diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.sip.in
index c5ceff3d063..e7cc9894b13 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.sip.in
@@ -236,23 +236,55 @@ Returns a new image downloader for the raster legend.
                                    const QStringList &configOptions = QStringList(),
                                    QgsRasterBlockFeedback *feedback = 0 );
 %Docstring
-Create pyramid overviews
+Creates pyramid overviews.
+
+:param pyramidList: a list of :py:class:`QgsRasterPryamids` to create overviews for. The :py:func:`QgsRasterPryamid.setBuild()` flag
+                    should be set to ``True`` for every layer where pyramids are desired.
+:param resamplingMethod: resampling method to use when creating the pyramids. The :py:func:`~QgsRasterDataProvider.pyramidResamplingMethods` method
+                         can be used to retrieve a list of valid resampling methods available for specific raster data providers.
+:param format: raster pyramid format.
+:param configOptions: optional configuration options which are passed to the specific data provider
+                      for use during pyramid creation.
+:param feedback: optional feedback argument for progress reports and cancelation support.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`buildPyramidList`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`hasPyramids`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`pyramidResamplingMethods`
 %End
 
-    virtual QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewList = QList<int>() );
+    virtual QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( const QList<int> &overviewList = QList<int>() );
 %Docstring
 Returns the raster layers pyramid list.
 
+This method returns a list of pyramid layers which are valid for the data provider. The returned list
+is a complete list of all possible layers, and includes both pyramids layers which currently exist and
+layers which have not yet been constructed. To know which of the pyramid layers
+ACTUALLY exists you need to look at the :py:func:`QgsRasterPyramid.getExists()` member for each value in the
+list.
+
+The returned list is suitable for passing to the :py:func:`~QgsRasterDataProvider.buildPyramids` method. First, modify the returned list
+by calling `QgsRasterPryamid.setBuild( ``True`` )` for every layer you want to create pyramids for, and then
+pass the modified list to :py:func:`~QgsRasterDataProvider.buildPryamids`.
+
 :param overviewList: used to construct the pyramid list (optional), when empty the list is defined by the provider.
-                     A pyramid list defines the
-                     POTENTIAL pyramids that can be in a raster. To know which of the pyramid layers
-                     ACTUALLY exists you need to look at the existsFlag member in each struct stored in the
-                     list.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`buildPyramids`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`hasPyramids`
 %End
 
     bool hasPyramids();
 %Docstring
-Returns ``True`` if raster has at least one populated histogram.
+Returns ``True`` if raster has at least one existing pyramid.
+
+The :py:func:`~QgsRasterDataProvider.buildPyramidList` method can be used to retrieve additional details about potential and existing
+pryamid layers.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`buildPyramidList`
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`buildPyramids`
 %End
 
     virtual QString htmlMetadata() = 0;
diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.sip.in
index 3bc22c42e0b..5820fbb62a8 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.sip.in
@@ -18,13 +18,100 @@ This struct is used to store pyramid info for the raster layer.
 #include "qgsrasterpyramid.h"
 %End
   public:
-    int level;
-    int xDim;
-    int yDim;
-    bool exists;
-    bool build;
 
-    QgsRasterPyramid();
+
+    int getLevel() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the pyramid level.
+
+Pyramid levels are as defined by GDAL, eg
+level 2 is half the original raster size.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+    void setLevel( int level );
+%Docstring
+Sets the pyramid ``level``.
+
+Pyramid levels are as defined by GDAL, eg
+level 2 is half the original raster size.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+%Property( name = level, get = getLevel, set = setLevel )
+
+    void setXDim( int dimension );
+%Docstring
+Sets the x ``dimension`` for this pyramid layer.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+    int getXDim() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the x dimension for this pyramid layer.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+%Property( name = xDim, get = getXDim, set = setXDim )
+
+    void setYDim( int dimension );
+%Docstring
+Sets the y ``dimension`` for this pyramid layer.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+    int getYDim() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the y dimension for this pyramid layer.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+%Property( name = yDim, get = getYDim, set = setYDim )
+
+    bool getExists() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns ``True`` if the pyramid layer currently exists.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+    void setExists( bool exists );
+%Docstring
+Sets whether the pyramid layer currently exists.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+%Property( name = exists, get = getExists, set = setExists )
+
+    bool getBuild() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns ``True`` if the pyramid layer will be built.
+
+When used with :py:func:`QgsRasterDataProvider.buildPyramids()` this flag controls
+whether pyramids will be built for the layer.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+    void setBuild( bool build );
+%Docstring
+Sets whether the pyramid layer will be built.
+
+When used with :py:func:`QgsRasterDataProvider.buildPyramids()` this flag controls
+whether pyramids will be built for the layer. Set to ``True`` to build
+the pyramids.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.20
+%End
+
+%Property( name = build, get = getBuild, set = setBuild )
 
