diff --git a/tests/unit/spinner/spinner_options.js b/tests/unit/spinner/spinner_options.js
index 81f434fc6..0be59bd07 100644
--- a/tests/unit/spinner/spinner_options.js
+++ b/tests/unit/spinner/spinner_options.js
@@ -144,24 +144,56 @@ test( "max", function() {
 	equals( element.val(), 1000, "value not constrained on init" );
 
 	element.spinner( "value", 1000 );
-	equals( element.val(), 100, "max constrained if value method is greater" );
+	equals( element.val(), 100, "max constrained in value method" );
 
 	element.val( 1000 ).blur();
 	equals( element.val(), 1000, "max not constrained if manual entry" );
 });
 
+test( "max, string", function() {
+	expect( 3 );
+	var element = $( "#spin" )
+		.val( 1000 )
+		.spinner({
+			max: "$100.00",
+			numberFormat: "C",
+			culture: "en"
+		});
+	equals( element.val(), "$1,000.00", "value not constrained on init" );
+	equals( element.spinner( "option", "max" ), 100, "option converted to number" );
+
+	element.spinner( "value", 1000 );
+	equals( element.val(), "$100.00", "max constrained in value method" );
+});
+
 test( "min", function() {
 	expect( 3 );
 	var element = $( "#spin" ).val( -1000 ).spinner({ min: -100 });
 	equals( element.val(), -1000, "value not constrained on init" );
 
 	element.spinner( "value", -1000 );
-	equals( element.val(), -100, "min constrained if value method is greater" );
+	equals( element.val(), -100, "min constrained in value method" );
 
 	element.val( -1000 ).blur();
 	equals( element.val(), -1000, "min not constrained if manual entry" );
 });
 
+test( "min, string", function() {
+	expect( 3 );
+	var element = $( "#spin" )
+		.val( -1000 )
+		.spinner({
+			min: "-$100.00",
+			numberFormat: "C",
+			culture: "en"
+		});
+	equals( element.val(), "($1,000.00)", "value not constrained on init" );
+	equals( element.spinner( "option", "min" ), -100, "option converted to number" );
+
+	element.spinner( "value", -1000 );
+	equals( element.val(), "($100.00)", "min constrained in value method")
+});
+
 test( "step, 2", function() {
 	expect( 3 );
 	var element = $( "#spin" ).val( 0 ).spinner({ step: 2 });
@@ -187,4 +219,18 @@ test( "step, 0.7", function() {
 	equals( element.val(), "0.7", "stepUp" );
 });
 
+test( "step, string", function() {
+	expect( 2 );
+	var element = $("#spin").val( 0 ).spinner({
+		step: "$0.70",
+		numberFormat: "C",
+		culture: "en"
+	});
+
+	equals( element.spinner( "option", "step" ), 0.7, "option converted to number" );
+
+	element.spinner( "stepUp" );
+	equals( element.val(), "$0.70", "stepUp" );
+});
+
 })( jQuery );
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.spinner.js b/ui/jquery.ui.spinner.js
index b78b4dbea..c99520b7c 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.spinner.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.spinner.js
@@ -45,7 +45,14 @@ $.widget( "ui.spinner", {
 	},
 
 	_create: function() {
+		// handle string values that need to be parsed
+		this._setOption( "max", this.options.max );
+		this._setOption( "min", this.options.min );
+		this._setOption( "step", this.options.step );
+
+		// format the value, but don't constrain
 		this._value( this.element.val(), true );
+
 		this._draw();
 		this._bind( this._events );
 		this._refresh();
@@ -318,6 +325,12 @@ $.widget( "ui.spinner", {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		if ( key === "max" || key === "min" || key === "step" ) {
+			if ( typeof value === "string" ) {
+				value = this._parse( value );
+			}
+		}
+
 		this._super( key, value );
 
 		if ( key === "disabled" ) {