diff --git a/docs/content/docs.md b/docs/content/docs.md
index 4a1c341ab..52ba64a1d 100644
--- a/docs/content/docs.md
+++ b/docs/content/docs.md
@@ -879,6 +879,17 @@ This can have a modifier appended with a comma:
 
 - `ascending` or `asc` - order so that the smallest (or oldest) is processed first
 - `descending` or `desc` - order so that the largest (or newest) is processed first
+- `mixed` - order so that the smallest is processed first for some threads and the largest for others
+
+If the modifier is `mixed` then it can have an optional percentage
+(which defaults to `50`), eg `size,mixed,25` which means that 25% of
+the threads should be taking the smallest items and 75% the
+largest. The threads which take the smallest first will always take
+the smallest first and likewise the largest first threads. The `mixed`
+mode can be useful to minimise the transfer time when you are
+transferring a mixture of large and small files - the large files are
+guaranteed upload threads and bandwidth and the small files will be
+processed continuously.
 
 If no modifier is supplied then the order is `ascending`.
 
diff --git a/fs/sync/pipe.go b/fs/sync/pipe.go
index 1e19e39c6..5e2b39b01 100644
--- a/fs/sync/pipe.go
+++ b/fs/sync/pipe.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package sync
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -25,17 +26,19 @@ type pipe struct {
 	totalSize int64
 	stats     func(items int, totalSize int64)
 	less      lessFn
+	fraction  int
 }
 
 func newPipe(orderBy string, stats func(items int, totalSize int64), maxBacklog int) (*pipe, error) {
-	less, err := newLess(orderBy)
+	less, fraction, err := newLess(orderBy)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fserrors.FatalError(err)
 	}
 	p := &pipe{
-		c:     make(chan struct{}, maxBacklog),
-		stats: stats,
-		less:  less,
+		c:        make(chan struct{}, maxBacklog),
+		stats:    stats,
+		less:     less,
+		fraction: fraction,
 	}
 	if p.less != nil {
 		deheap.Init(p)
@@ -105,9 +108,12 @@ func (p *pipe) Put(ctx context.Context, pair fs.ObjectPair) (ok bool) {
 
 // Get a pair from the pipe
 //
+// If fraction is > the mixed fraction set in the pipe then it gets it
+// from the other end of the heap if order-by is in effect
+//
 // It returns ok = false if the context was cancelled or Close() has
 // been called.
-func (p *pipe) Get(ctx context.Context) (pair fs.ObjectPair, ok bool) {
+func (p *pipe) GetMax(ctx context.Context, fraction int) (pair fs.ObjectPair, ok bool) {
 	if ctx.Err() != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -125,8 +131,10 @@ func (p *pipe) Get(ctx context.Context) (pair fs.ObjectPair, ok bool) {
 		pair = p.queue[0]
 		p.queue[0] = fs.ObjectPair{} // avoid memory leak
 		p.queue = p.queue[1:]
-	} else {
+	} else if p.fraction < 0 || fraction < p.fraction {
 		pair = deheap.Pop(p).(fs.ObjectPair)
+	} else {
+		pair = deheap.PopMax(p).(fs.ObjectPair)
 	}
 	size := pair.Src.Size()
 	if size > 0 {
@@ -140,6 +148,14 @@ func (p *pipe) Get(ctx context.Context) (pair fs.ObjectPair, ok bool) {
 	return pair, true
 }
 
+// Get a pair from the pipe
+//
+// It returns ok = false if the context was cancelled or Close() has
+// been called.
+func (p *pipe) Get(ctx context.Context) (pair fs.ObjectPair, ok bool) {
+	return p.GetMax(ctx, -1)
+}
+
 // Stats reads the number of items in the queue and the totalSize
 func (p *pipe) Stats() (items int, totalSize int64) {
 	p.mu.Lock()
@@ -160,14 +176,12 @@ func (p *pipe) Close() {
 
