diff --git a/docs/axes/labelling.md b/docs/axes/labelling.md
index 22fc2600463..aec8d990ff4 100644
--- a/docs/axes/labelling.md
+++ b/docs/axes/labelling.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ The scale label configuration is nested under the scale configuration in the `sc
 | `fontFamily` | `String` | `"'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'Arial', sans-serif"` | Font family for the scale title, follows CSS font-family options.
 | `fontSize` | `Number` | `12` | Font size for scale title.
 | `fontStyle` | `String` | `'normal'` | Font style for the scale title, follows CSS font-style options (i.e. normal, italic, oblique, initial, inherit).
+| `padding` | `Number` or `Object` | `4` | Padding to apply around scale labels. Only `top` and `bottom` are implemented.
 
 ## Creating Custom Tick Formats
 
diff --git a/src/core/core.scale.js b/src/core/core.scale.js
index bc4d1ec9c7b..f48b67a5ec1 100644
--- a/src/core/core.scale.js
+++ b/src/core/core.scale.js
@@ -36,7 +36,14 @@ defaults._set('scale', {
 		// actual label
 		labelString: '',
 
-		lineHeight: 1.2
+		// line height
+		lineHeight: 1.2,
+
+		// top/bottom padding
+		padding: {
+			top: 4,
+			bottom: 4
+		}
 	},
 
 	// label settings
@@ -391,7 +398,6 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 
 			var tickFont = parseFontOptions(tickOpts);
 			var tickMarkLength = opts.gridLines.tickMarkLength;
-			var scaleLabelLineHeight = parseLineHeight(scaleLabelOpts);
 
 			// Width
 			if (isHorizontal) {
@@ -410,10 +416,14 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 
 			// Are we showing a title for the scale?
 			if (scaleLabelOpts.display && display) {
+				var scaleLabelLineHeight = parseLineHeight(scaleLabelOpts);
+				var scaleLabelPadding = helpers.options.toPadding(scaleLabelOpts.padding);
+				var deltaHeight = scaleLabelLineHeight + scaleLabelPadding.height;
+
 				if (isHorizontal) {
-					minSize.height += scaleLabelLineHeight;
+					minSize.height += deltaHeight;
 				} else {
-					minSize.width += scaleLabelLineHeight;
+					minSize.width += deltaHeight;
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -435,16 +445,17 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 					// TODO - improve this calculation
 					var labelHeight = (sinRotation * largestTextWidth)
 						+ (tickFont.size * tallestLabelHeightInLines)
-						+ (lineSpace * tallestLabelHeightInLines);
+						+ (lineSpace * (tallestLabelHeightInLines - 1))
+						+ lineSpace; // padding
 
 					minSize.height = Math.min(me.maxHeight, minSize.height + labelHeight + tickPadding);
-					me.ctx.font = tickFont.font;
 
+					me.ctx.font = tickFont.font;
 					var firstLabelWidth = computeTextSize(me.ctx, labels[0], tickFont.font);
 					var lastLabelWidth = computeTextSize(me.ctx, labels[labels.length - 1], tickFont.font);
 
