matplotlib · tacaswell · Aug 3, 2022 · Mar 25, 2022 · Jul 14, 2022 · Jul 22, 2022
diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/3d_plot_aspects.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/3d_plot_aspects.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+Set equal aspect ratio for 3D plots
+-----------------------------------
+
+Users can set the aspect ratio for the X, Y, Z axes of a 3D plot to be 'equal',
+'equalxy', 'equalxz', or 'equalyz' rather than the default of 'auto'.
+
+.. plot::
+    :include-source: true
+
+    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+    import numpy as np
+    from itertools import combinations, product
+
+    aspects = ('auto', 'equal', 'equalxy', 'equalyz', 'equalxz')
+    fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, len(aspects), subplot_kw={'projection': '3d'})
+
+    # Draw rectangular cuboid with side lengths [1, 1, 5]
+    r = [0, 1]
+    scale = np.array([1, 1, 5])
+    pts = combinations(np.array(list(product(r, r, r))), 2)
+    for start, end in pts:
+        if np.sum(np.abs(start - end)) == r[1] - r[0]:
+            for ax in axs:
+                ax.plot3D(*zip(start*scale, end*scale), color='C0')
+
+    # Set the aspect ratios
+    for i, ax in enumerate(axs):
+        ax.set_box_aspect((3, 4, 5))
+        ax.set_aspect(aspects[i])
+        ax.set_title("set_aspect('{aspects[i]}')")
+
+    plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_2.py b/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_2.py
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@
 # Plot the surface
 ax.plot_surface(x, y, z)
 
+# Set an equal aspect ratio
+ax.set_aspect('equal')
+
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py
@@ -42,5 +42,6 @@ def explode(data):
 
 ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.voxels(x, y, z, filled_2, facecolors=fcolors_2, edgecolors=ecolors_2)
+ax.set_aspect('equal')
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ def midpoints(x):
           edgecolors=np.clip(2*colors - 0.5, 0, 1),  # brighter
           linewidth=0.5)
 ax.set(xlabel='r', ylabel='g', zlabel='b')
+ax.set_aspect('equal')
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/axes3d.py
@@ -272,22 +272,19 @@ def set_aspect(self, aspect, adjustable=None, anchor=None, share=False):
         """
         Set the aspect ratios.
 
-        Axes 3D does not current support any aspect but 'auto' which fills
-        the Axes with the data limits.
-
-        To simulate having equal aspect in data space, set the ratio
-        of your data limits to match the value of `.get_box_aspect`.
-        To control box aspect ratios use `~.Axes3D.set_box_aspect`.
-
         Parameters
         ----------
-        aspect : {'auto'}
+        aspect : {'auto', 'equal', 'equalxy', 'equalxz', 'equalyz'}
             Possible values:
 
             =========   ==================================================
             value       description
             =========   ==================================================
             'auto'      automatic; fill the position rectangle with data.
+            'equal'     adapt all the axes to have equal aspect ratios.
+            'equalxy'   adapt the x and y axes to have equal aspect ratios.
+            'equalxz'   adapt the x and z axes to have equal aspect ratios.
+            'equalyz'   adapt the y and z axes to have equal aspect ratios.
             =========   ==================================================
 
         adjustable : None
@@ -321,13 +318,36 @@ def set_aspect(self, aspect, adjustable=None, anchor=None, share=False):
         --------
         mpl_toolkits.mplot3d.axes3d.Axes3D.set_box_aspect
         """
-        if aspect != 'auto':
-            raise NotImplementedError(
-                "Axes3D currently only supports the aspect argument "
-                f"'auto'. You passed in {aspect!r}."
-            )
+        _api.check_in_list(('auto', 'equal', 'equalxy', 'equalyz', 'equalxz'),
+                           aspect=aspect)
         super().set_aspect(
-            aspect, adjustable=adjustable, anchor=anchor, share=share)
+            aspect='auto', adjustable=adjustable, anchor=anchor, share=share)
+        self._aspect = aspect
+
+        if aspect in ('equal', 'equalxy', 'equalxz', 'equalyz'):
+            if aspect == 'equal':
+                ax_indices = [0, 1, 2]
+            elif aspect == 'equalxy':
+                ax_indices = [0, 1]
+            elif aspect == 'equalxz':
+                ax_indices = [0, 2]
+            elif aspect == 'equalyz':
+                ax_indices = [1, 2]
+
+            view_intervals = np.array([self.xaxis.get_view_interval(),
+                                       self.yaxis.get_view_interval(),
+                                       self.zaxis.get_view_interval()])
+            mean = np.mean(view_intervals, axis=1)
+            ptp = np.ptp(view_intervals, axis=1)
+            delta = max(ptp[ax_indices])
+            scale = self._box_aspect[ptp == delta][0]
+            deltas = delta * self._box_aspect / scale
+
+            for i, set_lim in enumerate((self.set_xlim3d,
+                                         self.set_ylim3d,
+                                         self.set_zlim3d)):
+                if i in ax_indices:
+                    set_lim(mean[i] - deltas[i]/2., mean[i] + deltas[i]/2.)
 
     def set_box_aspect(self, aspect, *, zoom=1):
         """

diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/baseline_images/test_mplot3d/aspects.png b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/baseline_images/test_mplot3d/aspects.png
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
@@ -29,11 +29,22 @@ def test_invisible_axes(fig_test, fig_ref):
     ax.set_visible(False)
 
 
-def test_aspect_equal_error():
-    fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
-    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
-        ax.set_aspect('equal')
+@mpl3d_image_comparison(['aspects.png'], remove_text=False)
+def test_aspects():
+    aspects = ('auto', 'equal', 'equalxy', 'equalyz', 'equalxz')
+    fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, len(aspects), subplot_kw={'projection': '3d'})
+
+    # Draw rectangular cuboid with side lengths [1, 1, 5]
+    r = [0, 1]
+    scale = np.array([1, 1, 5])
+    pts = itertools.combinations(np.array(list(itertools.product(r, r, r))), 2)
+    for start, end in pts:
+        if np.sum(np.abs(start - end)) == r[1] - r[0]:
+            for ax in axs:
+                ax.plot3D(*zip(start*scale, end*scale))
+    for i, ax in enumerate(axs):
+        ax.set_box_aspect((3, 4, 5))
+        ax.set_aspect(aspects[i])
 
 
 def test_axes3d_repr():