diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/_constrained_layout.py b/lib/matplotlib/_constrained_layout.py
index 9554a156f1ec..7bf04a55fcb3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/_constrained_layout.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/_constrained_layout.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def do_constrained_layout(fig, h_pad, w_pad,
         Renderer to use.
 
     h_pad, w_pad : float
-      Padding around the axes elements in figure-normalized units.
+      Padding around the axes elements in inches.
 
     hspace, wspace : float
        Fraction of the figure to dedicate to space between the
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/layout_engine.py b/lib/matplotlib/layout_engine.py
index 49b3f1dd125f..6d5ba7810c68 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/layout_engine.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/layout_engine.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def __init__(self, *, h_pad=None, w_pad=None,
         Parameters
         ----------
         h_pad, w_pad : float
-            Padding around the axes elements in figure-normalized units.
+            Padding around the axes elements in inches.
             Default to :rc:`figure.constrained_layout.h_pad` and
             :rc:`figure.constrained_layout.w_pad`.
         hspace, wspace : float