diff --git a/src/odb/include/odb/dbStream.h b/src/odb/include/odb/dbStream.h
index 6506d066c7c..39406d88c71 100644
--- a/src/odb/include/odb/dbStream.h
+++ b/src/odb/include/odb/dbStream.h
@@ -55,10 +55,18 @@ inline constexpr size_t kTemplateRecursionLimit = 16;
 
 class dbOStream
 {
+  using Position = std::ostream::pos_type;
+  struct Scope
+  {
+    std::string name;
+    Position start_pos;
+  };
+
   _dbDatabase* _db;
   std::ostream& _f;
   double _lef_area_factor;
   double _lef_dist_factor;
+  std::vector<Scope> _scopes;
 
   // By default values are written as their string ("255" vs 0xFF)
   // representations when using the << stream method. In dbOstream we are
@@ -248,6 +256,26 @@ class dbOStream
   double lefarea(int value) { return ((double) value * _lef_area_factor); }
 
   double lefdist(int value) { return ((double) value * _lef_dist_factor); }
+
+  Position pos() const { return _f.tellp(); }
+
+  void pushScope(const std::string& name);
+  void popScope();
+};
+
+// RAII class for scoping ostream operations
+class dbOStreamScope
+{
+ public:
+  dbOStreamScope(dbOStream& ostream, const std::string& name)
+      : ostream_(ostream)
+  {
+    ostream_.pushScope(name);
+  }
+
+  ~dbOStreamScope() { ostream_.popScope(); }
+
+  dbOStream& ostream_;
 };
 
 class dbIStream
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbBlock.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbBlock.cpp
index b8ded36fbd4..e2b40c22e82 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbBlock.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbBlock.cpp
@@ -874,6 +874,7 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbBlock& block)
     (**cbitr)().inDbBlockStreamOutBefore(
         (dbBlock*) &block);  // client ECO initialization  - payam
 
+  dbOStreamScope scope(stream, "dbBlock");
   stream << block._def_units;
   stream << block._dbu_per_micron;
   stream << block._hier_delimeter;
@@ -911,47 +912,47 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbBlock& block)
   stream << block._children;
   stream << block._component_mask_shift;
   stream << block._currentCcAdjOrder;
-  stream << *block._bterm_tbl;
-  stream << *block._iterm_tbl;
-  stream << *block._net_tbl;
-  stream << *block._inst_hdr_tbl;
-  stream << *block._inst_tbl;
-  stream << *block._module_tbl;
-  stream << *block._modinst_tbl;
-  stream << *block._powerdomain_tbl;
-  stream << *block._logicport_tbl;
-  stream << *block._powerswitch_tbl;
-  stream << *block._isolation_tbl;
-  stream << *block._levelshifter_tbl;
-  stream << *block._group_tbl;
-  stream << *block.ap_tbl_;
-  stream << *block.global_connect_tbl_;
-  stream << *block._guide_tbl;
-  stream << *block._net_tracks_tbl;
-  stream << *block._box_tbl;
-  stream << *block._via_tbl;
-  stream << *block._gcell_grid_tbl;
-  stream << *block._track_grid_tbl;
-  stream << *block._obstruction_tbl;
-  stream << *block._blockage_tbl;
-  stream << *block._wire_tbl;
-  stream << *block._swire_tbl;
-  stream << *block._sbox_tbl;
-  stream << *block._row_tbl;
-  stream << *block._fill_tbl;
-  stream << *block._region_tbl;
-  stream << *block._hier_tbl;
-  stream << *block._bpin_tbl;
-  stream << *block._non_default_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *block._layer_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *block._prop_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("bterm_tbl", block._bterm_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("iterm_tbl", block._iterm_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("net_tbl", block._net_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("inst_hdr_tbl", block._inst_hdr_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("inst_tbl", block._inst_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("module_tbl", block._module_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("modinst_tbl", block._modinst_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("powerdomain_tbl", block._powerdomain_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("logicport_tbl", block._logicport_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("powerswitch_tbl", block._powerswitch_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("isolation_tbl", block._isolation_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("levelshifter_tbl", block._levelshifter_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("group_tbl", block._group_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("ap_tbl", block.ap_tbl_);
+  stream << NamedTable("global_connect_tbl", block.global_connect_tbl_);
+  stream << NamedTable("guide_tbl", block._guide_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("net_tracks_tbl", block._net_tracks_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("box_tbl", block._box_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("via_tbl", block._via_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("gcell_grid_tbl", block._gcell_grid_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("track_grid_tbl", block._track_grid_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("obstruction_tbl", block._obstruction_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("blockage_tbl", block._blockage_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("wire_tbl", block._wire_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("swire_tbl", block._swire_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("sbox_tbl", block._sbox_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("row_tbl", block._row_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("fill_tbl", block._fill_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("region_tbl", block._region_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("hier_tbl", block._hier_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("bpin_tbl", block._bpin_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("non_default_rule_tbl", block._non_default_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("layer_rule_tbl", block._layer_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("prop_tbl", block._prop_tbl);
   stream << *block._name_cache;
   stream << *block._r_val_tbl;
   stream << *block._c_val_tbl;
   stream << *block._cc_val_tbl;
-  stream << *block._cap_node_tbl;  // DKF - 2/21/05
-  stream << *block._r_seg_tbl;     // DKF - 2/21/05
-  stream << *block._cc_seg_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("cap_node_tbl", block._cap_node_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("r_seg_tbl", block._r_seg_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("cc_seg_tbl", block._cc_seg_tbl);
   stream << *block._extControl;
 
