diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c735b79..a80f8b6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,9 +74,10 @@ other types may be faster in certain cases (e.g. `Int32Array` when your data is
 - `ArrayBufferType`: the array buffer type used to store data (`ArrayBuffer` by default);
 you may prefer `SharedArrayBuffer` if you want to share the index between threads (multiple `Worker`, `SharedWorker` or `ServiceWorker`).
 
-#### `index.add(minX, minY, maxX, maxY)`
+#### `index.add(minX, minY[, maxX, maxY])`
 
 Adds a given rectangle to the index. Returns a zero-based, incremental number that represents the newly added rectangle.
+If not provided, `maxX` and `maxY` default to `minX` and `minY` (essentially adding a point).
 
 #### `index.finish()`
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 8390a8a..ac6394f 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ export default class Flatbush {
      * @param {number} maxY
      * @returns {number} A zero-based, incremental number that represents the newly added rectangle.
      */
-    add(minX, minY, maxX, maxY) {
+    add(minX, minY, maxX = minX, maxY = minY) {
         const index = this._pos >> 2;
         const boxes = this._boxes;
         this._indices[index] = index;
diff --git a/test.js b/test.js
index 4e19250..cbc478e 100644
--- a/test.js
+++ b/test.js
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ test('reconstructs an index from a Uint8Array', () => {
     assert.notEqual(index.byteOffset, index2.byteOffset);
 });
 
+test('defaults to adding a point when not providing maxX/maxY', () => {
+    const index = new Flatbush(1);
+    index.add(10, 10);
+    index.finish();
+    assert.deepEqual(index.search(0, 0, 20, 20), [0]);
+});
+
 test('throws an error if added less items than the index size', () => {
     assert.throws(() => {
         const index = new Flatbush(data.length / 4);