 // newLess returns a less function for the heap comparison or nil if
 // one is not required
-func newLess(orderBy string) (less lessFn, err error) {
+func newLess(orderBy string) (less lessFn, fraction int, err error) {
+	fraction = -1
 	if orderBy == "" {
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil, fraction, nil
 	}
 	parts := strings.Split(strings.ToLower(orderBy), ",")
-	if len(parts) > 2 {
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("bad --order-by string %q", orderBy)
-	}
 	switch parts[0] {
 	case "name":
 		less = func(a, b fs.ObjectPair) bool {
@@ -183,7 +197,7 @@ func newLess(orderBy string) (less lessFn, err error) {
 			return a.Src.ModTime(ctx).Before(b.Src.ModTime(ctx))
 		}
 	default:
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("unknown --order-by comparison %q", parts[0])
+		return nil, fraction, errors.Errorf("unknown --order-by comparison %q", parts[0])
 	}
 	descending := false
 	if len(parts) > 1 {
@@ -191,15 +205,27 @@ func newLess(orderBy string) (less lessFn, err error) {
 		case "ascending", "asc":
 		case "descending", "desc":
 			descending = true
+		case "mixed":
+			fraction = 50
+			if len(parts) > 2 {
+				fraction, err = strconv.Atoi(parts[2])
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fraction, errors.Errorf("bad mixed fraction --order-by %q", parts[2])
+				}
+			}
+
 		default:
-			return nil, errors.Errorf("unknown --order-by sort direction %q", parts[1])
+			return nil, fraction, errors.Errorf("unknown --order-by sort direction %q", parts[1])
 		}
 	}
+	if (fraction >= 0 && len(parts) > 3) || (fraction < 0 && len(parts) > 2) {
+		return nil, fraction, errors.Errorf("bad --order-by string %q", orderBy)
+	}
 	if descending {
 		oldLess := less
 		less = func(a, b fs.ObjectPair) bool {
 			return !oldLess(a, b)
 		}
 	}
-	return less, nil
+	return less, fraction, nil
 }
diff --git a/fs/sync/pipe_test.go b/fs/sync/pipe_test.go
index 59506bcc1..84c9129e5 100644
--- a/fs/sync/pipe_test.go
+++ b/fs/sync/pipe_test.go
@@ -143,32 +143,37 @@ func TestPipeOrderBy(t *testing.T) {
 		orderBy  string
 		swapped1 bool
 		swapped2 bool
+		fraction int
 	}{
-		{"", false, true},
-		{"size", false, false},
-		{"name", true, true},
-		{"modtime", false, true},
-		{"size,ascending", false, false},
-		{"name,asc", true, true},
-		{"modtime,ascending", false, true},
-		{"size,descending", true, true},
-		{"name,desc", false, false},
-		{"modtime,descending", true, false},
+		{"", false, true, -1},
+		{"size", false, false, -1},
+		{"name", true, true, -1},
+		{"modtime", false, true, -1},
+		{"size,ascending", false, false, -1},
+		{"name,asc", true, true, -1},
+		{"modtime,ascending", false, true, -1},
+		{"size,descending", true, true, -1},
+		{"name,desc", false, false, -1},
+		{"modtime,descending", true, false, -1},
+		{"size,mixed,50", false, false, 25},
+		{"size,mixed,51", true, true, 75},
 	} {
 		t.Run(test.orderBy, func(t *testing.T) {
 			p, err := newPipe(test.orderBy, stats, 10)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
-			ok := p.Put(ctx, pair1)
-			assert.True(t, ok)
-			ok = p.Put(ctx, pair2)
-			assert.True(t, ok)
-
 			readAndCheck := func(swapped bool) {
-				readFirst, ok := p.Get(ctx)
-				assert.True(t, ok)
-				readSecond, ok := p.Get(ctx)
-				assert.True(t, ok)
+				var readFirst, readSecond fs.ObjectPair
+				var ok1, ok2 bool
+				if test.fraction < 0 {
+					readFirst, ok1 = p.Get(ctx)
+					readSecond, ok2 = p.Get(ctx)
+				} else {
+					readFirst, ok1 = p.GetMax(ctx, test.fraction)
+					readSecond, ok2 = p.GetMax(ctx, test.fraction)
+				}
+				assert.True(t, ok1)
+				assert.True(t, ok2)
 
 				if swapped {
 					assert.True(t, readFirst == pair2 && readSecond == pair1)
@@ -177,6 +182,11 @@ func TestPipeOrderBy(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 
+			ok := p.Put(ctx, pair1)
+			assert.True(t, ok)
+			ok = p.Put(ctx, pair2)
+			assert.True(t, ok)
+
 			readAndCheck(test.swapped1)
 
 			// insert other way round
@@ -193,25 +203,37 @@ func TestPipeOrderBy(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestNewLess(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("blankOK", func(t *testing.T) {
-		less, err := newLess("")
+		less, _, err := newLess("")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Nil(t, less)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("tooManyParts", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := newLess("too,many,parts")
+		_, _, err := newLess("size,asc,toomanyparts")
 		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "bad --order-by string")
 	})
 
