diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index d0aded5fff63..055a92376387 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from collections import namedtuple
 import functools
 import os
 import sys
@@ -213,6 +214,9 @@ def _timer_stop(self):
         self._timer.stop()
 
 
+Crosshair = namedtuple('Crosshair', 'x, y, x0, x1, y0, y1')
+
+
 class FigureCanvasQT(FigureCanvasBase, QtWidgets.QWidget):
     required_interactive_framework = "qt"
     _timer_cls = TimerQT
@@ -231,6 +235,7 @@ class FigureCanvasQT(FigureCanvasBase, QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, figure=None):
         _create_qApp()
         super().__init__(figure=figure)
+        self._crosshair = None
 
         self._draw_pending = False
         self._is_drawing = False
@@ -305,6 +310,21 @@ def mouseEventCoords(self, pos=None):
         y = self.figure.bbox.height / self.device_pixel_ratio - pos.y()
         return x * self.device_pixel_ratio, y * self.device_pixel_ratio
 
+    def _update_crosshair(self, x, y):
+        previous_crosshair = self._crosshair
+        ax = self.inaxes((x, y))
+        if ax is None:
+            self._crosshair = None
+        else:
+            bbox = ax.get_position()  # in figure coords
+            x0 = int(bbox.x0 * self.width())
+            x1 = int(bbox.x1 * self.width())
+            y0 = int((1 - bbox.y0) * self.height())
+            y1 = int((1 - bbox.y1) * self.height())
+            self._crosshair = Crosshair(x, y, x0, x1, y0, y1)
+        needs_repaint = previous_crosshair is not None or self._crosshair is not None
+        return needs_repaint
+
     def enterEvent(self, event):
         # Force querying of the modifiers, as the cached modifier state can
         # have been invalidated while the window was out of focus.
@@ -344,8 +364,12 @@ def mouseDoubleClickEvent(self, event):
     def mouseMoveEvent(self, event):
         if self.figure is None:
             return
+        mouse_xy = self.mouseEventCoords(event)
+        needs_repaint = self._update_crosshair(*mouse_xy)
+        if needs_repaint:
+           self.repaint()
         MouseEvent("motion_notify_event", self,
-                   *self.mouseEventCoords(event),
+                   *mouse_xy,
                    buttons=self._mpl_buttons(event.buttons()),
                    modifiers=self._mpl_modifiers(),
                    guiEvent=event)._process()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
index 256e50a3d1c3..4b33e507e31d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
@@ -68,6 +68,17 @@ def paintEvent(self, event):
                 ctypes.c_long.from_address(id(buf)).value = 1
 
             self._draw_rect_callback(painter)
+
+            if self._crosshair is not None:
+                x = self._crosshair.x
+                y = rect.height() - int(self._crosshair.y)
+                x0 = rect.left() + self._crosshair.x0
+                x1 = rect.left() + self._crosshair.x1
+                y0 = rect.top() + self._crosshair.y0
+                y1 = rect.top() + self._crosshair.y1
+                painter.setPen(QtGui.QPen(QtCore.Qt.GlobalColor.red))
+                painter.drawLine(x0, y, x1, y)
+                painter.drawLine(x, y0, x, y1)
         finally:
             painter.end()