diff --git a/sqlx-core/src/lib.rs b/sqlx-core/src/lib.rs
index 468242e9e6..74fa36e574 100644
--- a/sqlx-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/sqlx-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ pub mod query_scalar;
 pub mod row;
 pub mod rt;
 pub mod sync;
+pub mod type_checking;
 pub mod type_info;
 pub mod value;
 
diff --git a/sqlx-core/src/type_checking.rs b/sqlx-core/src/type_checking.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..652139e9bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlx-core/src/type_checking.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+use crate::database::Database;
+use crate::decode::Decode;
+use crate::type_info::TypeInfo;
+use crate::value::Value;
+use std::any::Any;
+use std::fmt;
+use std::fmt::{Debug, Formatter};
+
+/// The type of query parameter checking done by a SQL database.
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ParamChecking {
+    /// Parameter checking is weak or nonexistent (uses coercion or allows mismatches).
+    Weak,
+    /// Parameter checking is strong (types must match exactly).
+    Strong,
+}
+
+/// Type-checking extensions for the `Database` trait.
+///
+/// Mostly supporting code for the macros, and for `Debug` impls.
+pub trait TypeChecking: Database {
+    /// Describes how the database in question typechecks query parameters.
+    const PARAM_CHECKING: ParamChecking;
+
+    /// Get the full path of the Rust type that corresponds to the given `TypeInfo`, if applicable.
+    ///
+    /// If the type has a borrowed equivalent suitable for query parameters,
+    /// this is that borrowed type.
+    fn param_type_for_id(id: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
+
+    /// Get the full path of the Rust type that corresponds to the given `TypeInfo`, if applicable.
+    ///
+    /// Always returns the owned version of the type, suitable for decoding from `Row`.
+    fn return_type_for_id(id: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
+
+    /// Get the name of the Cargo feature gate that must be enabled to process the given `TypeInfo`,
+    /// if applicable.
+    fn get_feature_gate(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
+
+    /// If `value` is a well-known type, decode and format it using `Debug`.
+    ///
+    /// If `value` is not a well-known type or could not be decoded, the reason is printed instead.
+    fn fmt_value_debug(value: &<Self as Database>::Value) -> FmtValue<'_, Self>;
+}
+
+/// An adapter for [`Value`] which attempts to decode the value and format it when printed using [`Debug`].
+pub struct FmtValue<'v, DB>
+where
+    DB: Database,
+{
+    value: &'v <DB as Database>::Value,
+    fmt: fn(&'v <DB as Database>::Value, &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result,
+}
+
+impl<'v, DB> FmtValue<'v, DB>
+where
+    DB: Database,
+{
+    // This API can't take `ValueRef` directly as it would need to pass it to `Decode` by-value,
+    // which means taking ownership of it. We cannot rely on a `Clone` impl because `SqliteValueRef` doesn't have one.
+    /// When printed with [`Debug`], attempt to decode `value` as the given type `T` and format it using [`Debug`].
+    ///
+    /// If `value` could not be decoded as `T`, the reason is printed instead.
+    pub fn debug<T>(value: &'v <DB as Database>::Value) -> Self
+    where
+        T: Decode<'v, DB> + Debug + Any,
+    {
+        Self {
+            value,
+            fmt: |value, f| {
+                let info = value.type_info();
+
+                match T::decode(value.as_ref()) {
+                    Ok(value) => Debug::fmt(&value, f),
+                    Err(e) => f.write_fmt(format_args!(
+                        "(error decoding SQL type {} as {}: {e:?})",
+                        info.name(),
+                        std::any::type_name::<T>()
+                    )),
+                }
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// If the type to be decoded is not known or not supported, print the SQL type instead,
+    /// as well as any applicable SQLx feature that needs to be enabled.
+    pub fn unknown(value: &'v <DB as Database>::Value) -> Self
+    where
+        DB: TypeChecking,
+    {
+        Self {
+            value,
+            fmt: |value, f| {
+                let info = value.type_info();
+
+                if let Some(feature_gate) = <DB as TypeChecking>::get_feature_gate(&info) {
+                    return f.write_fmt(format_args!(
+                        "(unknown SQL type {}: SQLx feature {feature_gate} not enabled)",
+                        info.name()
+                    ));
+                }
+
+                f.write_fmt(format_args!("(unknown SQL type {})", info.name()))
+            },
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'v, DB> Debug for FmtValue<'v, DB>
+where
+    DB: Database,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        (self.fmt)(&self.value, f)
+    }
+}
+
+#[doc(hidden)]
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! select_input_type {
+    ($ty:ty, $input:ty) => {
+        stringify!($input)
+    };
+    ($ty:ty) => {
+        stringify!($ty)
+    };
+}
+
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! impl_type_checking {
+    (
+        $database:path {
+            $($(#[$meta:meta])? $ty:ty $(| $input:ty)?),*$(,)?
+        },
+        ParamChecking::$param_checking:ident,
