diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/format.rs b/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
index dcafbc50d0c..d86e6839cfb 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use rustc::lint::*;
 use rustc::ty;
 use syntax::ast::LitKind;
 use utils::paths;
-use utils::{is_expn_of, match_def_path, match_type, opt_def_id, resolve_node, span_lint, walk_ptrs_ty};
+use utils::{is_expn_of, match_def_path, match_type, opt_def_id, resolve_node, snippet, span_lint_and_then, walk_ptrs_ty};
 
 /// **What it does:** Checks for the use of `format!("string literal with no
 /// argument")` and `format!("{}", foo)` where `foo` is a string.
@@ -53,14 +53,20 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> LateLintPass<'a, 'tcx> for Pass {
                         // and that the argument is a string
                         if check_arg_is_display(cx, &args[1]);
                         then {
-                            span_lint(cx, USELESS_FORMAT, span, "useless use of `format!`");
+                            let sugg = format!("{}.to_string()", snippet(cx, expr.span, "<expr>").into_owned());
+                            span_lint_and_then(cx, USELESS_FORMAT, span, "useless use of `format!`", |db| {
+                                db.span_suggestion(expr.span, "consider using .to_string()", sugg);
+                            });
                         }
                     }
                 },
                 // `format!("foo")` expansion contains `match () { () => [], }`
                 ExprMatch(ref matchee, _, _) => if let ExprTup(ref tup) = matchee.node {
                     if tup.is_empty() {
-                        span_lint(cx, USELESS_FORMAT, span, "useless use of `format!`");
+                        let sugg = format!("{}.to_string()", snippet(cx, expr.span, "<expr>").into_owned());
+                        span_lint_and_then(cx, USELESS_FORMAT, span, "useless use of `format!`", |db| {
+                            db.span_suggestion(span, "consider using .to_string()", sugg);
+                        });
                     }
                 },
                 _ => (),
diff --git a/tests/ui/format.stderr b/tests/ui/format.stderr
index 5f5bdc02a59..f08f0696e23 100644
--- a/tests/ui/format.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/format.stderr
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ error: useless use of `format!`
  --> $DIR/format.rs:6:5
   |
 6 |     format!("foo");
-  |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+  |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using .to_string(): `"foo".to_string()`
   |
   = note: `-D useless-format` implied by `-D warnings`