diff --git a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/contract.rkt b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/contract.rkt
index d814c0e6..ba4e881e 100644
--- a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/contract.rkt
+++ b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/contract.rkt
@@ -34,8 +34,14 @@
 (define anchor/c (one-of/c 'top-left    'top    'top-right
                            'left        'center 'right
                            'bottom-left 'bottom 'bottom-right))
-(define legend-anchor/c (or/c #f anchor/c
-                              (list/c (one-of/c 'inside 'outside) anchor/c)))
+(define legend-anchor/c (or/c anchor/c
+                              (one-of/c
+                               'no-legend
+                               'outside-global-top
+                               'outside-top-left 'outside-top 'outside-top-right
+                               'outside-left-top 'outside-left 'outside-left-bottom
+                               'outside-right-top 'outside-right 'outside-right-bottom
+                               'outside-bottom-left 'outside-bottom 'outside-bottom-right)))
 
 (define color/c (or/c (list/c real? real? real?)
                       string? symbol?
diff --git a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/plot-device.rkt b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/plot-device.rkt
index ba3c4399..dfe864d5 100644
--- a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/plot-device.rkt
+++ b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/plot-device.rkt
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@
         (define-values (legend-rect top-gap baseline-skip max-label-height
                                     draw-x-size label-x-min draw-x-min
                                     draw-y-size legend-y-min)
-          (calculate-legend-parameters legend-entries rect (if (list? legend-anchor) (cadr legend-anchor) legend-anchor)))
+          (calculate-legend-parameters legend-entries rect (legend-anchor->anchor legend-anchor)))
 
         ;; legend background
         (set-pen (plot-foreground) 1 'transparent)
diff --git a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/types.rkt b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/types.rkt
index 0b4bae6d..9b6fb2ba 100644
--- a/plot-lib/plot/private/common/types.rkt
+++ b/plot-lib/plot/private/common/types.rkt
@@ -93,14 +93,29 @@
 
 (struct legend-entry ([label : (U String pict)] [draw : Legend-Draw-Proc]) #:transparent)
 
-(deftype Legend-Anchor (U #f Anchor (List (U 'inside 'outside) Anchor)))
-(define (inside-anchor [a : Legend-Anchor])
-  (and a
-       (if (list? a)
-           (and (eq? (car a) 'inside) (cadr a))
-           a)))
-(define (outside-anchor [a : Legend-Anchor])
-  (and a (list? a) (eq? (car a) 'outside) (cadr a)))
+(deftype Legend-Anchor (U Anchor
+                          'no-legend
+                          'outside-global-top
+                          'outside-top-left 'outside-top 'outside-top-right
+                          'outside-left-top 'outside-left 'outside-left-bottom
+                          'outside-right-top 'outside-right 'outside-right-bottom
+                          'outside-bottom-left 'outside-bottom 'outside-bottom-right))
+(define (inside-anchor? [a : Legend-Anchor]) (anchor? a))
+(define (outside-anchor? [a : Legend-Anchor])
+  (and (not (anchor? a)) (not (eq? a 'no-legend))))
+(define (legend-anchor->anchor [a : Legend-Anchor]) : Anchor
+  (if (anchor? a)
+      a
+      (case a
+        [(outside-top-left outside-left-top) 'top-left]
+        [(outside-top outside-global-top) 'top]
+        [(outside-top-right outside-right-top) 'top-right]
+        [(outside-right) 'right]
+        [(outside-bottom-right outside-right-bottom) 'bottom-right]
+        [(outside-bottom) 'bottom]
+        [(outside-bottom-left outside-left-bottom) 'bottom-left]
+        [(outside-left) 'left]
+        [else 'auto])))
 
