    return dlc2len[can_dlc & 0x0F];
+}
+
+static const uint8_t len2dlc[] = {
+    0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,                              /* 0 - 8 */
+    9, 9, 9, 9,                                             /* 9 - 12 */
+    10, 10, 10, 10,                                         /* 13 - 16 */
+    11, 11, 11, 11,                                         /* 17 - 20 */
+    12, 12, 12, 12,                                         /* 21 - 24 */
+    13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13,                         /* 25 - 32 */
+    14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14,                         /* 33 - 40 */
+    14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14,                         /* 41 - 48 */
+    15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15,                         /* 49 - 56 */
+    15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15                          /* 57 - 64 */
+};
+
+/* map the sanitized data length to an appropriate data length code */
+uint8_t can_len2dlc(uint8_t len)
+{
+    if (unlikely(len > 64)) {
+        return 0xF;
+    }
+
+    return len2dlc[len];
+}
+
 struct CanBusState {
     Object object;