diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
index a884cc838860..803ce1c02c26 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_tools.py
@@ -1063,6 +1063,17 @@ def _get_help_html(self):
                 "<tbody>".join(rows[1:]) + "</tbody></table>")
 
 
+class ToolCopyToClipboardBase(ToolBase):
+    """Tool to copy the figure to the clipboard"""
+
+    description = 'Copy the canvas figure to clipboard'
+    default_keymap = rcParams['keymap.copy']
+
+    def trigger(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        message = "Copy tool is not available"
+        self.toolmanager.message_event(message, self)
+
+
 default_tools = {'home': ToolHome, 'back': ToolBack, 'forward': ToolForward,
                  'zoom': ToolZoom, 'pan': ToolPan,
                  'subplots': 'ToolConfigureSubplots',
@@ -1081,6 +1092,7 @@ def _get_help_html(self):
                  'cursor': 'ToolSetCursor',
                  'rubberband': 'ToolRubberband',
                  'help': 'ToolHelp',
+                 'copy': 'ToolCopyToClipboard',
                  }
 """Default tools"""
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
index 164077cdc713..85d42eb437dc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
@@ -976,6 +976,7 @@ def trigger(self, *args):
 backend_tools.ToolSetCursor = SetCursorTk
 backend_tools.ToolRubberband = RubberbandTk
 backend_tools.ToolHelp = HelpTk
+backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboard = backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboardBase
 Toolbar = ToolbarTk
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 5ed0a8db2d3d..2134bf75903d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -856,6 +856,15 @@ def trigger(self, *args):
         dialog.destroy()
 
 
+class ToolCopyToClipboardGTK3(backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboardBase):
+    def trigger(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        clipboard = Gtk.Clipboard.get(Gdk.SELECTION_CLIPBOARD)
+        window = self.canvas.get_window()
+        x, y, width, height = window.get_geometry()
+        pb = Gdk.pixbuf_get_from_window(window, x, y, width, height)
+        clipboard.set_image(pb)
+
+
 # Define the file to use as the GTk icon
 if sys.platform == 'win32':
     icon_filename = 'matplotlib.png'
@@ -888,6 +897,7 @@ def error_msg_gtk(msg, parent=None):
 backend_tools.ToolSetCursor = SetCursorGTK3
 backend_tools.ToolRubberband = RubberbandGTK3
 backend_tools.ToolHelp = HelpGTK3
+backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboard = ToolCopyToClipboardGTK3
 
 Toolbar = ToolbarGTK3
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index 5b94fd19d84b..a584f4e8de84 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -1069,11 +1069,18 @@ def trigger(self, *args):
         QtWidgets.QMessageBox.information(None, "Help", self._get_help_html())
 
 
+class ToolCopyToClipboardQT(backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboardBase):
+    def trigger(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        pixmap = self.canvas.grab()
+        qApp.clipboard().setPixmap(pixmap)
+
+
 backend_tools.ToolSaveFigure = SaveFigureQt
 backend_tools.ToolConfigureSubplots = ConfigureSubplotsQt
 backend_tools.ToolSetCursor = SetCursorQt
 backend_tools.ToolRubberband = RubberbandQt
 backend_tools.ToolHelp = HelpQt
+backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboard = ToolCopyToClipboardQT
 
 
 def error_msg_qt(msg, parent=None):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index dfbf23340492..709b9a7bf618 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -1826,9 +1826,22 @@ def remove_rubberband(self, dc=None):
             self._rect = None
 
 
+class ToolCopyToClipboardWx(backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboardBase):
+    def trigger(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if not self.canvas._isDrawn:
+            self.canvas.draw()
+        if not self.canvas.bitmap.IsOk() or not wx.TheClipboard.Open():
+            return
+        try:
+            wx.TheClipboard.SetData(wx.BitmapDataObject(self.canvas.bitmap))
+        finally:
+            wx.TheClipboard.Close()
+
+
 backend_tools.ToolSaveFigure = SaveFigureWx
 backend_tools.ToolSetCursor = SetCursorWx
 backend_tools.ToolRubberband = RubberbandWx
+backend_tools.ToolCopyToClipboard = ToolCopyToClipboardWx
 
 
 # < Additions for printing support: Matt Newville
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index dcd2e6853b86..af812ebb08c7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -1421,6 +1421,7 @@ def _validate_linestyle(ls):
     'keymap.xscale':       [['k', 'L'], validate_stringlist],
     'keymap.all_axes':     [['a'], validate_stringlist],
     'keymap.help':         [['f1'], validate_stringlist],
+    'keymap.copy':         [['ctrl+c', 'cmd+c'], validate_stringlist],
 
     # sample data
     'examples.directory': ['', validate_string],
diff --git a/matplotlibrc.template b/matplotlibrc.template
index a3416144f0f0..f4549755ed01 100644
--- a/matplotlibrc.template
+++ b/matplotlibrc.template
@@ -591,6 +591,7 @@ backend      : $TEMPLATE_BACKEND
 #keymap.yscale : l                   ## toggle scaling of y-axes ('log'/'linear')
 #keymap.xscale : k, L                ## toggle scaling of x-axes ('log'/'linear')
 #keymap.all_axes : a                 ## enable all axes
+#keymap.copy : ctrl+c, cmd+c         ## Copy figure to clipboard
 
 ## Control location of examples data files
 #examples.directory :              ## directory to look in for custom installation