 (define-type Plot-Device%
   (Class
diff --git a/plot-lib/plot/private/plot2d/plot-area.rkt b/plot-lib/plot/private/plot2d/plot-area.rkt
index 30d113cc..a489801a 100644
--- a/plot-lib/plot/private/plot2d/plot-area.rkt
+++ b/plot-lib/plot/private/plot2d/plot-area.rkt
@@ -226,8 +226,9 @@
          (vector (+ area-x-min (* x area-per-view-x))
                  (- area-y-max (* y area-per-view-y))))))
 
-    (: init-top-margin Real)
-    (define init-top-margin
+
+    (: title-margin Real)
+    (define title-margin
       (let ([title (plot-title)])
         (cond [(and (plot-decorations?) title)
                (if (pict? title)
@@ -235,9 +236,89 @@
                    (* 3/2 char-height))]
               [else  0])))
 
+    ;; legend margin calculation and preparation of draw function
+    (: legend-print (-> (Listof legend-entry) Void))
+    (: init-left-margin Real)
+    (: init-right-margin Real)
+    (: init-top-margin Real)
+    (: init-bottom-margin Real)
+    (define-values (legend-print init-left-margin init-right-margin init-top-margin init-bottom-margin)
+      (let* ([legend-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)]
+             [legend-rect (and (outside-anchor? legend-anchor)
+                               (not (empty? legend))
+                               (send pd calculate-legend-rect
+                                     legend
+                                     (vector (ivl dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size))
+                                             (ivl dc-y-min (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size)))
+                                     (legend-anchor->anchor legend-anchor)))]
+             [gap (pen-gap)]
+             [make-print
+              (λ ([get-bounds : (-> (Listof Real))])
+                (λ ([legend-entries : (Listof legend-entry)])
+                  (match-define (list x-min x-max y-min y-max gap-size) (get-bounds))
+                  (send pd draw-legend legend-entries
+                        (vector (ivl (+ x-min gap-size) (- x-max gap-size))
+                                (ivl (+ y-min gap-size) (- y-max gap-size))))))]
+             [make-none (λ ([get-bounds : (-> (Listof Real))])
+                          (values (make-print get-bounds) 0 0 title-margin 0))]
+             [none (λ () (make-none (λ () (list area-x-min area-x-max area-y-min area-y-max
+                                                (+ gap tick-radius)))))])
+        (cond
+          [legend-rect
+           (define double-gap (* 2 gap))
+           (define tripple-gap (* 3 gap))
+
+           ;; legend with and height
+           (match-define (vector (ivl x- x+) (ivl y- y+)) legend-rect)
+           (define width  (if (and x- x+) (+ double-gap (- x+ x-)) 0))
+           (define height (if (and y- y+) (+ double-gap (- y+ y-)) 0))
+
+           ;; the maximum width/height for the plot+axis-labels
+           (define remaining-x-size (- dc-x-size width))
+           (define remaining-y-size (- dc-y-size title-margin height))
+
+           ;; Align with dc/title
+           (define t-print
+             (make-print
+              (λ ()
+                (list dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size)
+                      (+ title-margin dc-y-min) (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size) gap))))
+           ;; Align with plot-area
+           (define v-print
+             (make-print
+              (λ ()
+                (list dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size)
+                      (- area-y-min gap) (+ area-y-max gap) gap))))
+           (define h-print
+             (make-print
+              (λ ()
+                (list (- area-x-min gap) (+ area-x-max gap)
+                      (+ title-margin dc-y-min) (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size) gap))))
+           
+           (case legend-anchor
+             [(outside-global-top)
+              (values t-print 0 0
+                      (+ title-margin (if (< remaining-y-size 0) 0 height) tripple-gap) 0)]
+             [(outside-top-left outside-top outside-top-right)
+              (values h-print 0 0
+                      (+ title-margin (if (< remaining-y-size 0) 0 height) tripple-gap) 0)]
+             [(outside-left-top outside-left outside-left-bottom)
+              (values v-print (+ (if (< remaining-x-size 0) 0 width) tripple-gap) 0
+                      title-margin 0)]
+             [(outside-right-top outside-right outside-right-bottom)
+              (values v-print 0 (+ (if (< remaining-x-size 0) 0 width) tripple-gap)
+                      title-margin 0)]
+             [(outside-bottom-left outside-bottom outside-bottom-right)
+              (values h-print 0 0
+                      title-margin (+ (if (< remaining-y-size 0) 0 height) tripple-gap))]
+             ;; unreachable code, but TR complains about 1 vs 5 values if not present
+             [else (none)])]
+          [else (none)])))
+
     (: view->dc (-> (Vectorof Real) (Vectorof Real)))
     ;; Initial view->dc (draws labels and half of every tick off the allotted space on the dc)
-    (define view->dc (make-view->dc 0 0 init-top-margin 0))
+    (define view->dc (make-view->dc init-left-margin init-right-margin
+                                    init-top-margin init-bottom-margin))
 