+        feature-types: $ty_info:ident => $get_gate:expr,
+    ) => {
+        impl $crate::type_checking::TypeChecking for $database {
+            const PARAM_CHECKING: $crate::type_checking::ParamChecking = $crate::type_checking::ParamChecking::$param_checking;
+
+            fn param_type_for_id(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
+                match () {
+                    $(
+                        $(#[$meta])?
+                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::type_info() == *info => Some($crate::select_input_type!($ty $(, $input)?)),
+                    )*
+                    $(
+                        $(#[$meta])?
+                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::compatible(info) => Some(select_input_type!($ty $(, $input)?)),
+                    )*
+                    _ => None
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn return_type_for_id(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
+                match () {
+                    $(
+                        $(#[$meta])?
+                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::type_info() == *info => Some(stringify!($ty)),
+                    )*
+                    $(
+                        $(#[$meta])?
+                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::compatible(info) => Some(stringify!($ty)),
+                    )*
+                    _ => None
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn get_feature_gate($ty_info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
+                $get_gate
+            }
+
+            fn fmt_value_debug(value: &Self::Value) -> $crate::type_checking::FmtValue<Self> {
+                use $crate::value::Value;
+
+                let info = value.type_info();
+
+                match () {
+                    $(
+                        $(#[$meta])?
+                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::compatible(&info) => $crate::type_checking::FmtValue::debug::<$ty>(value),
+                    )*
+                    _ => $crate::type_checking::FmtValue::unknown(value),
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/impls.rs b/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/impls.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..35dc9393bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/impls.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+macro_rules! impl_database_ext {
+    (
+        $database:path,
+        row: $row:path,
+        $(describe-blocking: $describe:path,)?
+    ) => {
+        impl $crate::database::DatabaseExt for $database {
+            const DATABASE_PATH: &'static str = stringify!($database);
+            const ROW_PATH: &'static str = stringify!($row);
+            impl_describe_blocking!($database, $($describe)?);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! impl_describe_blocking {
+    ($database:path $(,)?) => {
+        fn describe_blocking(
+            query: &str,
+            database_url: &str,
+        ) -> sqlx_core::Result<sqlx_core::describe::Describe<Self>> {
+            use $crate::database::CachingDescribeBlocking;
+
+            // This can't be a provided method because the `static` can't reference `Self`.
+            static CACHE: CachingDescribeBlocking<$database> = CachingDescribeBlocking::new();
+
+            CACHE.describe(query, database_url)
+        }
+    };
+    ($database:path, $describe:path) => {
+        fn describe_blocking(
+            query: &str,
+            database_url: &str,
+        ) -> sqlx_core::Result<sqlx_core::describe::Describe<Self>> {
+            $describe(query, database_url)
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+// The paths below will also be emitted from the macros, so they need to match the final facade.
+mod sqlx {
+    #[cfg(feature = "mysql")]
+    pub use sqlx_mysql as mysql;
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "postgres")]
+    pub use sqlx_postgres as postgres;
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
+    pub use sqlx_sqlite as sqlite;
+}
+
+// NOTE: type mappings have been moved to `src/type_checking.rs` in their respective driver crates.
+#[cfg(feature = "mysql")]
+impl_database_ext! {
+    sqlx::mysql::MySql,
+    row: sqlx::mysql::MySqlRow,
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "postgres")]
+impl_database_ext! {
+    sqlx::postgres::Postgres,
+    row: sqlx::postgres::PgRow,
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
+impl_database_ext! {
+    sqlx::sqlite::Sqlite,
+    row: sqlx::sqlite::SqliteRow,
+    // Since proc-macros don't benefit from async, we can make a describe call directly
+    // which also ensures that the database is closed afterwards, regardless of errors.
+    describe-blocking: sqlx_sqlite::describe_blocking,
+}
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mod.rs b/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mod.rs
index c4fe696700..e5b886be7d 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mod.rs
+++ b/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mod.rs
@@ -8,20 +8,15 @@ use sqlx_core::connection::Connection;
 use sqlx_core::database::Database;
 use sqlx_core::describe::Describe;
 use sqlx_core::executor::Executor;
+use sqlx_core::type_checking::TypeChecking;
 
