diff --git a/lib/Slic3r/ExPolygon.pm b/lib/Slic3r/ExPolygon.pm
index 164ee4590..c37b86074 100644
--- a/lib/Slic3r/ExPolygon.pm
+++ b/lib/Slic3r/ExPolygon.pm
@@ -126,13 +126,6 @@ sub simplify {
     return @{ Slic3r::Geometry::Clipper::union_ex([ $self->simplify_as_polygons($tolerance) ]) };
 }
 
-sub area {
-    my $self = shift;
-    my $area = $self->contour->area;
-    $area -= $_->area for $self->holes;
-    return $area;
-}
-
 # this method only works for expolygons having only a contour or
 # a contour and a hole, and not being thicker than the supplied 
 # width. it returns a polyline or a polygon
diff --git a/xs/src/ExPolygon.cpp b/xs/src/ExPolygon.cpp
index 4805b156e..33d71b497 100644
--- a/xs/src/ExPolygon.cpp
+++ b/xs/src/ExPolygon.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ ExPolygon::rotate(double angle, Point* center)
     }
 }
 
+double
+ExPolygon::area() const
+{
+    double a = this->contour.area();
+    for (Polygons::const_iterator it = this->holes.begin(); it != this->holes.end(); ++it) {
+        a -= -(*it).area();  // holes have negative area
+    }
+    return a;
+}
+
 SV*
 ExPolygon::to_SV() {
     const unsigned int num_holes = this->holes.size();
diff --git a/xs/src/ExPolygon.hpp b/xs/src/ExPolygon.hpp
index c7431c224..62f919ead 100644
--- a/xs/src/ExPolygon.hpp
+++ b/xs/src/ExPolygon.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class ExPolygon
     void scale(double factor);
     void translate(double x, double y);
     void rotate(double angle, Point* center);
+    double area() const;
 };
 
 typedef std::vector<ExPolygon> ExPolygons;
diff --git a/xs/src/Polygon.cpp b/xs/src/Polygon.cpp
index bff261c25..fc3f54f57 100644
--- a/xs/src/Polygon.cpp
+++ b/xs/src/Polygon.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ Polygon::split_at_first_point()
 }
 
 double
-Polygon::area()
+Polygon::area() const
 {
     ClipperLib::Polygon p;
     Slic3rPolygon_to_ClipperPolygon(*this, p);
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ Polygon::area()
 }
 
 bool
-Polygon::is_counter_clockwise()
+Polygon::is_counter_clockwise() const
 {
     ClipperLib::Polygon* p = new ClipperLib::Polygon();
     Slic3rPolygon_to_ClipperPolygon(*this, *p);
diff --git a/xs/src/Polygon.hpp b/xs/src/Polygon.hpp
index 7186eb65a..dcab04059 100644
--- a/xs/src/Polygon.hpp
+++ b/xs/src/Polygon.hpp
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ class Polygon : public MultiPoint {
     Polyline* split_at(const Point* point);
     Polyline* split_at_index(int index);
     Polyline* split_at_first_point();
-    double area();
-    bool is_counter_clockwise();
+    double area() const;
+    bool is_counter_clockwise() const;
     bool make_counter_clockwise();
     bool make_clockwise();
 };
diff --git a/xs/t/04_expolygon.t b/xs/t/04_expolygon.t
index dd5d23288..aa87bc74b 100644
--- a/xs/t/04_expolygon.t
+++ b/xs/t/04_expolygon.t
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use strict;
 use warnings;
 
 use Slic3r::XS;
-use Test::More tests => 17;
+use Test::More tests => 18;
 
 use constant PI => 4 * atan2(1, 1);
 
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ is_deeply $expolygon->clone->pp, [$square, $hole_in_square], 'clone';
 # The following tests implicitely check that modifying clones
 # does not modify the original one.
 
+is $expolygon->area, 100*100-20*20, 'area';
+
 {
     my $expolygon2 = $expolygon->clone;
     $expolygon2->scale(2.5);
diff --git a/xs/xsp/ExPolygon.xsp b/xs/xsp/ExPolygon.xsp
index 224f97fc6..49582642a 100644
--- a/xs/xsp/ExPolygon.xsp
+++ b/xs/xsp/ExPolygon.xsp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
         %code{% RETVAL = THIS->to_SV_pureperl(); %};
     void scale(double factor);
     void translate(double x, double y);
+    double area();
 %{
 
 ExPolygon*