   //---------------------------------------------------------- stream out
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbChip.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbChip.cpp
index 486e4f773e2..05d8ead84e4 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbChip.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbChip.cpp
@@ -132,9 +132,10 @@ _dbChip::~_dbChip()
 
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbChip& chip)
 {
+  dbOStreamScope scope(stream, "dbChip");
   stream << chip._top;
   stream << *chip._block_tbl;
-  stream << *chip._prop_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("prop_tbl", chip._prop_tbl);
   stream << *chip._name_cache;
   return stream;
 }
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
index 761f428ddde..befbd8e1d71 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ _dbDatabase::~_dbDatabase()
 
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbDatabase& db)
 {
+  dbOStreamScope scope(stream, "dbDatabase");
   stream << db._magic1;
   stream << db._magic2;
   stream << db._schema_major;
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbDatabase& db)
   stream << *db._tech_tbl;
   stream << *db._lib_tbl;
   stream << *db._chip_tbl;
-  stream << *db._prop_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("prop_tbl", db._prop_tbl);
   stream << *db._name_cache;
   return stream;
 }
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbLib.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbLib.cpp
index 71d758de2a7..fef80acd038 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbLib.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbLib.cpp
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ _dbLib::~_dbLib()
 
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbLib& lib)
 {
+  dbOStreamScope scope(stream, fmt::format("dbLib({})", lib._name));
   stream << lib._lef_units;
   stream << lib._dbu_per_micron;
   stream << lib._hier_delimeter;
@@ -230,9 +231,9 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbLib& lib)
   stream << lib._master_hash;
   stream << lib._site_hash;
   stream << lib._tech;
-  stream << *lib._master_tbl;
-  stream << *lib._site_tbl;
-  stream << *lib._prop_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("master_tbl", lib._master_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("site_tbl", lib._site_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("prop_tbl", lib._prop_tbl);
   stream << *lib._name_cache;
   return stream;
 }
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbStream.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbStream.cpp
index c6ea201f346..630fc2f70b4 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbStream.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbStream.cpp
@@ -33,11 +33,38 @@
 #include "dbStream.h"
 
 #include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
 
 #include "db.h"
+#include "dbDatabase.h"
 
 namespace odb {
 
+void dbOStream::pushScope(const std::string& name)
+{
+  _scopes.push_back({name, pos()});
+}
+
+void dbOStream::popScope()
+{
+  auto logger = _db->getLogger();
+  if (logger->debugCheck(utl::ODB, "io_size", 1)) {
+    auto size = pos() - _scopes.back().start_pos;
+    if (size >= 1024) {  // hide tiny contributors
+      std::ostringstream scope_name;
+
+      std::transform(_scopes.begin(),
+                     _scopes.end(),
+                     std::ostream_iterator<std::string>(scope_name, "/"),
+                     [](const Scope& scope) { return scope.name; });
+
+      logger->report("{:8.1f} MB in {}", size / 1048576.0, scope_name.str());
+    }
+  }
+
+  _scopes.pop_back();
+}
+
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const Rect& r)
 {
   stream << r.xlo_;
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.h b/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.h
index 65722568374..eebb861000a 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.h
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.h
@@ -182,4 +182,19 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const dbTable<T>& table);
 template <class T>
 dbIStream& operator>>(dbIStream& stream, dbTable<T>& table);
 
+// Useful if you want to write the table in a named scope
+template <class T>
+struct NamedTable
+{
+  NamedTable(const char* name, const dbTable<T>* table)
+      : name(name), table(table)
+  {
+  }
+  const char* name;
+  const dbTable<T>* table;
+};
+
+template <class T>
+dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const NamedTable<T>& named_table);
+
 }  // namespace odb
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.hpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.hpp
index 1b68f33fe02..3710585d0dc 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.hpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbTable.hpp
@@ -621,6 +621,16 @@ void dbTable<T>::copy_page(uint page_id, dbTablePage* page)
   }
 }
 
+template <class T>
+dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const NamedTable<T>& named_table)
+{
+  dbOStreamScope scope(
+      stream,
+      fmt::format("{}({})", named_table.name, named_table.table->size()));
+  stream << *named_table.table;
+  return stream;
+}
+
 template <class T>
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const dbTable<T>& table)
 {
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbTech.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbTech.cpp
index a2e956e8ab8..3cc5821204f 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbTech.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbTech.cpp
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ _dbTech::~_dbTech()
 
 dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbTech& tech)
 {
+  dbOStreamScope scope(stream, "dbTech");
   stream << tech._name;
   stream << tech._via_cnt;
   stream << tech._layer_cnt;
@@ -467,18 +468,19 @@ dbOStream& operator<<(dbOStream& stream, const _dbTech& tech)
   stream << tech._non_default_rules;
   stream << tech._samenet_rules;
   stream << tech._samenet_matrix;
-  stream << *tech._layer_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._via_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._non_default_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._layer_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._box_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._samenet_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._antenna_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._via_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._via_layer_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._via_generate_rule_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._prop_tbl;
-  stream << *tech._metal_width_via_map_tbl;
+  stream << NamedTable("layer_tbl", tech._layer_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("via_tbl", tech._via_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("non_default_rule_tbl", tech._non_default_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("layer_rule_tbl", tech._layer_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("box_tbl", tech._box_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("samenet_rule_tbl", tech._samenet_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("antenna_rule_tbl", tech._antenna_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("via_rule_tbl", tech._via_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("via_layer_rule_tbl", tech._via_layer_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("via_generate_rule_tbl", tech._via_generate_rule_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("prop_tbl", tech._prop_tbl);
+  stream << NamedTable("metal_width_via_map_tbl",
+                       tech._metal_width_via_map_tbl);
   stream << *tech._name_cache;
   stream << tech._via_hash;
   return stream;