matplotlib · Aaratrika-Shelly · Jul 25, 2025
diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/updated_borderpad_parameter.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/updated_borderpad_parameter.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+``borderpad`` accepts a tuple for separate x/y padding
+-------------------------------------------------------
+
+The ``borderpad`` parameter used for placing anchored artists (such as inset axes) now accepts a tuple of ``(x_pad, y_pad)``.
+
+This allows for specifying separate padding values for the horizontal and
+vertical directions, providing finer control over placement. For example, when
+placing an inset in a corner, one might want horizontal padding to avoid
+overlapping with the main plot's axis labels, but no vertical padding to keep
+the inset flush with the plot area edge.
+
+Example usage with :func:`~mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.inset_locator.inset_axes`:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    ax_inset = inset_axes(
+        ax, width="30%", height="30%", loc='upper left',
+        borderpad=(4, 0))
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
@@ -1140,9 +1140,10 @@ def _get_anchored_bbox(self, loc, bbox, parentbbox, renderer):
         parentbbox : `~matplotlib.transforms.Bbox`
             A parent box which will contain the bbox, in display coordinates.
         """
+        pad = self.borderaxespad * renderer.points_to_pixels(self._fontsize)
         return offsetbox._get_anchored_bbox(
             loc, bbox, parentbbox,
-            self.borderaxespad * renderer.points_to_pixels(self._fontsize))
+            pad, pad)
 
     def _find_best_position(self, width, height, renderer):
         """Determine the best location to place the legend."""

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py b/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.py
@@ -946,8 +946,13 @@ def __init__(self, loc, *,
             See the parameter *loc* of `.Legend` for details.
         pad : float, default: 0.4
             Padding around the child as fraction of the fontsize.
-        borderpad : float, default: 0.5
+        borderpad : float or (float, float), default: 0.5
             Padding between the offsetbox frame and the *bbox_to_anchor*.
+            If a float, the same padding is used for both x and y.
+            If a tuple of two floats, it specifies the (x, y) padding.
+
+            .. versionadded:: 3.11
+               The *borderpad* parameter now accepts a tuple of (x, y) paddings.
         child : `.OffsetBox`
             The box that will be anchored.
         prop : `.FontProperties`
@@ -1054,12 +1059,22 @@ def set_bbox_to_anchor(self, bbox, transform=None):
     @_compat_get_offset
     def get_offset(self, bbox, renderer):
         # docstring inherited
-        pad = (self.borderpad
-               * renderer.points_to_pixels(self.prop.get_size_in_points()))
+        fontsize_in_pixels = renderer.points_to_pixels(self.prop.get_size_in_points())
+        try:
+            borderpad_x, borderpad_y = self.borderpad
+        except TypeError:
+            borderpad_x = self.borderpad
+            borderpad_y = self.borderpad
+        pad_x_pixels = borderpad_x * fontsize_in_pixels
+        pad_y_pixels = borderpad_y * fontsize_in_pixels
         bbox_to_anchor = self.get_bbox_to_anchor()
         x0, y0 = _get_anchored_bbox(
-            self.loc, Bbox.from_bounds(0, 0, bbox.width, bbox.height),
-            bbox_to_anchor, pad)
+            self.loc,
+            Bbox.from_bounds(0, 0, bbox.width, bbox.height),
+            bbox_to_anchor,
+            pad_x_pixels,
+            pad_y_pixels
+        )
         return x0 - bbox.x0, y0 - bbox.y0
 
     def update_frame(self, bbox, fontsize=None):
@@ -1084,15 +1099,15 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
         self.stale = False
 
 
-def _get_anchored_bbox(loc, bbox, parentbbox, borderpad):
+def _get_anchored_bbox(loc, bbox, parentbbox, pad_x, pad_y):
     """
     Return the (x, y) position of the *bbox* anchored at the *parentbbox* with
-    the *loc* code with the *borderpad*.
+    the *loc* code with the *borderpad* and padding *pad_x*, *pad_y*.
     """
     # This is only called internally and *loc* should already have been
     # validated.  If 0 (None), we just let ``bbox.anchored`` raise.
     c = [None, "NE", "NW", "SW", "SE", "E", "W", "E", "S", "N", "C"][loc]
-    container = parentbbox.padded(-borderpad)
+    container = parentbbox.padded(-pad_x, -pad_y)
     return bbox.anchored(c, container=container).p0
 
 

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/offsetbox.pyi
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class AnchoredOffsetbox(OffsetBox):
         loc: str,
         *,
         pad: float = ...,
-        borderpad: float = ...,
+        borderpad: float | tuple[float, float] = ...,
         child: OffsetBox | None = ...,
         prop: FontProperties | None = ...,
         frameon: bool = ...,
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class AnchoredText(AnchoredOffsetbox):
         loc: str,
         *,
         pad: float = ...,
-        borderpad: float = ...,
+        borderpad: float | tuple[float, float] = ...,
         prop: dict[str, Any] | None = ...,
         **kwargs
     ) -> None: ...

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_offsetbox.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_offsetbox.py
@@ -470,3 +470,40 @@ def test_draggable_in_subfigure():
     bbox = ann.get_window_extent()
     MouseEvent("button_press_event", fig.canvas, bbox.x1+2, bbox.y1+2)._process()
     assert not ann._draggable.got_artist
+
+
+def test_anchored_offsetbox_tuple_and_float_borderpad():
+    """
+    Test AnchoredOffsetbox correctly handles both float and tuple for borderpad.
+    """
+
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+
+    # Case 1: Establish a baseline with float value
+    text_float = AnchoredText("float", loc='lower left', borderpad=5)
+    ax.add_artist(text_float)
+
+    # Case 2: Test that a symmetric tuple gives the exact same result.
+    text_tuple_equal = AnchoredText("tuple", loc='lower left', borderpad=(5, 5))
+    ax.add_artist(text_tuple_equal)
+
+    # Case 3: Test that an asymmetric tuple with different values works as expected.
+    text_tuple_asym = AnchoredText("tuple_asym", loc='lower left', borderpad=(10, 4))
+    ax.add_artist(text_tuple_asym)
+
+    # Draw the canvas to calculate final positions
+    fig.canvas.draw()
+
+    pos_float = text_float.get_window_extent()
+    pos_tuple_equal = text_tuple_equal.get_window_extent()
+    pos_tuple_asym = text_tuple_asym.get_window_extent()
+
+    # Assertion 1: Prove that borderpad=5 is identical to borderpad=(5, 5).
+    assert pos_tuple_equal.x0 == pos_float.x0
+    assert pos_tuple_equal.y0 == pos_float.y0
+
+    # Assertion 2: Prove that the asymmetric padding moved the box
+    # further from the origin than the baseline in the x-direction and less far
+    # in the y-direction.
+    assert pos_tuple_asym.x0 > pos_float.x0
+    assert pos_tuple_asym.y0 < pos_float.y0
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/inset_locator.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/inset_locator.py
@@ -341,11 +341,16 @@ def inset_axes(parent_axes, width, height, loc='upper right',
 
         %(Axes:kwdoc)s
 
-    borderpad : float, default: 0.5
+    borderpad : float or (float, float), default: 0.5
         Padding between inset axes and the bbox_to_anchor.
+        If a float, the same padding is used for both x and y.
+        If a tuple of two floats, it specifies the (x, y) padding.
         The units are axes font size, i.e. for a default font size of 10 points
         *borderpad = 0.5* is equivalent to a padding of 5 points.
 
+        .. versionadded:: 3.11
+           The *borderpad* parameter now accepts a tuple of (x, y) paddings.
+
     Returns
     -------
     inset_axes : *axes_class*