diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index edd7fc079..45e1b6ef3 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 - deprecated backends `pgfplots` and `pyplot` removed
 - deprecated keyword `orientation` removed
+- default margin is 3mm and setting it to 0 should give tight margins
 - backends are extensions now so the backend code must be explicitly loaded using `import` with the backend package, e.g. ```julia
 using Plots
 import GR # loads backend code
diff --git a/PlotsBase/src/Commons/attrs.jl b/PlotsBase/src/Commons/attrs.jl
index 9bc426a49..3697b1e17 100644
--- a/PlotsBase/src/Commons/attrs.jl
+++ b/PlotsBase/src/Commons/attrs.jl
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ const _subplot_defaults = KW(
     :projection => :none,             # can also be :polar or :3d
     :projection_type => :auto,        # can also be :ortho(graphic) or :persp(ective)
     :aspect_ratio => :auto,           # choose from :none or :equal
-    :margin => 1mm,
+    :margin => 3mm,
     :left_margin => :match,
     :top_margin => :match,
     :right_margin => :match,