 };
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.cpp b/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.cpp
index 74385ad7659..c5800f04651 100644
--- a/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.cpp
@@ -2038,16 +2038,16 @@ QString QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramids( const QList<QgsRasterPyramid> &rasterPyr
         ++myRasterPyramidIterator )
   {
 #ifdef QGISDEBUG
-    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "Build pyramids:: Level %1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->level ), 2 );
-    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "x:%1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ), 2 );
-    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "y:%1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ), 2 );
-    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "exists : %1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->exists ), 2 );
+    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "Build pyramids:: Level %1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->getLevel() ), 2 );
+    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "x:%1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->getXDim() ), 2 );
+    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "y:%1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->getYDim() ), 2 );
+    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "exists : %1" ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->getExists() ), 2 );
 #endif
-    if ( myRasterPyramidIterator->build )
+    if ( myRasterPyramidIterator->getBuild() )
     {
       QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "adding overview at level %1 to list"
-                                      ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->level ), 2 );
-      myOverviewLevelsVector.append( myRasterPyramidIterator->level );
+                                      ).arg( myRasterPyramidIterator->getLevel() ), 2 );
+      myOverviewLevelsVector.append( myRasterPyramidIterator->getLevel() );
     }
   }
   /* From : http://www.gdal.org/classGDALDataset.html#a2aa6f88b3bbc840a5696236af11dde15
@@ -2226,8 +2226,9 @@ QList<QgsRasterPyramid> QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramidList()
 }
 #endif
 
-QList<QgsRasterPyramid> QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewList )
+QList<QgsRasterPyramid> QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramidList( const QList<int> &list )
 {
+  QList< int > overviewList = list;
   QMutexLocker locker( mpMutex );
 
   int myWidth = mWidth;
@@ -2260,12 +2261,12 @@ QList<QgsRasterPyramid> QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewLi
     //
 
     QgsRasterPyramid myRasterPyramid;
-    myRasterPyramid.level = myDivisor;
-    myRasterPyramid.xDim = ( int )( 0.5 + ( myWidth / static_cast<double>( myDivisor ) ) ); // NOLINT
-    myRasterPyramid.yDim = ( int )( 0.5 + ( myHeight / static_cast<double>( myDivisor ) ) ); // NOLINT
-    myRasterPyramid.exists = false;
+    myRasterPyramid.setLevel( myDivisor );
+    myRasterPyramid.setXDim( ( int )( 0.5 + ( myWidth / static_cast<double>( myDivisor ) ) ) ); // NOLINT
+    myRasterPyramid.setYDim( ( int )( 0.5 + ( myHeight / static_cast<double>( myDivisor ) ) ) ); // NOLINT
+    myRasterPyramid.setExists( false );
 
-    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "Pyramid %1 xDim %2 yDim %3" ).arg( myRasterPyramid.level ).arg( myRasterPyramid.xDim ).arg( myRasterPyramid.yDim ), 2 );
+    QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "Pyramid %1 xDim %2 yDim %3" ).arg( myRasterPyramid.getLevel() ).arg( myRasterPyramid.getXDim() ).arg( myRasterPyramid.getYDim() ), 2 );
 
     //
     // Now we check if it actually exists in the raster layer
@@ -2288,20 +2289,20 @@ QList<QgsRasterPyramid> QgsGdalProvider::buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewLi
         // here is where we check if its a near match:
         // we will see if its within 5 cells either side of
         //
-        QgsDebugMsgLevel( "Checking whether " + QString::number( myRasterPyramid.xDim ) + " x " +
-                          QString::number( myRasterPyramid.yDim ) + " matches " +
+        QgsDebugMsgLevel( "Checking whether " + QString::number( myRasterPyramid.getXDim() ) + " x " +
+                          QString::number( myRasterPyramid.getYDim() ) + " matches " +
                           QString::number( myOverviewXDim ) + " x " + QString::number( myOverviewYDim ), 2 );
 
