diff --git a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_hbox_divider.py b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_hbox_divider.py
index 7bbbeff950a6..b3bfcc508468 100644
--- a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_hbox_divider.py
+++ b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_hbox_divider.py
@@ -1,43 +1,54 @@
 """
-===================
-`.HBoxDivider` demo
-===================
+================================
+HBoxDivider and VBoxDivider demo
+================================
 
 Using an `.HBoxDivider` to arrange subplots.
+
+Note that both axes' location are adjusted so that they have
+equal heights while maintaining their aspect ratios.
+
 """
 
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.axes_divider import HBoxDivider
+from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.axes_divider import HBoxDivider, VBoxDivider
 import mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.axes_size as Size
 
 
-def make_heights_equal(fig, rect, ax1, ax2, pad):
-    # pad in inches
-    divider = HBoxDivider(
-        fig, rect,
-        horizontal=[Size.AxesX(ax1), Size.Fixed(pad), Size.AxesX(ax2)],
-        vertical=[Size.AxesY(ax1), Size.Scaled(1), Size.AxesY(ax2)])
-    ax1.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(0))
-    ax2.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(2))
+arr1 = np.arange(20).reshape((4, 5))
+arr2 = np.arange(20).reshape((5, 4))
+
+fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(1, 2)
+ax1.imshow(arr1)
+ax2.imshow(arr2)
 
+pad = 0.5  # pad in inches
+divider = HBoxDivider(
+    fig, 111,
+    horizontal=[Size.AxesX(ax1), Size.Fixed(pad), Size.AxesX(ax2)],
+    vertical=[Size.AxesY(ax1), Size.Scaled(1), Size.AxesY(ax2)])
+ax1.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(0))
+ax2.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(2))
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
+plt.show()
 
-    arr1 = np.arange(20).reshape((4, 5))
-    arr2 = np.arange(20).reshape((5, 4))
+###############################################################################
+# Using a `.VBoxDivider` to arrange subplots.
+#
+# Note that both axes' location are adjusted so that they have
+# equal widths while maintaining their aspect ratios.
 
-    fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(1, 2)
-    ax1.imshow(arr1)
-    ax2.imshow(arr2)
+fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(2, 1)
+ax1.imshow(arr1)
+ax2.imshow(arr2)
 
-    make_heights_equal(fig, 111, ax1, ax2, pad=0.5)
+divider = VBoxDivider(
+    fig, 111,
+    horizontal=[Size.AxesX(ax1), Size.Scaled(1), Size.AxesX(ax2)],
+    vertical=[Size.AxesY(ax1), Size.Fixed(pad), Size.AxesY(ax2)])
 
-    fig.text(.5, .5,
-             "Both axes' location are adjusted\n"
-             "so that they have equal heights\n"
-             "while maintaining their aspect ratios",
-             va="center", ha="center",
-             bbox=dict(boxstyle="round, pad=1", facecolor="w"))
+ax1.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(0))
+ax2.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(2))
 
-    plt.show()
+plt.show()
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_axes_grid1.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_axes_grid1.py
index ea9b55de4883..126cdd0b5ec7 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_axes_grid1.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_axes_grid1.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
 from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.anchored_artists import (
     AnchoredSizeBar, AnchoredDirectionArrows)
 from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.axes_divider import (
-    Divider, HBoxDivider, make_axes_area_auto_adjustable, SubplotDivider)
+    Divider, HBoxDivider, make_axes_area_auto_adjustable, SubplotDivider,
+    VBoxDivider)
 from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.axes_rgb import RGBAxes
 from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.inset_locator import (
     zoomed_inset_axes, mark_inset, inset_axes, BboxConnectorPatch,
@@ -514,6 +515,29 @@ def test_hbox_divider():
     assert p2.width / p1.width == pytest.approx((4 / 5) ** 2)
 
 
+def test_vbox_divider():
+    arr1 = np.arange(20).reshape((4, 5))
+    arr2 = np.arange(20).reshape((5, 4))
+
+    fig, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(1, 2)
+    ax1.imshow(arr1)
+    ax2.imshow(arr2)
+
+    pad = 0.5  # inches.
+    divider = VBoxDivider(
+        fig, 111,  # Position of combined axes.
+        horizontal=[Size.AxesX(ax1), Size.Scaled(1), Size.AxesX(ax2)],
+        vertical=[Size.AxesY(ax1), Size.Fixed(pad), Size.AxesY(ax2)])
+    ax1.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(0))
+    ax2.set_axes_locator(divider.new_locator(2))
+
+    fig.canvas.draw()
+    p1 = ax1.get_position()
+    p2 = ax2.get_position()
+    assert p1.width == p2.width
+    assert p1.height / p2.height == pytest.approx((4 / 5) ** 2)
+
+
 def test_axes_class_tuple():
     fig = plt.figure()
     axes_class = (mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.mpl_axes.Axes, {})