diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index 5fa8353880c0..484b6282b388 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 except ImportError:
     figureoptions = None
 
-from .qt_compat import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets, _getSaveFileName, __version__
+from .qt_compat import (QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets, _getSaveFileName,
+                        __version__, is_pyqt5)
 from matplotlib.backends.qt_editor.formsubplottool import UiSubplotTool
 
 backend_version = __version__
@@ -142,6 +143,9 @@ def _create_qApp():
         else:
             qApp = app
 
+    if is_pyqt5():
+        qApp.setAttribute(QtCore.Qt.AA_UseHighDpiPixmaps)
+
 
 class Show(ShowBase):
     def mainloop(self):
@@ -566,6 +570,8 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, parent, coordinates=True):
         NavigationToolbar2.__init__(self, canvas)
 
     def _icon(self, name):
+        if is_pyqt5():
+            name = name.replace('.png', '_hidpi.png')
         return QtGui.QIcon(os.path.join(self.basedir, name))
 
     def _init_toolbar(self):
@@ -606,6 +612,14 @@ def _init_toolbar(self):
         # reference holder for subplots_adjust window
         self.adj_window = None
 
+        # Esthetic adjustments - we need to set these explicitly in PyQt5
+        # otherwise the layout looks different - but we don't want to set it if
+        # not using HiDPI icons otherwise they look worse than before.
+        if is_pyqt5():
+            self.setIconSize(QtCore.QSize(24, 24))
+            self.layout().setSpacing(12)
+            self.setMinimumHeight(48)
+
     if figureoptions is not None:
         def edit_parameters(self):
             allaxes = self.canvas.figure.get_axes()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_compat.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_compat.py
index f237d449eb20..307fb81453a9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_compat.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt_compat.py
@@ -150,3 +150,7 @@ def _getSaveFileName(*args, **kwargs):
 
     '''
     QtWidgets = QtGui
+
+
+def is_pyqt5():
+    return QT_API == QT_API_PYQT5
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/back_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/back_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7755db11a546
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/filesave_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/filesave_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8980a2cb14a4
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/forward_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/forward_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b02047e98d9b
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/hand_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/hand_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..35ec95185a96
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/home_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/home_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cf76bdade116
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/matplotlib_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/matplotlib_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2a0502eacd1a
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/move_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/move_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1317787febff
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/qt4_editor_options_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/qt4_editor_options_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..956b3baa77e0
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/subplots_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/subplots_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..63be0266cd72
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diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/zoom_to_rect_hidpi.png b/lib/matplotlib/mpl-data/images/zoom_to_rect_hidpi.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0778cef8b9c0
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