diff --git a/icu4c/packaging/distrelease.ps1 b/icu4c/packaging/distrelease.ps1
index 89ce4398e62..58c201b0d25 100644
--- a/icu4c/packaging/distrelease.ps1
+++ b/icu4c/packaging/distrelease.ps1
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #  (bring up Powershell ISE)
 #    cd C:\icu\icu4c\
 #    Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Unrestricted
-#    .\packaging\distrelease.ps1
+#    .\packaging\distrelease.ps1 -arch "x64 or x86"
 #
 # Will emit: c:\icu4c\icu\source\dist\icu-windows.zip
 #
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
 #  see https://docs.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_execution_policies?view=powershell-5.1&viewFallbackFrom=powershell-Microsoft.PowerShell.Core 
 #    for more about execution policies.
 
+Param(
+  [string]$arch = "x64" # use x64 as default
+)
 
 $icuDir = Split-Path -Path $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Definition -Parent
 $icuDir = Resolve-Path -Path '$icuDir\..'
@@ -35,11 +38,25 @@ Get-ChildItem -Path $source -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Remove-Item -Recurse
 New-Item -Path $source -ItemType "directory" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
 
 # copy required stuff
-Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\lib" -Destination $source -Recurse
-Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\lib64" -Destination $source -Recurse
+if ($arch -eq "x64")
+{
+    Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\lib64" -Destination $source -Recurse
+    Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\bin64" -Destination $source -Recurse
+}
+elseif ($arch -eq "x86")
+{
+    Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\lib" -Destination $source -Recurse
+    Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\bin" -Destination $source -Recurse
+}
+else
+{
+    $filename = $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name;
+    echo "Invalid architecture."
+    echo "Usage: $filename -arch `"x64 or x86`""
+    exit
+}
+
 Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\include" -Destination $source -Recurse
-Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\bin" -Destination $source -Recurse
-Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\bin64" -Destination $source -Recurse
 Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\APIChangeReport.html" -Destination $source -Recurse
 Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\icu4c.css" -Destination $source -Recurse
 Copy-Item -Path "$icuDir\LICENSE" -Destination $source -Recurse