diff --git a/ndn-cpp/encoding/BinaryXMLEncoder.c b/ndn-cpp/encoding/BinaryXMLEncoder.c
index 8aa2d0f..cfecc4d 100644
--- a/ndn-cpp/encoding/BinaryXMLEncoder.c
+++ b/ndn-cpp/encoding/BinaryXMLEncoder.c
@@ -4,4 +4,37 @@
  * BSD license, See the LICENSE file for more information.
  */
 
+#include "BinaryXML.h"
 #include "BinaryXMLEncoder.h"
+
+enum {
+  ENCODING_LIMIT_1_BYTE = ((1 << ndn_BinaryXML_TT_VALUE_BITS) - 1),
+  ENCODING_LIMIT_2_BYTES = ((1 << (ndn_BinaryXML_TT_VALUE_BITS + ndn_BinaryXML_REGULAR_VALUE_BITS)) - 1),
+  ENCODING_LIMIT_3_BYTES = ((1 << (ndn_BinaryXML_TT_VALUE_BITS + 2 * ndn_BinaryXML_REGULAR_VALUE_BITS)) - 1)
+};
+
+/**
+ * Return the number of bytes to encode a header of value x.
+ */
+static unsigned int getNEncodingBytes(unsigned int x) 
+{
+  // Do a quick check for pre-compiled results.
+	if (x <= ENCODING_LIMIT_1_BYTE) 
+    return 1;
+	if (x <= ENCODING_LIMIT_2_BYTES) 
+    return 2;
+	if (x <= ENCODING_LIMIT_3_BYTES) 
+    return 3;
+	
+	unsigned int nBytes = 1;
+	
+	// Last byte gives you TT_VALUE_BITS.
+	// Remainder each gives you REGULAR_VALUE_BITS.
+	x >>= ndn_BinaryXML_TT_VALUE_BITS;
+	while (x != 0) {
+    ++nBytes;
+	  x >>= ndn_BinaryXML_REGULAR_VALUE_BITS;
+	}
+  
+	return nBytes;
+}