 
-        if ( ( myOverviewXDim <= ( myRasterPyramid.xDim + myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
-             ( myOverviewXDim >= ( myRasterPyramid.xDim - myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
-             ( myOverviewYDim <= ( myRasterPyramid.yDim + myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
-             ( myOverviewYDim >= ( myRasterPyramid.yDim - myNearMatchLimit ) ) )
+        if ( ( myOverviewXDim <= ( myRasterPyramid.getXDim() + myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
+             ( myOverviewXDim >= ( myRasterPyramid.getXDim() - myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
+             ( myOverviewYDim <= ( myRasterPyramid.getYDim() + myNearMatchLimit ) ) &&
+             ( myOverviewYDim >= ( myRasterPyramid.getYDim() - myNearMatchLimit ) ) )
         {
           //right we have a match so adjust the a / y before they get added to the list
-          myRasterPyramid.xDim = myOverviewXDim;
-          myRasterPyramid.yDim = myOverviewYDim;
-          myRasterPyramid.exists = true;
+          myRasterPyramid.setXDim( myOverviewXDim );
+          myRasterPyramid.setYDim( myOverviewYDim );
+          myRasterPyramid.setExists( true );
           QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( ".....YES!" ), 2 );
         }
         else
diff --git a/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.h b/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.h
index 3dce1000e58..5f8f453e51f 100644
--- a/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.h
+++ b/src/core/providers/gdal/qgsgdalprovider.h
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class QgsGdalProvider final: public QgsRasterDataProvider, QgsGdalProviderBase
                            QgsRaster::RasterPyramidsFormat format = QgsRaster::PyramidsGTiff,
                            const QStringList &createOptions = QStringList(),
                            QgsRasterBlockFeedback *feedback = nullptr ) override;
-    QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewList = QList<int>() ) override;
+    QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( const QList<int> &overviewList = QList<int>() ) override;
 
     static QMap<QString, QString> supportedMimes();
 
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.cpp b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.cpp
index c3b6cfac161..387a0eb02bf 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.cpp
@@ -374,22 +374,8 @@ QList<QPair<QString, QString> > QgsRasterDataProvider::pyramidResamplingMethods(
 
 bool QgsRasterDataProvider::hasPyramids()
 {
-  QList<QgsRasterPyramid> myPyramidList = buildPyramidList();
-
-  if ( myPyramidList.isEmpty() )
-    return false;
-
-  QList<QgsRasterPyramid>::iterator myRasterPyramidIterator;
-  for ( myRasterPyramidIterator = myPyramidList.begin();
-        myRasterPyramidIterator != myPyramidList.end();
-        ++myRasterPyramidIterator )
-  {
-    if ( myRasterPyramidIterator->exists )
-    {
-      return true;
-    }
-  }
-  return false;
+  const QList<QgsRasterPyramid> pyramidList = buildPyramidList();
+  return std::any_of( pyramidList.constBegin(), pyramidList.constEnd(), []( QgsRasterPyramid pyramid ) { return pyramid.getExists(); } );
 }
 
 void QgsRasterDataProvider::setUserNoDataValue( int bandNo, const QgsRasterRangeList &noData )
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.h b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.h
index e70d092daf7..4140d7e0ea7 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.h
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterdataprovider.h
@@ -309,7 +309,22 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsRasterDataProvider : public QgsDataProvider, public QgsRast
       return nullptr;
     }
 