-					// Ensure that our ticks are always inside the canvas. When rotated, ticks are right aligned which means that the right padding is dominated
-					// by the font height
+					// Ensure that our ticks are always inside the canvas. When rotated, ticks are right aligned
+					// which means that the right padding is dominated by the font height
 					if (me.labelRotation !== 0) {
 						me.paddingLeft = opts.position === 'bottom' ? (cosRotation * firstLabelWidth) + 3 : (cosRotation * lineSpace) + 3; // add 3 px to move away from canvas edges
 						me.paddingRight = opts.position === 'bottom' ? (cosRotation * lineSpace) + 3 : (cosRotation * lastLabelWidth) + 3;
@@ -453,15 +464,18 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 						me.paddingRight = lastLabelWidth / 2 + 3;
 					}
 				} else {
-					// A vertical axis is more constrained by the width. Labels are the dominant factor here, so get that length first
-					// Account for padding
-
+					// A vertical axis is more constrained by the width. Labels are the
+					// dominant factor here, so get that length first and account for padding
 					if (tickOpts.mirror) {
 						largestTextWidth = 0;
 					} else {
-						largestTextWidth += tickPadding;
+						// use lineSpace for consistency with horizontal axis
+						// tickPadding is not implemented for horizontal
+						largestTextWidth += tickPadding + lineSpace;
 					}
+
 					minSize.width = Math.min(me.maxWidth, minSize.width + largestTextWidth);
+
 					me.paddingTop = tickFont.size / 2;
 					me.paddingBottom = tickFont.size / 2;
 				}
@@ -663,6 +677,7 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 
 			var scaleLabelFontColor = helpers.valueOrDefault(scaleLabel.fontColor, globalDefaults.defaultFontColor);
 			var scaleLabelFont = parseFontOptions(scaleLabel);
+			var scaleLabelPadding = helpers.options.toPadding(scaleLabel.padding);
 			var labelRotationRadians = helpers.toRadians(me.labelRotation);
 
 			var itemsToDraw = [];
@@ -840,10 +855,14 @@ module.exports = function(Chart) {
 
 				if (isHorizontal) {
 					scaleLabelX = me.left + ((me.right - me.left) / 2); // midpoint of the width
-					scaleLabelY = options.position === 'bottom' ? me.bottom - halfLineHeight : me.top + halfLineHeight;
+					scaleLabelY = options.position === 'bottom'
+						? me.bottom - halfLineHeight - scaleLabelPadding.bottom
+						: me.top + halfLineHeight + scaleLabelPadding.top;
 				} else {
 					var isLeft = options.position === 'left';
-					scaleLabelX = isLeft ? me.left + halfLineHeight : me.right - halfLineHeight;
+					scaleLabelX = isLeft
+						? me.left + halfLineHeight + scaleLabelPadding.top
+						: me.right - halfLineHeight - scaleLabelPadding.top;
 					scaleLabelY = me.top + ((me.bottom - me.top) / 2);
 					rotation = isLeft ? -0.5 * Math.PI : 0.5 * Math.PI;
 				}
diff --git a/test/fixtures/core.scale/label-offset-vertical-axes.png b/test/fixtures/core.scale/label-offset-vertical-axes.png
index 2f6b18c8c23..05785b8bc59 100644
Binary files a/test/fixtures/core.scale/label-offset-vertical-axes.png and b/test/fixtures/core.scale/label-offset-vertical-axes.png differ
diff --git a/test/specs/core.helpers.tests.js b/test/specs/core.helpers.tests.js
index 1b5edb89edf..dc865fb01b2 100644
--- a/test/specs/core.helpers.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/core.helpers.tests.js
@@ -128,11 +128,7 @@ describe('Core helper tests', function() {
 					},
 					position: 'right',
 					offset: false,
-					scaleLabel: {
-						display: false,
-						labelString: '',
-						lineHeight: 1.2
-					},
+					scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 					ticks: {
 						beginAtZero: false,
 						minRotation: 0,
@@ -170,11 +166,7 @@ describe('Core helper tests', function() {
 					},
 					position: 'left',
 					offset: false,
-					scaleLabel: {
-						display: false,
-						labelString: '',
-						lineHeight: 1.2
-					},
+					scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 					ticks: {
 						beginAtZero: false,
 						minRotation: 0,
diff --git a/test/specs/core.scale.tests.js b/test/specs/core.scale.tests.js
index 58e5a33faeb..dc2da042aca 100644
--- a/test/specs/core.scale.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/core.scale.tests.js
@@ -1,3 +1,22 @@
 describe('Core.scale', function() {
 	describe('auto', jasmine.specsFromFixtures('core.scale'));
+
+	it('should provide default scale label options', function() {
+		expect(Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel).toEqual({
+			// display property
+			display: false,
+
+			// actual label
+			labelString: '',
+
+			// actual label
+			lineHeight: 1.2,
+
+			// top/bottom padding
+			padding: {
+				top: 4,
+				bottom: 4
+			}
+		});
+	});
 });
diff --git a/test/specs/core.tooltip.tests.js b/test/specs/core.tooltip.tests.js
index b1896da3338..73d943bd853 100755
--- a/test/specs/core.tooltip.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/core.tooltip.tests.js
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ describe('Core.Tooltip', function() {
 				}]
 			}));
 
