matplotlib · QuLogic · Mar 27, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026
diff --git a/doc/release/next_whats_new/box_arrow_size_controls.rst b/doc/release/next_whats_new/box_arrow_size_controls.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+Arrow-style sub-classes of ``BoxStyle`` support arrow head resizing
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+The new *head_width* and *head_angle* parameters to
+`.BoxStyle.LArrow`, `.BoxStyle.RArrow` and `.BoxStyle.DArrow` allow for adjustment
+of the size and aspect ratio of the arrow heads used.
+
-
+
+To give a consistent appearance across all parameter values, the
+default head position (where the head starts relative to text) is
+slightly changed compared to the previous hard-coded position.
-
+
+To give a consistent appearance across all parameter values, the
+default head position (where the head starts relative to text) is
+slightly changed compared to the previous hard-coded position.
+To give a consistent appearance across all parameter values, the
+default head position (where the head starts relative to text) is
+slightly changed compared to the previous hard-coded position.
+
+By using negative angles (or corresponding reflex angles) for *head_angle*, arrows
+with 'backwards' heads may be created.
+
+.. plot::
+    :include-source: true
+    :alt:
+        Six arrow-shaped text boxes.  The arrows on the left have the shaft on
+        their left; the arrows on the right have the shaft on the right; the
+        arrows in the middle have shafts on both sides.
+
+    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+
+    plt.text(0.2, 0.8, "LArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="larrow, pad=0.3, head_angle=150"))
+    plt.text(0.2, 0.2, "LArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="larrow, pad=0.3, head_width=0.5"))
+    plt.text(0.5, 0.8, "DArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="darrow, pad=0.3, head_width=3"))
+    plt.text(0.5, 0.2, "DArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="darrow, pad=0.3, head_width=1, head_angle=60"))
+    plt.text(0.8, 0.8, "RArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="rarrow, pad=0.3, head_angle=30"))
+    plt.text(0.8, 0.2, "RArrow", ha='center', size=16,
+             bbox=dict(boxstyle="rarrow, pad=0.3, head_width=2, head_angle=-90"))
+
+    plt.show()
diff --git a/galleries/users_explain/text/annotations.py b/galleries/users_explain/text/annotations.py
@@ -231,20 +231,20 @@
 # The arguments are the name of the box style with its attributes as
 # keyword arguments. Currently, following box styles are implemented:
 #
-# ==========   ==============   ==========================
+# ==========   ==============   ====================================
 # Class        Name             Attrs
-# ==========   ==============   ==========================
+# ==========   ==============   ====================================
 # Circle       ``circle``       pad=0.3
-# DArrow       ``darrow``       pad=0.3
+# DArrow       ``darrow``       pad=0.3,head_width=1.5,head_angle=90
 # Ellipse      ``ellipse``      pad=0.3
-# LArrow       ``larrow``       pad=0.3
-# RArrow       ``rarrow``       pad=0.3
+# LArrow       ``larrow``       pad=0.3,head_width=1.5,head_angle=90
+# RArrow       ``rarrow``       pad=0.3,head_width=1.5,head_angle=90
 # Round        ``round``        pad=0.3,rounding_size=None
 # Round4       ``round4``       pad=0.3,rounding_size=None
 # Roundtooth   ``roundtooth``   pad=0.3,tooth_size=None
 # Sawtooth     ``sawtooth``     pad=0.3,tooth_size=None
 # Square       ``square``       pad=0.3
-# ==========   ==============   ==========================
+# ==========   ==============   ====================================
 #
 # .. figure:: /gallery/shapes_and_collections/images/sphx_glr_fancybox_demo_001.png
 #    :target: /gallery/shapes_and_collections/fancybox_demo.html

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/patches.py b/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
@@ -2587,83 +2587,124 @@ def __call__(self, x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size):
             return trans.transform_path(Path.unit_circle())
 
     @_register_style(_style_list)
-    class LArrow:
-        """A box in the shape of a left-pointing arrow."""
+    class RArrow:
+        """A box in the shape of a right-pointing arrow."""
 
-        def __init__(self, pad=0.3):
+        def __init__(self, pad=0.3, head_width=1.5, head_angle=90):
             """
             Parameters
             ----------
             pad : float, default: 0.3
                 The amount of padding around the original box.
+            head_width : float, default: 1.5
+                The head width, relative to the arrow shaft width; must be
+                nonnegative.
+            head_angle : float, default: 90
+                The angle at the tip of the arrow, in degrees; must be nonzero
+                (modulo 360).  Negative angles result in arrow heads pointing
+                backwards.
             """
             self.pad = pad
+            if head_width < 0:
+                raise ValueError("'head_width' must be nonnegative")
+            self.head_width = head_width
+            if head_angle % 360 == 0:
+                raise ValueError("'head_angle' must be nonzero")
+            self.head_angle = head_angle
 