-#[derive(PartialEq, Eq)]
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-pub enum ParamChecking {
-    Strong,
-    Weak,
-}
+#[cfg(any(feature = "postgres", feature = "mysql", feature = "sqlite"))]
+mod impls;
 
-pub trait DatabaseExt: Database {
+pub trait DatabaseExt: Database + TypeChecking {
     const DATABASE_PATH: &'static str;
     const ROW_PATH: &'static str;
 
-    const PARAM_CHECKING: ParamChecking;
-
     fn db_path() -> syn::Path {
         syn::parse_str(Self::DATABASE_PATH).unwrap()
     }
@@ -30,12 +25,6 @@ pub trait DatabaseExt: Database {
         syn::parse_str(Self::ROW_PATH).unwrap()
     }
 
-    fn param_type_for_id(id: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
-
-    fn return_type_for_id(id: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
-
-    fn get_feature_gate(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str>;
-
     fn describe_blocking(query: &str, database_url: &str) -> sqlx_core::Result<Describe<Self>>;
 }
 
@@ -73,113 +62,3 @@ impl<DB: DatabaseExt> CachingDescribeBlocking<DB> {
         })
     }
 }
-
-#[cfg(any(feature = "postgres", feature = "mysql", feature = "sqlite"))]
-macro_rules! impl_database_ext {
-    (
-        $database:path {
-            $($(#[$meta:meta])? $ty:ty $(| $input:ty)?),*$(,)?
-        },
-        ParamChecking::$param_checking:ident,
-        feature-types: $ty_info:ident => $get_gate:expr,
-        row: $row:path,
-        $(describe-blocking: $describe:path,)?
-    ) => {
-        impl $crate::database::DatabaseExt for $database {
-            const DATABASE_PATH: &'static str = stringify!($database);
-            const ROW_PATH: &'static str = stringify!($row);
-            const PARAM_CHECKING: $crate::database::ParamChecking = $crate::database::ParamChecking::$param_checking;
-
-            fn param_type_for_id(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
-                match () {
-                    $(
-                        $(#[$meta])?
-                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::type_info() == *info => Some(input_ty!($ty $(, $input)?)),
-                    )*
-                    $(
-                        $(#[$meta])?
-                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::compatible(info) => Some(input_ty!($ty $(, $input)?)),
-                    )*
-                    _ => None
-                }
-            }
-
-            fn return_type_for_id(info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
-                match () {
-                    $(
-                        $(#[$meta])?
-                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::type_info() == *info => return Some(stringify!($ty)),
-                    )*
-                    $(
-                        $(#[$meta])?
-                        _ if <$ty as sqlx_core::types::Type<$database>>::compatible(info) => return Some(stringify!($ty)),
-                    )*
-                    _ => None
-                }
-            }
-
-            fn get_feature_gate($ty_info: &Self::TypeInfo) -> Option<&'static str> {
-                $get_gate
-            }
-
-            impl_describe_blocking!($database, $($describe)?);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-#[cfg(any(feature = "postgres", feature = "mysql", feature = "sqlite"))]
-macro_rules! impl_describe_blocking {
-    ($database:path $(,)?) => {
-        fn describe_blocking(
-            query: &str,
-            database_url: &str,
-        ) -> sqlx_core::Result<sqlx_core::describe::Describe<Self>> {
-            use $crate::database::CachingDescribeBlocking;
-
-            // This can't be a provided method because the `static` can't reference `Self`.
-            static CACHE: CachingDescribeBlocking<$database> = CachingDescribeBlocking::new();
-
-            CACHE.describe(query, database_url)
-        }
-    };
-    ($database:path, $describe:path) => {
-        fn describe_blocking(
-            query: &str,
-            database_url: &str,
-        ) -> sqlx_core::Result<sqlx_core::describe::Describe<Self>> {
-            $describe(query, database_url)
-        }
-    };
-}
-
-#[cfg(any(feature = "postgres", feature = "mysql", feature = "sqlite"))]
-macro_rules! input_ty {
-    ($ty:ty, $input:ty) => {
-        stringify!($input)
-    };
-    ($ty:ty) => {
-        stringify!($ty)
-    };
-}
-
-#[cfg(feature = "postgres")]
-mod postgres;
-
-#[cfg(feature = "mysql")]
-mod mysql;
-
-#[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
-mod sqlite;
-
-mod fake_sqlx {
-    pub use sqlx_core::*;
-
-    #[cfg(feature = "mysql")]
-    pub use sqlx_mysql as mysql;
-
-    #[cfg(feature = "postgres")]
-    pub use sqlx_postgres as postgres;
-
-    #[cfg(feature = "sqlite")]
-    pub use sqlx_sqlite as sqlite;
-}
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/args.rs b/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/args.rs
index 3a07b1b303..3b4bb8d6b2 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/args.rs
+++ b/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/args.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub fn quote_args<DB: DatabaseExt>(
                         None => {
                             DB::param_type_for_id(&param_ty)
                                 .ok_or_else(|| {
-                                    if let Some(feature_gate) = <DB as DatabaseExt>::get_feature_gate(&param_ty) {
+                                    if let Some(feature_gate) = DB::get_feature_gate(&param_ty) {
                                         format!(
                                             "optional sqlx feature `{}` required for type {} of param #{}",
                                             feature_gate,
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/output.rs b/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/output.rs
index 65f44216ad..905c90306f 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/output.rs
+++ b/sqlx-macros-core/src/query/output.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use sqlx_core::describe::Describe;
 use crate::database::DatabaseExt;
 
