diff --git a/doc/users/next_whats_new/rcparam-axes-aspect.rst b/doc/users/next_whats_new/rcparam-axes-aspect.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..11700385c774
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/users/next_whats_new/rcparam-axes-aspect.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+rcParams for default axes aspect
+--------------------------------------------------
+
+One new rcParams have been added: ``axes.aspect`` for the default axes.aspect specification
+
+Valid values for ``axes.aspect`` remain: 'auto', 'equal' or a float.
+
+Default behviour is unchanged.
+
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 2e519a74c18e..7bb382a98927 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def __init__(self, fig, rect,
             raise ValueError('Width and height specified must be non-negative')
         self._originalPosition = self._position.frozen()
         self.axes = self
-        self._aspect = 'auto'
+        self._aspect = rcParams['axes.aspect']
         self._adjustable = 'box'
         self._anchor = 'C'
         self._stale_viewlim_x = False
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
index 26d54f61d0c1..d1dae18b7d12 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py
@@ -369,12 +369,15 @@ def validate_color(s):
 
 
 def validate_aspect(s):
-    if s in ('auto', 'equal'):
+    aspect_specifications = ['auto', 'equal']
+    if s in aspect_specifications:
         return s
     try:
         return float(s)
     except ValueError:
-        raise ValueError('not a valid aspect specification')
+        raise ValueError(
+            "%s is not a valid aspect specification. Valid aspect "
+            "specifications are %s." % (s, ", ".join(aspect_specifications)))
 
 
 def validate_fontsize_None(s):
@@ -1175,6 +1178,7 @@ def _validate_linestyle(ls):
     'axes.autolimit_mode': [
         'data',
         ValidateInStrings('autolimit_mode', ['data', 'round_numbers'])],
+    'axes.aspect': ['auto', validate_aspect],
     'axes.xmargin': [0.05, ValidateInterval(0, 1,
                                             closedmin=True,
                                             closedmax=True)],  # margin added to xaxis
diff --git a/matplotlibrc.template b/matplotlibrc.template
index 67761328dbdc..b3766c7026d9 100644
--- a/matplotlibrc.template
+++ b/matplotlibrc.template
@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@
 #axes.autolimit_mode : data  ## How to scale axes limits to the data.  By using:
                              ##     - "data" to use data limits, plus some margin
                              ##     - "round_numbers" move to the nearest "round" number
+#axes.aspect    : 'auto' ## axes aspect, options: 'auto', 'equal' or float
 #axes.xmargin   : .05   ## x margin.  See `axes.Axes.margins`
 #axes.ymargin   : .05   ## y margin.  See `axes.Axes.margins`
 #polaraxes.grid : True  ## display grid on polar axes