         def __call__(self, x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size):
-            # padding
+            # padding & padded dimensions
             pad = mutation_size * self.pad
-            # width and height with padding added.
-            width, height = width + 2 * pad, height + 2 * pad
-            # boundary of the padded box
+            dx, dy = width + 2 * pad, height + 2 * pad
             x0, y0 = x0 - pad, y0 - pad,
-            x1, y1 = x0 + width, y0 + height
-
-            dx = (y1 - y0) / 2
-            dxx = dx / 2
-            x0 = x0 + pad / 1.4  # adjust by ~sqrt(2)
-
-            return Path._create_closed(
-                [(x0 + dxx, y0), (x1, y0), (x1, y1), (x0 + dxx, y1),
-                 (x0 + dxx, y1 + dxx), (x0 - dx, y0 + dx),
-                 (x0 + dxx, y0 - dxx),  # arrow
-                 (x0 + dxx, y0)])
+            x1, y1 = x0 + dx, y0 + dy
+
+            head_dy = self.head_width * dy
+            mid_y = (y0 + y1) / 2
+            shaft_y0 = mid_y - head_dy / 2
+            shaft_y1 = mid_y + head_dy / 2
+
+            cot = 1 / math.tan(math.radians(self.head_angle / 2))
+
+            if cot > 0:
+                # tip_x is chosen s.t. the angled line moving back from the tip hits
+                # i) if head_width > 1: the box corner, or ii) if head_width <
+                # 1 the box edge at the point giving the correct shaft width.
+                tip_x = x1 + cot * min(dy, head_dy) / 2
+                shaft_x = tip_x - cot * head_dy / 2
+                return Path._create_closed([
+                    (x0, y0), (shaft_x, y0), (shaft_x, shaft_y0),
+                    (tip_x, mid_y),
+                    (shaft_x, shaft_y1), (shaft_x, y1), (x0, y1),
+                ])
+            else:  # Reverse arrowhead.
+                # Make the long (outer) side of the arrowhead flush with the
+                # original box, and move back accordingly (but clipped to no
+                # more than the box length).  If this clipping is necessary,
+                # the y positions at the short (inner) side of the arrowhead
+                # will be thicker than the original box, hence the need to
+                # recompute mid_y0 & mid_y1.
+                # If head_width < 1 no arrowhead is drawn.
+                dx = min(-cot * max(head_dy - dy, 0) / 2, dx)  # cot < 0!
+                mid_y0 = min(shaft_y0, y0) - dx / cot
+                mid_y1 = max(shaft_y1, y1) + dx / cot
+                return Path._create_closed([
+                    (x0, y0), (x1 - dx, mid_y0), (x1, shaft_y0),
+                    (x1, shaft_y1), (x1 - dx, mid_y1), (x0, y1),
+                ])
 
     @_register_style(_style_list)
-    class RArrow(LArrow):
-        """A box in the shape of a right-pointing arrow."""
+    class LArrow(RArrow):
+        """A box in the shape of a left-pointing arrow."""
 
         def __call__(self, x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size):
-            p = BoxStyle.LArrow.__call__(
-                self, x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size)
+            p = super().__call__(x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size)
             p.vertices[:, 0] = 2 * x0 + width - p.vertices[:, 0]
             return p
 
     @_register_style(_style_list)
-    class DArrow:
+    class DArrow(RArrow):
         """A box in the shape of a two-way arrow."""
-        # Modified from LArrow to add a right arrow to the bbox.
-
-        def __init__(self, pad=0.3):
-            """
-            Parameters
-            ----------
-            pad : float, default: 0.3
-                The amount of padding around the original box.
-            """
-            self.pad = pad
+        # Modified from RArrow to have arrows on both sides; see comments above.
 
         def __call__(self, x0, y0, width, height, mutation_size):
-            # padding
+            # padding & padded dimensions
             pad = mutation_size * self.pad
-            # width and height with padding added.
-            # The width is padded by the arrows, so we don't need to pad it.
-            height = height + 2 * pad
-            # boundary of the padded box
-            x0, y0 = x0 - pad, y0 - pad
-            x1, y1 = x0 + width, y0 + height
-
-            dx = (y1 - y0) / 2
-            dxx = dx / 2
-            x0 = x0 + pad / 1.4  # adjust by ~sqrt(2)
-
-            return Path._create_closed([
-                (x0 + dxx, y0), (x1, y0),  # bot-segment
-                (x1, y0 - dxx), (x1 + dx + dxx, y0 + dx),
-                (x1, y1 + dxx),  # right-arrow
-                (x1, y1), (x0 + dxx, y1),  # top-segment
-                (x0 + dxx, y1 + dxx), (x0 - dx, y0 + dx),
-                (x0 + dxx, y0 - dxx),  # left-arrow
-                (x0 + dxx, y0)])
+            dx, dy = width + 2 * pad, height + 2 * pad
+            x0, y0 = x0 - pad, y0 - pad,
+            x1, y1 = x0 + dx, y0 + dy
+
+            head_dy = self.head_width * dy
+            mid_y = (y0 + y1) / 2
+            shaft_y0 = mid_y - head_dy / 2
+            shaft_y1 = mid_y + head_dy / 2
+
+            cot = 1 / math.tan(math.radians(self.head_angle / 2))
+
+            if cot > 0:
+                tip_x0 = x0 - cot * min(dy, head_dy) / 2
+                shaft_x0 = tip_x0 + cot * head_dy / 2
+                tip_x1 = x1 + cot * min(dy, head_dy) / 2
+                shaft_x1 = tip_x1 - cot * head_dy / 2
+                return Path._create_closed([
+                    (shaft_x0, y1), (shaft_x0, shaft_y1),
+                    (tip_x0, mid_y),
+                    (shaft_x0, shaft_y0), (shaft_x0, y0),
+                    (shaft_x1, y0), (shaft_x1, shaft_y0),
+                    (tip_x1, mid_y),
+                    (shaft_x1, shaft_y1), (shaft_x1, y1),
+                ])
+            else:
+                # Don't move back by more than half the box length.
+                dx = min(-cot * max(head_dy - dy, 0) / 2, dx / 2)  # cot < 0!
+                mid_y0 = min(shaft_y0, y0) - dx / cot
+                mid_y1 = max(shaft_y1, y1) + dx / cot
+                return Path._create_closed([
+                    (x0, shaft_y0), (x0 + dx, mid_y0),
+                    (x1 - dx, mid_y0), (x1, shaft_y0),
+                    (x1, shaft_y1), (x1 - dx, mid_y1),
+                    (x0 + dx, mid_y1), (x0, shaft_y1),
+                ])
 