-    //! \brief Create pyramid overviews
+    /**
+     * Creates pyramid overviews.
+     *
+     * \param pyramidList a list of QgsRasterPryamids to create overviews for. The QgsRasterPryamid::setBuild() flag
+     * should be set to TRUE for every layer where pyramids are desired.
+     * \param resamplingMethod resampling method to use when creating the pyramids. The pyramidResamplingMethods() method
+     * can be used to retrieve a list of valid resampling methods available for specific raster data providers.
+     * \param format raster pyramid format.
+     * \param configOptions optional configuration options which are passed to the specific data provider
+     * for use during pyramid creation.
+     * \param feedback optional feedback argument for progress reports and cancelation support.
+     *
+     * \see buildPyramidList()
+     * \see hasPyramids()
+     * \see pyramidResamplingMethods()
+     */
     virtual QString buildPyramids( const QList<QgsRasterPyramid> &pyramidList,
                                    const QString &resamplingMethod = "NEAREST",
                                    QgsRaster::RasterPyramidsFormat format = QgsRaster::PyramidsGTiff,
@@ -326,16 +341,34 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsRasterDataProvider : public QgsDataProvider, public QgsRast
 
     /**
      * Returns the raster layers pyramid list.
-     * \param overviewList used to construct the pyramid list (optional), when empty the list is defined by the provider.
-     * A pyramid list defines the
-     * POTENTIAL pyramids that can be in a raster. To know which of the pyramid layers
-     * ACTUALLY exists you need to look at the existsFlag member in each struct stored in the
+     *
+     * This method returns a list of pyramid layers which are valid for the data provider. The returned list
+     * is a complete list of all possible layers, and includes both pyramids layers which currently exist and
+     * layers which have not yet been constructed. To know which of the pyramid layers
+     * ACTUALLY exists you need to look at the QgsRasterPyramid::getExists() member for each value in the
      * list.
+     *
+     * The returned list is suitable for passing to the buildPyramids() method. First, modify the returned list
+     * by calling `QgsRasterPryamid::setBuild( TRUE )` for every layer you want to create pyramids for, and then
+     * pass the modified list to buildPryamids().
+     *
+     * \param overviewList used to construct the pyramid list (optional), when empty the list is defined by the provider.
+     *
+     * \see buildPyramids()
+     * \see hasPyramids()
      */
-    virtual QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( QList<int> overviewList = QList<int>() ) // clazy:exclude=function-args-by-ref
+    virtual QList<QgsRasterPyramid> buildPyramidList( const QList<int> &overviewList = QList<int>() )
     { Q_UNUSED( overviewList ) return QList<QgsRasterPyramid>(); }
 
-    //! \brief Returns TRUE if raster has at least one populated histogram.
+    /**
+     * Returns TRUE if raster has at least one existing pyramid.
+     *
+     * The buildPyramidList() method can be used to retrieve additional details about potential and existing
+     * pryamid layers.
+     *
+     * \see buildPyramidList()
+     * \see buildPyramids()
+     */
     bool hasPyramids();
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterfilewriter.cpp b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterfilewriter.cpp
index 6ab657ff4ab..dfbe4bf8cdb 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterfilewriter.cpp
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterfilewriter.cpp
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ void QgsRasterFileWriter::buildPyramids( const QString &filename, QgsRasterDataP
     myPyramidList = destProvider->buildPyramidList( mPyramidsList );
   for ( int myCounterInt = 0; myCounterInt < myPyramidList.count(); myCounterInt++ )
   {
-    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].build = true;
+    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].setBuild( true );
   }
 
   QgsDebugMsgLevel( QStringLiteral( "building pyramids : %1 pyramids, %2 resampling, %3 format, %4 options" ).arg( myPyramidList.count() ).arg( mPyramidsResampling ).arg( mPyramidsFormat ).arg( mPyramidsConfigOptions.count() ), 4 );
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.h b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.h
index db4f0dc1cf4..5ae6143df29 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.h
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterpyramid.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #define QGSRASTERPYRAMID
 
 #include "qgis_core.h"
+#include "qgis_sip.h"
 
 /**
  * \ingroup core
@@ -27,25 +28,125 @@
 class CORE_EXPORT QgsRasterPyramid
 {
   public:
-    //! \brief The pyramid level as implemented in gdal (level 2 is half original raster size etc)
-    int level;
-    //! \brief XDimension for this pyramid layer
-    int xDim;
-    //! \brief YDimension for this pyramid layer
-    int yDim;
-    //! \brief Whether the pyramid layer has been built yet
-    bool exists;
-    //! \brief Whether the pyramid should be built
-    bool build;
 
