diff --git a/doc/ext/plot_directive.py b/doc/ext/plot_directive.py
index d092f590..2ad1530a 100644
--- a/doc/ext/plot_directive.py
+++ b/doc/ext/plot_directive.py
@@ -575,7 +575,9 @@ def render_figures(code, code_path, output_dir, output_base, context,
             images.append(img)
             for format, dpi in formats:
                 try:
-                    figman.canvas.figure.savefig(img.filename(format), dpi=dpi)
+                    figman.canvas.figure.savefig(img.filename(format),
+                                                 dpi=dpi,
+                                                 bbox_inches='tight')
                 except exceptions.BaseException as err:
                     raise PlotError(traceback.format_exc())
                 img.formats.append(format)