     @_register_style(_style_list)
     class Round:

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/patches.pyi b/lib/matplotlib/patches.pyi
@@ -379,9 +379,13 @@ class BoxStyle(_Style):
             mutation_size: float,
         ) -> Path: ...
 
-    class LArrow(BoxStyle):
+    class RArrow(BoxStyle):
         pad: float
-        def __init__(self, pad: float = ...) -> None: ...
+        head_width: float
+        head_angle: float
+        def __init__(
+            self, pad: float = ..., head_width: float = ..., head_angle: float = ...
+        ) -> None: ...
         def __call__(
             self,
             x0: float,
@@ -391,7 +395,7 @@ class BoxStyle(_Style):
             mutation_size: float,
         ) -> Path: ...
 
-    class RArrow(LArrow):
+    class LArrow(RArrow):
         def __call__(
             self,
             x0: float,
@@ -401,9 +405,13 @@ class BoxStyle(_Style):
             mutation_size: float,
         ) -> Path: ...
 
-    class DArrow(BoxStyle):
+    class DArrow(RArrow):
         pad: float
-        def __init__(self, pad: float = ...) -> None: ...
+        head_width: float
+        head_angle: float
+        def __init__(
+            self, pad: float = ..., head_width: float = ..., head_angle: float = ...
+        ) -> None: ...
         def __call__(
             self,
             x0: float,

diff --git a/...lib/tests/baseline_images/test_arrow_patches/boxarrow_adjustment_test_image.png b/...lib/tests/baseline_images/test_arrow_patches/boxarrow_adjustment_test_image.png
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_arrow_patches/boxarrow_test_image.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_arrow_patches/boxarrow_test_image.png
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_arrow_patches.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_arrow_patches.py
@@ -49,6 +49,48 @@ def test_boxarrow():
                  bbox=dict(boxstyle=stylename, fc="w", ec="k"))
 
 
+@image_comparison(['boxarrow_adjustment_test_image.png'], style='mpl20')
+def test_boxarrow_adjustment():
+
+    styles = ['larrow', 'rarrow', 'darrow']
+
+    # Cases [head_width, head_angle] to test for each arrow style
+    cases = [
+        [1.5, 90],
+        [1.5, 170],     # Test dynamic padding
+        [0.75, 30],
+        [0.5, -10],     # Should just give a rectangle
+        [2, -90],
+        [2, -15]        # None of arrow body is outside of head
+    ]
+
+    # Horizontal and vertical spacings of arrow centres
+    spacing_horizontal = 3.75
+    spacing_vertical = 1.6
+
+    # Numbers of styles and cases
+    m = len(styles)
+    n = len(cases)
+
+    figwidth = (m * spacing_horizontal)
+    figheight = (n * spacing_vertical) + .5
+
+    fig = plt.figure(figsize=(figwidth / 1.5, figheight / 1.5))
+
+    fontsize = 0.3 * 72
+
+    for i, stylename in enumerate(styles):
+        for j, case in enumerate(cases):
+            # Draw arrow
+            fig.text(
+                ((m - i) * spacing_horizontal - 1.5) / figwidth,
+                ((n - j) * spacing_vertical - 0.5) / figheight,
+                stylename, ha='center', va='center',
+                size=fontsize, transform=fig.transFigure,
+                bbox=dict(boxstyle=f"{stylename}, head_width={case[0]}, \
+                    head_angle={case[1]}", fc="w", ec="k"))
+
+
 def __prepare_fancyarrow_dpi_cor_test():
     """
     Convenience function that prepares and returns a FancyArrowPatch. It aims