 use crate::query::QueryMacroInput;
+use sqlx_core::type_checking::TypeChecking;
 use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
 use syn::parse::{Parse, ParseStream};
 use syn::Token;
@@ -222,10 +223,10 @@ pub fn quote_query_scalar<DB: DatabaseExt>(
 fn get_column_type<DB: DatabaseExt>(i: usize, column: &DB::Column) -> TokenStream {
     let type_info = &*column.type_info();
 
-    <DB as DatabaseExt>::return_type_for_id(&type_info).map_or_else(
+    <DB as TypeChecking>::return_type_for_id(&type_info).map_or_else(
         || {
             let message =
-                if let Some(feature_gate) = <DB as DatabaseExt>::get_feature_gate(&type_info) {
+                if let Some(feature_gate) = <DB as TypeChecking>::get_feature_gate(&type_info) {
                     format!(
                         "optional sqlx feature `{feat}` required for type {ty} of {col}",
                         ty = &type_info,
diff --git a/sqlx-mysql/src/lib.rs b/sqlx-mysql/src/lib.rs
index a8582f07eb..d77d0daf3b 100644
--- a/sqlx-mysql/src/lib.rs
+++ b/sqlx-mysql/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ mod query_result;
 mod row;
 mod statement;
 mod transaction;
+mod type_checking;
 mod type_info;
 pub mod types;
 mod value;
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mysql.rs b/sqlx-mysql/src/type_checking.rs
similarity index 80%
rename from sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mysql.rs
rename to sqlx-mysql/src/type_checking.rs
index 3fbd0af495..3f3ce5833e 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/mysql.rs
+++ b/sqlx-mysql/src/type_checking.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-use super::fake_sqlx as sqlx;
+// Type mappings used by the macros and `Debug` impls.
 
-impl_database_ext! {
-    sqlx::mysql::MySql {
+#[allow(unused_imports)]
+use sqlx_core as sqlx;
+
+use crate::MySql;
+
+impl_type_checking!(
+    MySql {
         u8,
         u16,
         u32,
@@ -20,6 +25,8 @@ impl_database_ext! {
         // BINARY, VAR_BINARY, BLOB
         Vec<u8>,
 
+        // Types from third-party crates need to be referenced at a known path
+        // for the macros to work, but we don't want to require the user to add extra dependencies.
         #[cfg(all(feature = "chrono", not(feature = "time")))]
         sqlx::types::chrono::NaiveTime,
 
