Matplotlib - Move X-Axis label downwards, but not X-Axis Ticks

Solution 1:

use labelpad parameter:

pl.xlabel("...", labelpad=20)

or set it after:

ax.xaxis.labelpad = 20

Solution 2:

If the variable ax.xaxis._autolabelpos = True, matplotlib sets the label position in function _update_label_position in axis.py according to (some excerpts):

    bboxes, bboxes2 = self._get_tick_bboxes(ticks_to_draw, renderer)
    bbox = mtransforms.Bbox.union(bboxes)
    bottom = bbox.y0
    x, y = self.label.get_position()
    self.label.set_position((x, bottom - self.labelpad * self.figure.dpi / 72.0))

You can set the label position independently of the ticks by using:

    ax.xaxis.set_label_coords(x0, y0)

that sets _autolabelpos to False or as mentioned above by changing the labelpad parameter.