[2] As of April 2018[update], Index Fungorum accepts 645 species in the family.

[3] The family was formally circumscribed by English mycologist Carleton Rea in 1922, with Merulius as the type genus.

"[4] Several genera formerly classified in the Meruliaceae were moved to the family Steccherinaceae based on molecular evidence.

[5][6] Meruliaceae species are crust-like or polyporoid, and often have a waxy appearance when dry.

Although rare, some species have a dimitic hyphal system (with both generative and skeletal hyphae).