-			expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(263);
+			expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(266);
 			expect(tooltip._view.y).toBeCloseToPixel(155);
 		});
 
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ describe('Core.Tooltip', function() {
 			}]
 		}));
 
-		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(263);
+		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(266);
 		expect(tooltip._view.y).toBeCloseToPixel(312);
 	});
 
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ describe('Core.Tooltip', function() {
 			}]
 		}));
 
-		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(211);
+		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(214);
 		expect(tooltip._view.y).toBeCloseToPixel(190);
 	});
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ describe('Core.Tooltip', function() {
 			}]
 		}));
 
-		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(263);
+		expect(tooltip._view.x).toBeCloseToPixel(266);
 		expect(tooltip._view.y).toBeCloseToPixel(155);
 	});
 
diff --git a/test/specs/scale.category.tests.js b/test/specs/scale.category.tests.js
index 8d8d32cd424..1665235ae8d 100644
--- a/test/specs/scale.category.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/scale.category.tests.js
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@ describe('Category scale tests', function() {
 			},
 			position: 'bottom',
 			offset: false,
-			scaleLabel: {
-				display: false,
-				labelString: '',
-				lineHeight: 1.2
-			},
+			scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 			ticks: {
 				beginAtZero: false,
 				minRotation: 0,
@@ -215,7 +211,7 @@ describe('Category scale tests', function() {
 		});
 
 		var xScale = chart.scales.xScale0;
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23);
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23 + 6); // plus lineHeight
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(23)).toBe(0);
 
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 4, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(487);
@@ -224,7 +220,7 @@ describe('Category scale tests', function() {
 		xScale.options.offset = true;
 		chart.update();
 
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(69);
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(69 + 6); // plus lineHeight
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(69)).toBe(0);
 
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 4, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(441);
@@ -258,8 +254,8 @@ describe('Category scale tests', function() {
 		});
 
 		var xScale = chart.scales.xScale0;
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue('tick_1', 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23);
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue('tick_1', 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(139);
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue('tick_1', 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23 + 6); // plus lineHeight
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue('tick_1', 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(143);
 	});
 
 	it ('Should get the correct pixel for a value when horizontal and zoomed', function() {
@@ -293,13 +289,13 @@ describe('Category scale tests', function() {
 		});
 
 		var xScale = chart.scales.xScale0;
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23);
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(23 + 6); // plus lineHeight
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 3, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(496);
 
 		xScale.options.offset = true;
 		chart.update();
 
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(102);
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 1, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(102 + 6); // plus lineHeight
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 3, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(417);
 	});
 
diff --git a/test/specs/scale.linear.tests.js b/test/specs/scale.linear.tests.js
index ed6f9c1f96e..60dd07698c0 100644
--- a/test/specs/scale.linear.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/scale.linear.tests.js
@@ -28,11 +28,7 @@ describe('Linear Scale', function() {
 			},
 			position: 'left',
 			offset: false,
-			scaleLabel: {
-				display: false,
-				labelString: '',
-				lineHeight: 1.2
-			},
+			scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 			ticks: {
 				beginAtZero: false,
 				minRotation: 0,
@@ -695,8 +691,8 @@ describe('Linear Scale', function() {
 
 		var xScale = chart.scales.xScale0;
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(1, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(501); // right - paddingRight
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(-1, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(31); // left + paddingLeft
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(266); // halfway*/
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(-1, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(31 + 6); // left + paddingLeft + lineSpace
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(266 + 6 / 2); // halfway*/
 
