diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 0c7893b81977..49c17895029d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2884,6 +2884,7 @@ class NavigationToolbar2:
         ('Subplots', 'Configure subplots', 'subplots', 'configure_subplots'),
         (None, None, None, None),
         ('Save', 'Save the figure', 'filesave', 'save_figure'),
+        ('Copy', 'Copy to clipboard', 'copyfigure', 'copy_figure'),
       )
 
     def __init__(self, canvas):
@@ -3239,6 +3240,10 @@ def configure_subplots(self, *args):
         manager.show()
         return self.subplot_tool
 
+    def copy_figure(self, *args):
+        """Copy the current figure."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def save_figure(self, *args):
         """Save the current figure."""
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 364e4a509ad6..8777a04bd924 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -752,6 +752,10 @@ def configure_subplots(self):
         self._subplot_dialog.show()
         return self._subplot_dialog
 
+    def copy_figure(self, *args):
+        pixmap = self.canvas.grab()
+        qApp.clipboard().setPixmap(pixmap)
+        
     def save_figure(self, *args):
         filetypes = self.canvas.get_supported_filetypes_grouped()
         sorted_filetypes = sorted(filetypes.items())
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/copyfigure.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/copyfigure.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6026854d1c3d
Binary files /dev/null and b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/copyfigure.png differ