@@ -55,5 +62,4 @@ impl_database_ext! {
     },
     ParamChecking::Weak,
     feature-types: info => info.__type_feature_gate(),
-    row: sqlx::mysql::MySqlRow,
-}
+);
diff --git a/sqlx-postgres/src/lib.rs b/sqlx-postgres/src/lib.rs
index 5b9d5804b2..abdc064260 100644
--- a/sqlx-postgres/src/lib.rs
+++ b/sqlx-postgres/src/lib.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ mod query_result;
 mod row;
 mod statement;
 mod transaction;
+mod type_checking;
 mod type_info;
 pub mod types;
 mod value;
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/postgres.rs b/sqlx-postgres/src/type_checking.rs
similarity index 92%
rename from sqlx-macros-core/src/database/postgres.rs
rename to sqlx-postgres/src/type_checking.rs
index 0bd6b4c856..55400af5d8 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/postgres.rs
+++ b/sqlx-postgres/src/type_checking.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
-use super::fake_sqlx as sqlx;
+use crate::Postgres;
 
-impl_database_ext! {
-    sqlx::postgres::Postgres {
+// The paths used below will also be emitted by the macros so they have to match the final facade.
+#[allow(unused_imports, dead_code)]
+mod sqlx {
+    pub use crate as postgres;
+    pub use sqlx_core::*;
+}
+
+impl_type_checking!(
+        Postgres {
         (),
         bool,
         String | &str,
@@ -182,10 +189,14 @@ impl_database_ext! {
             &[sqlx::postgres::types::PgRange<sqlx::types::chrono::NaiveDateTime>],
 
         #[cfg(feature = "chrono")]
+        // FIXME: this should be `Vec<_> | &[_]` like the others but that's _technically_ a breaking change.
+        // It's unlikely that anyone is actually using this mapping as someone would have opened an issue about it,
+        // but better safe than sorry.
         Vec<sqlx::postgres::types::PgRange<sqlx::types::chrono::DateTime<sqlx::types::chrono::Utc>>> |
             Vec<sqlx::postgres::types::PgRange<sqlx::types::chrono::DateTime<_>>>,
 
         #[cfg(feature = "chrono")]
+        // FIXME: same thing here.
         &[sqlx::postgres::types::PgRange<sqlx::types::chrono::DateTime<sqlx::types::chrono::Utc>>] |
             &[sqlx::postgres::types::PgRange<sqlx::types::chrono::DateTime<_>>],
 
@@ -203,5 +214,4 @@ impl_database_ext! {
     },
     ParamChecking::Strong,
     feature-types: info => info.__type_feature_gate(),
-    row: sqlx::postgres::PgRow,
-}
+);
diff --git a/sqlx-sqlite/src/lib.rs b/sqlx-sqlite/src/lib.rs
index 2ddc576301..db09cc2f48 100644
--- a/sqlx-sqlite/src/lib.rs
+++ b/sqlx-sqlite/src/lib.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ mod query_result;
 mod row;
 mod statement;
 mod transaction;
+mod type_checking;
 mod type_info;
 pub mod types;
 mod value;
diff --git a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/sqlite.rs b/sqlx-sqlite/src/type_checking.rs
similarity index 65%
rename from sqlx-macros-core/src/database/sqlite.rs
rename to sqlx-sqlite/src/type_checking.rs
index 3c4c440219..c823ec795a 100644
--- a/sqlx-macros-core/src/database/sqlite.rs
+++ b/sqlx-sqlite/src/type_checking.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
-use super::fake_sqlx as sqlx;
+#[allow(unused_imports)]
+use sqlx_core as sqlx;
+
+use crate::Sqlite;
 
 // f32 is not included below as REAL represents a floating point value
-// stored as an 8-byte IEEE floating point number
+// stored as an 8-byte IEEE floating point number (i.e. an f64)
 // For more info see: https://www.sqlite.org/datatype3.html#storage_classes_and_datatypes
-impl_database_ext! {
-    sqlx::sqlite::Sqlite {
+impl_type_checking!(
+    Sqlite {
         bool,
         i32,
         i64,
@@ -34,9 +37,10 @@ impl_database_ext! {
         sqlx::types::Uuid,
     },
     ParamChecking::Weak,
+    // While there are type integrations that must be enabled via Cargo feature,
+    // SQLite's type system doesn't actually have any type that we cannot decode by default.
+    //
+    // The type integrations simply allow the user to skip some intermediate representation,
+    // which is usually TEXT.
     feature-types: _info => None,
-    row: sqlx::sqlite::SqliteRow,
-    // Since proc-macros don't benefit from async, we can make a describe call directly
-    // which also ensures that the database is closed afterwards, regardless of errors.
-    describe-blocking: sqlx_sqlite::describe_blocking,
-}
+);