+	t.Run("tooManyParts2", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, _, err := newLess("size,mixed,50,toomanyparts")
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "bad --order-by string")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("badMixed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, _, err := newLess("size,mixed,32.7")
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "bad mixed fraction")
+	})
+
 	t.Run("unknownComparison", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := newLess("potato")
+		_, _, err := newLess("potato")
 		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "unknown --order-by comparison")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("unknownSortDirection", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := newLess("name,sideways")
+		_, _, err := newLess("name,sideways")
 		require.Error(t, err)
 		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "unknown --order-by sort direction")
 	})
@@ -227,19 +249,23 @@ func TestNewLess(t *testing.T) {
 		orderBy        string
 		pair1LessPair2 bool
 		pair2LessPair1 bool
+		wantFraction   int
 	}{
-		{"size", true, false},
-		{"name", false, true},
-		{"modtime", false, false},
-		{"size,ascending", true, false},
-		{"name,asc", false, true},
-		{"modtime,ascending", false, false},
-		{"size,descending", false, true},
-		{"name,desc", true, false},
-		{"modtime,descending", true, true},
+		{"size", true, false, -1},
+		{"name", false, true, -1},
+		{"modtime", false, false, -1},
+		{"size,ascending", true, false, -1},
+		{"name,asc", false, true, -1},
+		{"modtime,ascending", false, false, -1},
+		{"size,descending", false, true, -1},
+		{"name,desc", true, false, -1},
+		{"modtime,descending", true, true, -1},
+		{"modtime,mixed", false, false, 50},
+		{"modtime,mixed,30", false, false, 30},
 	} {
 		t.Run(test.orderBy, func(t *testing.T) {
-			less, err := newLess(test.orderBy)
+			less, gotFraction, err := newLess(test.orderBy)
+			assert.Equal(t, test.wantFraction, gotFraction)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.NotNil(t, less)
 			pair1LessPair2 := less(pair1, pair2)
diff --git a/fs/sync/sync.go b/fs/sync/sync.go
index c3887c9e6..8bab3bb97 100644
--- a/fs/sync/sync.go
+++ b/fs/sync/sync.go
@@ -241,10 +241,10 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) currentError() error {
 // pairChecker reads Objects~s on in send to out if they need transferring.
 //
 // FIXME potentially doing lots of hashes at once
-func (s *syncCopyMove) pairChecker(in *pipe, out *pipe, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+func (s *syncCopyMove) pairChecker(in *pipe, out *pipe, fraction int, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 	defer wg.Done()
 	for {
-		pair, ok := in.Get(s.ctx)
+		pair, ok := in.GetMax(s.ctx, fraction)
 		if !ok {
 			return
 		}
@@ -297,10 +297,10 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) pairChecker(in *pipe, out *pipe, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 
 // pairRenamer reads Objects~s on in and attempts to rename them,
 // otherwise it sends them out if they need transferring.
-func (s *syncCopyMove) pairRenamer(in *pipe, out *pipe, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+func (s *syncCopyMove) pairRenamer(in *pipe, out *pipe, fraction int, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 	defer wg.Done()
 	for {
-		pair, ok := in.Get(s.ctx)
+		pair, ok := in.GetMax(s.ctx, fraction)
 		if !ok {
 			return
 		}
@@ -316,11 +316,11 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) pairRenamer(in *pipe, out *pipe, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 }
 
 // pairCopyOrMove reads Objects on in and moves or copies them.
-func (s *syncCopyMove) pairCopyOrMove(ctx context.Context, in *pipe, fdst fs.Fs, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+func (s *syncCopyMove) pairCopyOrMove(ctx context.Context, in *pipe, fdst fs.Fs, fraction int, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
 	defer wg.Done()
 	var err error
 	for {
-		pair, ok := in.Get(s.ctx)
+		pair, ok := in.GetMax(s.ctx, fraction)
 		if !ok {
 			return
 		}
@@ -338,7 +338,8 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) pairCopyOrMove(ctx context.Context, in *pipe, fdst fs.Fs,
 func (s *syncCopyMove) startCheckers() {
 	s.checkerWg.Add(fs.Config.Checkers)
 	for i := 0; i < fs.Config.Checkers; i++ {
-		go s.pairChecker(s.toBeChecked, s.toBeUploaded, &s.checkerWg)
+		fraction := (100 * i) / fs.Config.Checkers
+		go s.pairChecker(s.toBeChecked, s.toBeUploaded, fraction, &s.checkerWg)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -353,7 +354,8 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) stopCheckers() {
 func (s *syncCopyMove) startTransfers() {
 	s.transfersWg.Add(fs.Config.Transfers)
 	for i := 0; i < fs.Config.Transfers; i++ {
-		go s.pairCopyOrMove(s.ctx, s.toBeUploaded, s.fdst, &s.transfersWg)
+		fraction := (100 * i) / fs.Config.Transfers
+		go s.pairCopyOrMove(s.ctx, s.toBeUploaded, s.fdst, fraction, &s.transfersWg)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -371,7 +373,8 @@ func (s *syncCopyMove) startRenamers() {
 	}
 	s.renamerWg.Add(fs.Config.Checkers)
 	for i := 0; i < fs.Config.Checkers; i++ {
-		go s.pairRenamer(s.toBeRenamed, s.toBeUploaded, &s.renamerWg)
+		fraction := (100 * i) / fs.Config.Checkers
+		go s.pairRenamer(s.toBeRenamed, s.toBeUploaded, fraction, &s.renamerWg)
 	}
 }