diff --git a/.changeset/expose-shape-stream.md b/.changeset/expose-shape-stream.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb9365f78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/expose-shape-stream.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+'@tanstack/electric-db-collection': minor
+---
+
+feat(electric-db-collection): expose underlying ShapeStream via shapeStream getter
+
+Added a `shapeStream` getter to `ElectricCollectionUtils` that allows users to access the underlying `ShapeStream` instance from an electric collection. This enables access to ShapeStream properties like the shape handle.
+
+```typescript
+const stream = collection.utils.shapeStream
+if (stream) {
+  console.log(stream.shapeHandle)
+}
+```
diff --git a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
index 73d1e6c05..6a2d29025 100644
--- a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
+++ b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
@@ -411,6 +411,10 @@ export interface ElectricCollectionUtils<
 > extends UtilsRecord {
   awaitTxId: AwaitTxIdFn
   awaitMatch: AwaitMatchFn<T>
+  /**
+   * The underlying ShapeStream instance, or undefined if not yet connected
+   */
+  readonly shapeStream: ShapeStream<T> | undefined
 }
 
 /**
@@ -476,6 +480,9 @@ export function electricCollectionOptions<T extends Row<unknown>>(
   // Buffer messages since last up-to-date to handle race conditions
   const currentBatchMessages = new Store<Array<Message<any>>>([])
 
+  // Store reference to the ShapeStream for accessing the shape handle
+  const streamRef = new Store<ShapeStream<T> | null>(null)
+
   /**
    * Helper function to remove multiple matches from the pendingMatches store
    */
@@ -517,6 +524,7 @@ export function electricCollectionOptions<T extends Row<unknown>>(
     resolveMatchedPendingMatches,
     collectionId: config.id,
     testHooks: config[ELECTRIC_TEST_HOOKS],
+    streamRef,
   })
 
   /**
@@ -758,6 +766,9 @@ export function electricCollectionOptions<T extends Row<unknown>>(
     utils: {
       awaitTxId,
       awaitMatch,
+      get shapeStream() {
+        return streamRef.state ?? undefined
+      },
     },
   }
 }
@@ -788,6 +799,7 @@ function createElectricSync<T extends Row<unknown>>(
     resolveMatchedPendingMatches: () => void
     collectionId?: string
     testHooks?: ElectricTestHooks
+    streamRef: Store<ShapeStream<T> | null>
   },
 ): SyncConfig<T> {
   const {
@@ -800,6 +812,7 @@ function createElectricSync<T extends Row<unknown>>(
     resolveMatchedPendingMatches,
     collectionId,
     testHooks,
+    streamRef,
   } = options
   const MAX_BATCH_MESSAGES = 1000 // Safety limit for message buffer
 
@@ -907,6 +920,10 @@ function createElectricSync<T extends Row<unknown>>(
           return
         },
       })
+
+      // Store the stream reference for external access via getShapeStream utility
+      streamRef.setState(() => stream)
+
       let transactionStarted = false
       const newTxids = new Set<Txid>()
       const newSnapshots: Array<PostgresSnapshot> = []
@@ -1152,6 +1169,8 @@ function createElectricSync<T extends Row<unknown>>(
           abortController.abort()
           // Reset deduplication tracking so collection can load fresh data if restarted
           loadSubsetDedupe?.reset()
+          // Clear the stream reference
+          streamRef.setState(() => null)
         },
       }
     },
diff --git a/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/electric.test-d.ts b/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/electric.test-d.ts
index 946e6496a..f7511dffa 100644
--- a/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/electric.test-d.ts
+++ b/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/electric.test-d.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ describe(`Electric collection type resolution tests`, () => {
     // Verify the specific properties that define ElectricCollectionUtils exist and are functions
     expectTypeOf(todosCollection.utils.awaitTxId).toBeFunction
     expectTypeOf(todosCollection.utils.awaitMatch).toBeFunction
+    // shapeStream is a getter property, not a function
+    expectTypeOf(todosCollection.utils.shapeStream).toMatchTypeOf<
+      object | undefined
+    >()
   })
 
   it(`should properly type the onInsert, onUpdate, and onDelete handlers`, () => {