diff --git a/fs/operations/rc.go b/fs/operations/rc.go
index 644a947e9..ce92a0024 100644
--- a/fs/operations/rc.go
+++ b/fs/operations/rc.go
@@ -921,6 +921,18 @@ See the [hashsum](/commands/rclone_hashsum/) command for more information on the
 	})
 }
 
+// Parse download, base64 and hashType parameters
+func parseHashParameters(in rc.Params) (download bool, base64 bool, ht hash.Type, err error) {
+	download, _ = in.GetBool("download")
+	base64, _ = in.GetBool("base64")
+	hashType, err := in.GetString("hashType")
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	err = ht.Set(hashType)
+	return
+}
+
 // Hashsum a directory
 func rcHashsum(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
 	ctx, f, err := rc.GetFsNamedFileOK(ctx, in, "fs")
@@ -928,16 +940,9 @@ func rcHashsum(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	download, _ := in.GetBool("download")
-	base64, _ := in.GetBool("base64")
-	hashType, err := in.GetString("hashType")
+	download, base64, ht, err := parseHashParameters(in)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s\n%w", hash.HelpString(0), err)
-	}
-	var ht hash.Type
-	err = ht.Set(hashType)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s\n%w", hash.HelpString(0), err)
+		return out, err
 	}
 
 	hashes := []string{}
@@ -948,3 +953,64 @@ func rcHashsum(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
 	}
 	return out, err
 }
+
+func init() {
+	rc.Add(rc.Call{
+		Path:         "operations/hashsumfile",
+		AuthRequired: true,
+		Fn:           rcHashsumFile,
+		Title:        "Produces a hash for a single file.",
+		Help: `Produces a hash for a single file using the hash named.
+
+This takes the following parameters:
+
+- fs - a remote name string e.g. "drive:"
+- remote - a path within that remote e.g. "file.txt"
+- hashType - type of hash to be used
+- download - check by downloading rather than with hash (boolean)
+- base64 - output the hashes in base64 rather than hex (boolean)
+
+If you supply the download flag, it will download the data from the
+remote and create the hash on the fly. This can be useful for remotes
+that don't support the given hash or if you really want to read all
+the data.
+
+Returns:
+
+- hash - hash for the file
+- hashType - type of hash used
+
+Example:
+
+    $ rclone rc --loopback operations/hashsumfile fs=/ remote=/bin/bash hashType=MD5 download=true base64=true
+    {
+        "hashType": "md5",
+        "hash": "MDMw-fG2YXs7Uz5Nz-H68A=="
+    }
+
+See the [hashsum](/commands/rclone_hashsum/) command for more information on the above.
+`,
+	})
+}
+
+// Hashsum a file
+func rcHashsumFile(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
+	f, remote, err := rc.GetFsAndRemote(ctx, in)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	download, base64, ht, err := parseHashParameters(in)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	o, err := f.NewObject(ctx, remote)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	sum, err := HashSum(ctx, ht, base64, download, o)
+	out = rc.Params{
+		"hashType": ht.String(),
+		"hash":     sum,
+	}
+	return out, err
+}
diff --git a/fs/operations/rc_test.go b/fs/operations/rc_test.go
index f8b3cb6f3..04357fb72 100644
--- a/fs/operations/rc_test.go
+++ b/fs/operations/rc_test.go
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ func TestRcHashsum(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // operations/hashsum: hashsum a single file
-func TestRcHashsumFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestRcHashsumSingleFile(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	r, call := rcNewRun(t, "operations/hashsum")
 	r.Mkdir(ctx, r.Fremote)
@@ -866,3 +866,27 @@ func TestRcHashsumFile(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "md5", out["hashType"])
 	assert.Equal(t, []string{"0ef726ce9b1a7692357ff70dd321d595  hashsum-file1"}, out["hashsum"])
 }
+
+// operations/hashsumfile: hashsum a single file
+func TestRcHashsumFile(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	r, call := rcNewRun(t, "operations/hashsumfile")
+	r.Mkdir(ctx, r.Fremote)
+
+	file1Contents := "file1 contents"
+	file1 := r.WriteBoth(ctx, "hashsumfile-file1", file1Contents, t1)
+	r.CheckLocalItems(t, file1)
+	r.CheckRemoteItems(t, file1)
+
+	in := rc.Params{
+		"fs":       r.FremoteName,
+		"remote":   file1.Path,
+		"hashType": "MD5",
+		"download": true,
+	}
+
+	out, err := call.Fn(ctx, in)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "md5", out["hashType"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "0ef726ce9b1a7692357ff70dd321d595", out["hash"])
+}