     ;; ===============================================================================================
     ;; Tick and label constants
@@ -553,7 +634,9 @@
     (define: top : Real  0)
     (define: bottom : Real  0)
     (let-values ([(left-val right-val top-val bottom-val)
-                  (margin-fixpoint 0 dc-x-size 0 dc-y-size 0 0 init-top-margin 0
+                  (margin-fixpoint 0 dc-x-size 0 dc-y-size
+                                   init-left-margin  init-right-margin
+                                   init-top-margin   init-bottom-margin
                                    (λ ([left : Real] [right : Real] [top : Real] [bottom : Real])
                                      (get-param-vs/set-view->dc! left right top bottom)))])
       (set! left left-val)
@@ -658,7 +741,7 @@
     (define/public (start-plot)
       (send pd reset-drawing-params)
       (send pd clear)
-      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (outside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)))
+      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (outside-anchor? (plot-legend-anchor)))
         (draw-legend legend))
       (draw-title)
       (draw-axes)
@@ -676,19 +759,11 @@
     (define/public (end-renderers)
       (clear-clip-rect)
       (send pd reset-drawing-params)
-      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (inside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)))
+      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (inside-anchor? (plot-legend-anchor)))
         (draw-legend legend)))
 
     (define/public (draw-legend legend-entries)
-      (define gap-size (+ (pen-gap) tick-radius))
-      (define-values (x-min x-max y-min y-max)
-        (if (outside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor))
-            (values dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size)
-                    dc-y-min (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size))
-            (values area-x-min area-x-max area-y-min area-y-max)))
-      (send pd draw-legend legend-entries
-            (vector (ivl (+ x-min gap-size) (- x-max gap-size))
-                    (ivl (+ y-min gap-size) (- y-max gap-size)))))
+      (legend-print legend-entries))
 
     (define/public (end-plot)
       (send pd restore-drawing-params))
diff --git a/plot-lib/plot/private/plot3d/plot-area.rkt b/plot-lib/plot/private/plot3d/plot-area.rkt
index 65e9c47d..550277d5 100644
--- a/plot-lib/plot/private/plot3d/plot-area.rkt
+++ b/plot-lib/plot/private/plot3d/plot-area.rkt
@@ -372,19 +372,55 @@
          (vector (fl+ area-x-mid (fl* x area-per-view-x))
                  (fl- area-y-mid (fl* z area-per-view-z))))))
     