-    QgsRasterPyramid()
-    {
-      level = 0;
-      xDim = 0;
-      yDim = 0;
-      exists = false;
-      build = false;
-    }
+    //TODO QGIS 4.0 - rename get* to remove get prefix, and remove
+    //temporary SIP_PROPERTY definitions
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the pyramid level.
+     *
+     * Pyramid levels are as defined by GDAL, eg
+     * level 2 is half the original raster size.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    int getLevel() const { return mLevel; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the pyramid \a level.
+     *
+     * Pyramid levels are as defined by GDAL, eg
+     * level 2 is half the original raster size.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    void setLevel( int level ) { mLevel = level; }
+
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_PROPERTY( name = level, get = getLevel, set = setLevel )
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the x \a dimension for this pyramid layer.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    void setXDim( int dimension ) { mXDim = dimension; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the x dimension for this pyramid layer.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    int getXDim() const { return mXDim; }
+
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_PROPERTY( name = xDim, get = getXDim, set = setXDim )
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the y \a dimension for this pyramid layer.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    void setYDim( int dimension ) { mYDim = dimension; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the y dimension for this pyramid layer.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    int getYDim() const { return mYDim; }
+
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_PROPERTY( name = yDim, get = getYDim, set = setYDim )
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Returns TRUE if the pyramid layer currently exists.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    bool getExists() const { return mExists; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets whether the pyramid layer currently exists.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    void setExists( bool exists ) { mExists = exists; }
+
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_PROPERTY( name = exists, get = getExists, set = setExists )
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Returns TRUE if the pyramid layer will be built.
+     *
+     * When used with QgsRasterDataProvider::buildPyramids() this flag controls
+     * whether pyramids will be built for the layer.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    bool getBuild() const { return mBuild; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets whether the pyramid layer will be built.
+     *
+     * When used with QgsRasterDataProvider::buildPyramids() this flag controls
+     * whether pyramids will be built for the layer. Set to TRUE to build
+     * the pyramids.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.20
+     */
+    void setBuild( bool build ) { mBuild = build; }
+
+#ifdef SIP_RUN
+    SIP_PROPERTY( name = build, get = getBuild, set = setBuild )
+#endif
+
+  private:
+
+    //! \brief The pyramid level as implemented in gdal (level 2 is half original raster size etc)
+    int mLevel = 0;
+    //! \brief XDimension for this pyramid layer
+    int mXDim = 0;
+    //! \brief YDimension for this pyramid layer
+    int mYDim = 0;
+    //! \brief Whether the pyramid layer has been built yet
+    bool mExists = false;
+    //! \brief Whether the pyramid should be built
+    bool mBuild = false;
 
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsrasterlayersaveasdialog.cpp b/src/gui/qgsrasterlayersaveasdialog.cpp
index 9bf50031bec..1b857c5b439 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsrasterlayersaveasdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qgsrasterlayersaveasdialog.cpp
@@ -824,15 +824,12 @@ void QgsRasterLayerSaveAsDialog::populatePyramidsLevels()
       if ( ! mPyramidsOptionsWidget->overviewList().isEmpty() )
         myPyramidList = mDataProvider->buildPyramidList( mPyramidsOptionsWidget->overviewList() );
     }
-    QList<QgsRasterPyramid>::iterator myRasterPyramidIterator;
-    for ( myRasterPyramidIterator = myPyramidList.begin();
-          myRasterPyramidIterator != myPyramidList.end();
-          ++myRasterPyramidIterator )
+    for ( const QgsRasterPyramid &pyramid : std::as_const( myPyramidList ) )
     {
-      if ( ! mPyramidsUseExistingCheckBox->isChecked() ||  myRasterPyramidIterator->exists )
+      if ( ! mPyramidsUseExistingCheckBox->isChecked() || pyramid.getExists() )
       {
-        text += QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ) + QStringLiteral( "x" ) +
-                QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ) + ' ';
+        text += QString::number( pyramid.getXDim() ) + QStringLiteral( "x" ) +
+                QString::number( pyramid.getYDim() ) + ' ';
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/gui/raster/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp b/src/gui/raster/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
index d26755756e9..0200655e127 100644
--- a/src/gui/raster/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/raster/qgsrasterlayerproperties.cpp
@@ -245,24 +245,21 @@ QgsRasterLayerProperties::QgsRasterLayerProperties( QgsMapLayer *lyr, QgsMapCanv
 
