diff --git a/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/funcs.el b/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
index a4b07220f..1b01c9ba1 100644
--- a/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
+++ b/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ automatically applied to."
 
 ;; https://tsdh.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/deleting-windows-vertically-or-horizontally/
 (defun spacemacs/maximize-horizontally ()
-  "Delete all windows left or right of the current window."
+  "Delete all windows to the left and right of the current window."
   (interactive)
   (require 'windmove)
   (save-excursion
@@ -124,6 +124,16 @@ automatically applied to."
     (while (condition-case nil (windmove-right) (error nil))
       (delete-window))))
 
+(defun spacemacs/maximize-vertically ()
+  "Delete all windows above and below the current window."
+  (interactive)
+  (require 'windmove)
+  (save-excursion
+    (while (condition-case nil (windmove-up) (error nil))
+      (delete-window))
+    (while (condition-case nil (windmove-down) (error nil))
+      (delete-window))))
+
 (defun spacemacs/toggle-centered-buffer-mode ()
   "Toggle `spacemacs-centered-buffer-mode'."
   (interactive)
diff --git a/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/keybindings.el b/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/keybindings.el
index 12fd4d126..1dc29c1dd 100644
--- a/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/keybindings.el
+++ b/layers/+distributions/spacemacs-base/keybindings.el
@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@
   "w/"  'split-window-right
   "w="  'balance-windows-area
   "w+"  'spacemacs/window-layout-toggle
-  "w_"  'spacemacs/maximize-horizontally)
+  "w_"  'spacemacs/maximize-horizontally
+  "w|"  'spacemacs/maximize-vertically)
 ;; text -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 (defalias 'count-region 'count-words-region)