-    (: init-top-margin Real)
-    (define init-top-margin
+    (: title-margin Real)
+    (define title-margin
       (let ([title (plot-title)])
         (cond [(and (plot-decorations?) title)
                (if (pict? title)
                    (+ (pict-height title) (* 1/2 char-height))
                    (* 3/2 char-height))]
               [else  0])))
-    
+
+    (: init-left-margin Real)
+    (: init-right-margin Real)
+    (: init-top-margin Real)
+    (: init-bottom-margin Real)
+    (define-values (init-left-margin init-right-margin init-top-margin init-bottom-margin)
+      (let* ([legend-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)]
+             [legend-rect (and (outside-anchor? legend-anchor)
+                               (not (empty? legend))
+                               (send pd calculate-legend-rect
+                                     legend
+                                     (vector (ivl dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size))
+                                             (ivl dc-y-min (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size)))
+                                     (legend-anchor->anchor legend-anchor)))]
+             [none (λ () (values 0 0 title-margin 0))])
+        (cond
+          [legend-rect
+           (match-define (vector (ivl x- x+) (ivl y- y+)) legend-rect)
+           (define gap (* 2 (pen-gap)))
+           (define width  (if (and x- x+) (+ gap (- x+ x-)) 0))
+           (define height (if (and y- y+) (+ gap (- y+ y-)) 0))
+           (define remaining-x-size (- dc-x-size width))
+           (define remaining-y-size (- dc-y-size title-margin height))
+           (case legend-anchor
+             [(outside-top-left outside-top outside-top-right outside-global-top)
+              (if (< remaining-y-size 0) (none) (values 0 0 (+ title-margin height) 0))]
+             [(outside-left-top outside-left outside-left-bottom)
+              (if (< remaining-x-size 0) (none) (values width 0 title-margin 0))]
+             [(outside-right-top outside-right outside-right-bottom)
+              (if (< remaining-x-size 0) (none) (values 0 width  title-margin 0))]
+             [(outside-bottom-left outside-bottom outside-bottom-right)
+              (if (< remaining-y-size 0) (none) (values 0 0 title-margin height))]
+             ;; unreachable code ...
+             [else  (none)])]
+          [else (none)])))
+
     ;; Initial view->dc
     (: view->dc (-> FlVector (Vectorof Real)))
-    (define view->dc (make-view->dc 0 0 init-top-margin 0))
-    
+    (define view->dc (make-view->dc init-left-margin init-right-margin
+                                    init-top-margin init-bottom-margin))
+
     (: x-axis-angle (-> Real))
     (define (x-axis-angle)
       (match-define (vector dx dy) (v- (norm->dc (flvector 0.5 0.0 0.0))
@@ -914,7 +950,9 @@
     (define: top : Real  0)
     (define: bottom : Real  0)
     (let-values ([(left-val right-val top-val bottom-val)
-                  (margin-fixpoint 0 dc-x-size 0 dc-y-size 0 0 init-top-margin 0
+                  (margin-fixpoint 0 dc-x-size 0 dc-y-size
+                                   init-left-margin  init-right-margin
+                                   init-top-margin   init-bottom-margin
                                    (λ ([left : Real] [right : Real] [top : Real] [bottom : Real])
                                      (get-param-vs/set-view->dc! left right top bottom)))])
       (set! left left-val)
@@ -1263,7 +1301,7 @@
     (define/public (start-plot)
       (send pd reset-drawing-params)
       (send pd clear)
-      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (outside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)))
+      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (outside-anchor? (plot-legend-anchor)))
         (draw-legend legend))
       (draw-title)
       (draw-labels (get-back-label-params))
@@ -1285,15 +1323,16 @@
       (draw-front-axes)
       (draw-ticks (get-front-tick-params))
       (draw-labels (get-front-label-params))
-      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (inside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor)))
+      (when (and (not (empty? legend)) (inside-anchor? (plot-legend-anchor)))
         (draw-legend legend)))
     
     (define/public (draw-legend legend-entries)
-      (define gap-size (+ (pen-gap) tick-radius))
+      (define outside? (outside-anchor? (plot-legend-anchor)))
+      (define gap-size (+ (pen-gap) (if outside? 0 tick-radius)))
       (define-values (x-min x-max y-min y-max)
-        (if (outside-anchor (plot-legend-anchor))
+        (if outside?
             (values dc-x-min (+ dc-x-min dc-x-size)
-                    dc-y-min (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size))
+                    (+ title-margin dc-y-min) (+ dc-y-min dc-y-size))
             (values area-x-min area-x-max area-y-min area-y-max)))
       (send pd draw-legend legend-entries
             (vector (ivl (+ x-min gap-size) (- x-max gap-size))