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(501)).toBeCloseTo(1, 1e-2);
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(31)).toBeCloseTo(-1, 1e-2);
@@ -754,7 +750,7 @@ describe('Linear Scale', function() {
 		expect(xScale.paddingBottom).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(xScale.paddingLeft).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(xScale.paddingRight).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
-		expect(xScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(468);
+		expect(xScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(468 - 6); // minus lineSpace
 		expect(xScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(28);
 
 		var yScale = chart.scales.yScale0;
@@ -762,7 +758,7 @@ describe('Linear Scale', function() {
 		expect(yScale.paddingBottom).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(yScale.paddingLeft).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(yScale.paddingRight).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
-		expect(yScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(30);
+		expect(yScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(30 + 6); // plus lineSpace
 		expect(yScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(452);
 
 		// Extra size when scale label showing
@@ -774,15 +770,15 @@ describe('Linear Scale', function() {
 		expect(xScale.paddingBottom).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(xScale.paddingLeft).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(xScale.paddingRight).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
-		expect(xScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(454);
-		expect(xScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(42);
+		expect(xScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(440);
+		expect(xScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(50);
 
 		expect(yScale.paddingTop).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(yScale.paddingBottom).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(yScale.paddingLeft).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
 		expect(yScale.paddingRight).toBeCloseToPixel(0);
-		expect(yScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(44);
-		expect(yScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(438);
+		expect(yScale.width).toBeCloseToPixel(58);
+		expect(yScale.height).toBeCloseToPixel(430);
 	});
 
 	it('should fit correctly when display is turned off', function() {
diff --git a/test/specs/scale.logarithmic.tests.js b/test/specs/scale.logarithmic.tests.js
index 98d0fbf09c4..9640b1d3d62 100644
--- a/test/specs/scale.logarithmic.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/scale.logarithmic.tests.js
@@ -27,11 +27,7 @@ describe('Logarithmic Scale tests', function() {
 			},
 			position: 'left',
 			offset: false,
-			scaleLabel: {
-				display: false,
-				labelString: '',
-				lineHeight: 1.2
-			},
+			scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 			ticks: {
 				beginAtZero: false,
 				minRotation: 0,
@@ -720,9 +716,9 @@ describe('Logarithmic Scale tests', function() {
 
 		var xScale = chart.scales.xScale;
 		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(80, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(495); // right - paddingRight
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(1, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(37);   // left + paddingLeft
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(10, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(278); // halfway
-		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(37);   // 0 is invalid, put it on the left.
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(1, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(37 + 6); // left + paddingLeft + lineSpace
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(10, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(278 + 6 / 2); // halfway
+		expect(xScale.getPixelForValue(0, 0, 0)).toBeCloseToPixel(37 + 6); // 0 is invalid, put it on the left.
 
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(495)).toBeCloseToPixel(80);
 		expect(xScale.getValueForPixel(48)).toBeCloseTo(1, 1e-4);
diff --git a/test/specs/scale.radialLinear.tests.js b/test/specs/scale.radialLinear.tests.js
index 70c75f02ad7..707ce0b7c52 100644
--- a/test/specs/scale.radialLinear.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/scale.radialLinear.tests.js
@@ -40,11 +40,7 @@ describe('Test the radial linear scale', function() {
 			},
 			position: 'chartArea',
 			offset: false,
-			scaleLabel: {
-				display: false,
-				labelString: '',
-				lineHeight: 1.2
-			},
+			scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 			ticks: {
 				backdropColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.75)',
 				backdropPaddingY: 2,
diff --git a/test/specs/scale.time.tests.js b/test/specs/scale.time.tests.js
index 3c757243d56..b6554e60d9a 100755
--- a/test/specs/scale.time.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/scale.time.tests.js
@@ -73,11 +73,7 @@ describe('Time scale tests', function() {
 			},
 			position: 'bottom',
 			offset: false,
-			scaleLabel: {
-				display: false,
-				labelString: '',
-				lineHeight: 1.2
-			},
+			scaleLabel: Chart.defaults.scale.scaleLabel,
 			bounds: 'data',
 			distribution: 'linear',
 			ticks: {