 
     // build pyramid list
-    QList< QgsRasterPyramid > myPyramidList = provider->buildPyramidList();
-    QList< QgsRasterPyramid >::iterator myRasterPyramidIterator;
+    const QList< QgsRasterPyramid > myPyramidList = provider->buildPyramidList();
 
-    for ( myRasterPyramidIterator = myPyramidList.begin();
-          myRasterPyramidIterator != myPyramidList.end();
-          ++myRasterPyramidIterator )
+    for ( const QgsRasterPyramid &pyramid : myPyramidList )
     {
-      if ( myRasterPyramidIterator->exists )
+      if ( pyramid.getExists() )
       {
         lbxPyramidResolutions->addItem( new QListWidgetItem( myPyramidPixmap,
-                                        QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
-                                        QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ) ) );
+                                        QString::number( pyramid.getXDim() ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
+                                        QString::number( pyramid.getYDim() ) ) );
       }
       else
       {
         lbxPyramidResolutions->addItem( new QListWidgetItem( myNoPyramidPixmap,
-                                        QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
-                                        QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ) ) );
+                                        QString::number( pyramid.getXDim() ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
+                                        QString::number( pyramid.getYDim() ) ) );
       }
     }
   }
@@ -1149,7 +1146,7 @@ void QgsRasterLayerProperties::buttonBuildPyramids_clicked()
   {
     QListWidgetItem *myItem = lbxPyramidResolutions->item( myCounterInt );
     //mark to be pyramided
-    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].build = myItem->isSelected() || myPyramidList[myCounterInt].exists;
+    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].setBuild( myItem->isSelected() || myPyramidList[myCounterInt].getExists() );
   }
 
   // keep it in sync with qgsrasterpyramidsoptionwidget.cpp
@@ -1218,21 +1215,19 @@ void QgsRasterLayerProperties::buttonBuildPyramids_clicked()
   QIcon myNoPyramidPixmap( QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconNoPyramid.svg" ) );
 
   QList< QgsRasterPyramid >::iterator myRasterPyramidIterator;
-  for ( myRasterPyramidIterator = myPyramidList.begin();
-        myRasterPyramidIterator != myPyramidList.end();
-        ++myRasterPyramidIterator )
+  for ( const QgsRasterPyramid &pyramid : std::as_const( myPyramidList ) )
   {
-    if ( myRasterPyramidIterator->exists )
+    if ( pyramid.getExists() )
     {
       lbxPyramidResolutions->addItem( new QListWidgetItem( myPyramidPixmap,
-                                      QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
-                                      QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ) ) );
+                                      QString::number( pyramid.getXDim() ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
+                                      QString::number( pyramid.getYDim() ) ) );
     }
     else
     {
       lbxPyramidResolutions->addItem( new QListWidgetItem( myNoPyramidPixmap,
-                                      QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->xDim ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
-                                      QString::number( myRasterPyramidIterator->yDim ) ) );
+                                      QString::number( pyramid.getXDim() ) + QStringLiteral( " x " ) +
+                                      QString::number( pyramid.getYDim() ) ) );
     }
   }
   //update the legend pixmap
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsrasterlayer.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsrasterlayer.cpp
index 2c476f143ce..5fdaf735b25 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsrasterlayer.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsrasterlayer.cpp
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ void TestQgsRasterLayer::buildExternalOverviews()
   for ( int myCounterInt = 0; myCounterInt < myPyramidList.count(); myCounterInt++ )
   {
     //mark to be pyramided
-    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].build = true;
+    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].setBuild( true );
   }
   //now actually make the pyramids
   QString myResult =
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ void TestQgsRasterLayer::buildExternalOverviews()
   for ( int myCounterInt = 0; myCounterInt < myPyramidList.count(); myCounterInt++ )
   {
     //mark to be pyramided
-    QVERIFY( myPyramidList.at( myCounterInt ).exists );
+    QVERIFY( myPyramidList.at( myCounterInt ).getExists() );
   }
 
   //
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ void TestQgsRasterLayer::buildExternalOverviews()
   for ( int myCounterInt = 0; myCounterInt < myPyramidList.count(); myCounterInt++ )
   {
     //mark to be pyramided
-    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].build = true;
+    myPyramidList[myCounterInt].setBuild( true );
   }
 
   // Test with options