diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/anchored_artists.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/anchored_artists.py
index ce783339034b..fc56ec00d831 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/anchored_artists.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/axes_grid1/anchored_artists.py
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ class AnchoredSizeBar(AnchoredOffsetbox):
     def __init__(self, transform, size, label, loc,
                  pad=0.1, borderpad=0.1, sep=2, prop=None,
                  frameon=True, size_vertical=0, color='black',
-                 label_top=False,
+                 label_top=False, fontproperties=None,
                  **kwargs):
         """
-        Draw a horizontal bar with the size in data coordinate of the give axes.
+        Draw a horizontal bar with the size in data coordinate of the given axes.
         A label will be drawn underneath (center-aligned).
 
         Parameters:
@@ -97,25 +97,45 @@ def __init__(self, transform, size, label, loc,
         color : str, optional
           color for the size bar and label
         label_top : bool, optional
-          if true, the label will be over the rectangle
+          if True, the label will be over the rectangle
+        fontproperties: a matplotlib.font_manager.FontProperties instance, optional
+          sets the font properties for the label text
+
+        Returns:
+        --------
+        AnchoredSizeBar object
 
         Example:
         --------
-        >>>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-        >>>> import numpy as np
-        >>>> from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.anchored_artists import AnchoredSizeBar
-        >>>> fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-        >>>> ax = imshow(np.random.random((10,10)))
-        >>>> bar = AnchoredSizeBar(ax.transData, 3, '3 units', pad=0.5, loc=4, sep=5, borderpad=0.5, frameon=False, size_vertical=0.5, color='white')
-        >>>> ax.add_artist(bar)
-        >>>> plt.show()
+        >>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+        >>> import numpy as np
+        >>> from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1.anchored_artists import AnchoredSizeBar
+        >>> fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+        >>> ax.imshow(np.random.random((10,10)))
+        >>> bar = AnchoredSizeBar(ax.transData, 3, '3 units', 4)
+        >>> ax.add_artist(bar)
+        >>> fig.show()
+
+        Using all the optional parameters
+        
+        >>> import matplotlib.font_manager as fm
+        >>> fontprops = fm.FontProperties(size=14, family='monospace')
+        >>> bar = AnchoredSizeBar(ax.transData, 3, '3 units', 4, pad=0.5, sep=5, borderpad=0.5, frameon=False, size_vertical=0.5, color='white', fontproperties=fontprops)
 
         """
 
         self.size_bar = AuxTransformBox(transform)
         self.size_bar.add_artist(Rectangle((0,0), size, size_vertical, fill=True, facecolor=color, edgecolor=color))
 
-        self.txt_label = TextArea(label, minimumdescent=False)
+        if not fontproperties:
+            textprops = {'color': color}
+        else:
+            textprops = {'color': color, 'fontproperties': fontproperties} 
+
+        self.txt_label = TextArea(
+            label, 
+            minimumdescent=False, 
+            textprops=textprops)
 
         if label_top:
             _box_children = [self.txt_label, self.size_bar]