Phanerochaetaceae was first conceived by Swedish mycologist John Eriksson in 1958 as the subfamily Phanerochaetoideae of the Corticiaceae.

[2] It was later published validly by Erast Parmasto in 1986,[3] and raised to familial status by Swiss mycologist Walter Jülich in 1982.

[4] In 2007, Karl-Henrik Larsson proposed using the name Phanerochaetaceae to refer to the clade of crust fungi clustered near Phanerochaete.

[5] In 2013, a more extensive molecular analysis showed that the Phanerochaetaceae were a subclade of the large phlebioid clade, which also contains members of the families Meruliaceae and Irpicaceae.

Although rare, some species have a polyporoid form, a dimitic hyphal system, and clamp connections.