diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
index 6da028e81b4f..d37055fc05ed 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
@@ -112,11 +112,38 @@ def is_color_like(c):
         return True
 
 
+def same_color(c1, c2):
+    """
+    Compare two colors to see if they are the same.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    c1, c2 : Matplotlib colors
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    bool
+        ``True`` if *c1* and *c2* are the same color, otherwise ``False``.
+    """
+    return (to_rgba_array(c1) == to_rgba_array(c2)).all()
+
+
 def to_rgba(c, alpha=None):
-    """Convert *c* to an RGBA color.
+    """
+    Convert *c* to an RGBA color.
 
-    If *alpha* is not *None*, it forces the alpha value, except if *c* is
-    ``"none"`` (case-insensitive), which always maps to ``(0, 0, 0, 0)``.
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    c : Matplotlib color
+
+    alpha : scalar, optional
+        If *alpha* is not ``None``, it forces the alpha value, except if *c* is
+        ``"none"`` (case-insensitive), which always maps to ``(0, 0, 0, 0)``.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    tuple
+        Tuple of ``(r, g, b, a)`` scalars.
     """
     # Special-case nth color syntax because it should not be cached.
     if _is_nth_color(c):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colors.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colors.py
index 264d75ebe57a..a6e3002b0735 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colors.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_colors.py
@@ -715,3 +715,8 @@ def __add__(self, other):
         else:
             assert len(recwarn) == 0
         recwarn.clear()
+
+
+def test_same_color():
+    assert mcolors.same_color('k', (0, 0, 0))
+    assert not mcolors.same_color('w', (1, 1, 0))