diff --git a/include/hw/ptimer.h b/include/hw/ptimer.h
index eafc3f0a86..fc4ef5cc1d 100644
--- a/include/hw/ptimer.h
+++ b/include/hw/ptimer.h
@@ -12,6 +12,20 @@
 #include "qemu/timer.h"
 #include "migration/vmstate.h"
 
+/* The ptimer API implements a simple periodic countdown timer.
+ * The countdown timer has a value (which can be read and written via
+ * ptimer_get_count() and ptimer_set_count()). When it is enabled
+ * using ptimer_run(), the value will count downwards at the frequency
+ * which has been configured using ptimer_set_period() or ptimer_set_freq().
+ * When it reaches zero it will trigger a QEMU bottom half handler, and
+ * can be set to either reload itself from a specified limit value
+ * and keep counting down, or to stop (as a one-shot timer).
+ *
+ * Forgetting to set the period/frequency (or setting it to zero) is a
+ * bug in the QEMU device and will cause warning messages to be printed
+ * to stderr when the guest attempts to enable the timer.
+ */
+
 /* The default ptimer policy retains backward compatibility with the legacy
  * timers. Custom policies are adjusting the default one. Consider providing
  * a correct policy for your timer.
@@ -59,15 +73,121 @@
 typedef struct ptimer_state ptimer_state;
 typedef void (*ptimer_cb)(void *opaque);
 
+/**
+ * ptimer_init - Allocate and return a new ptimer
+ * @bh: QEMU bottom half which is run on timer expiry
+ * @policy: PTIMER_POLICY_* bits specifying behaviour
+ *
+ * The ptimer returned must be freed using ptimer_free().
+ * The ptimer takes ownership of @bh and will delete it
+ * when the ptimer is eventually freed.
+ */
 ptimer_state *ptimer_init(QEMUBH *bh, uint8_t policy_mask);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_free - Free a ptimer
+ * @s: timer to free
+ *
+ * Free a ptimer created using ptimer_init() (including
+ * deleting the bottom half which it is using).
+ */
 void ptimer_free(ptimer_state *s);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_set_period - Set counter increment interval in nanoseconds
+ * @s: ptimer to configure
+ * @period: period of the counter in nanoseconds
+ *
+ * Note that if your counter behaviour is specified as having a
+ * particular frequency rather than a period then ptimer_set_freq()
+ * may be more appropriate.
+ */
 void ptimer_set_period(ptimer_state *s, int64_t period);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_set_freq - Set counter frequency in Hz
+ * @s: ptimer to configure
+ * @freq: counter frequency in Hz
+ *
+ * This does the same thing as ptimer_set_period(), so you only
+ * need to call one of them. If the counter behaviour is specified
+ * as setting the frequency then this function is more appropriate,
+ * because it allows specifying an effective period which is
+ * precise to fractions of a nanosecond, avoiding rounding errors.
+ */
 void ptimer_set_freq(ptimer_state *s, uint32_t freq);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_get_limit - Get the configured limit of the ptimer
+ * @s: ptimer to query
+ *
+ * This function returns the current limit (reload) value
+ * of the down-counter; that is, the value which it will be
+ * reset to when it hits zero.
+ *
+ * Generally timer devices using ptimers should be able to keep
+ * their reload register state inside the ptimer using the get
+ * and set limit functions rather than needing to also track it
+ * in their own state structure.
+ */
 uint64_t ptimer_get_limit(ptimer_state *s);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_set_limit - Set the limit of the ptimer
+ * @s: ptimer
+ * @limit: initial countdown value
+ * @reload: if nonzero, then reset the counter to the new limit
+ *
+ * Set the limit value of the down-counter. The @reload flag can
+ * be used to emulate the behaviour of timers which immediately
+ * reload the counter when their reload register is written to.
+ */
 void ptimer_set_limit(ptimer_state *s, uint64_t limit, int reload);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_get_count - Get the current value of the ptimer
+ * @s: ptimer
+ *
+ * Return the current value of the down-counter. This will
+ * return the correct value whether the counter is enabled or
+ * disabled.
+ */
 uint64_t ptimer_get_count(ptimer_state *s);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_set_count - Set the current value of the ptimer
+ * @s: ptimer
+ * @count: count value to set
+ *
+ * Set the value of the down-counter. If the counter is currently
+ * enabled this will arrange for a timer callback at the appropriate
+ * point in the future.
+ */
 void ptimer_set_count(ptimer_state *s, uint64_t count);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_run - Start a ptimer counting
+ * @s: ptimer
+ * @oneshot: non-zero if this timer should only count down once
+ *
+ * Start a ptimer counting down; when it reaches zero the bottom half
+ * passed to ptimer_init() will be invoked. If the @oneshot argument is zero,
+ * the counter value will then be reloaded from the limit and it will
+ * start counting down again. If @oneshot is non-zero, then the counter
+ * will disable itself when it reaches zero.
+ */
 void ptimer_run(ptimer_state *s, int oneshot);
+
+/**
+ * ptimer_stop - Stop a ptimer counting
+ * @s: ptimer
+ *
+ * Pause a timer (the count stays at its current value until ptimer_run()
+ * is called to start it counting again).
+ *
+ * Note that this can cause it to "lose" time, even if it is immediately
+ * restarted.
+ */
 void ptimer_stop(ptimer_state *s);
 
 extern const VMStateDescription vmstate_ptimer;
