diff --git a/qcodes/plots/base.py b/qcodes/plots/base.py
index 654ed42d8c4..5e403373d62 100644
--- a/qcodes/plots/base.py
+++ b/qcodes/plots/base.py
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ def add(self, *args, updater=None, **kwargs):
 
             kwargs: after inserting info found in args and possibly in set_arrays
                 into `x`, `y`, and optionally `z`, these are passed along to
-                self.add_to_plot
+                self.add_to_plot.
+                To use custom labels and units pass for example:
+                    >>> plot.add(x=set, y=amplitude, xlabel=("set", "s"), ylabel= ("Amplitude", "V"))
 
         Array shapes for 2D plots:
             x:(1D-length m), y:(1D-length n), z: (2D- n*m array)
@@ -171,8 +173,10 @@ def get_label(self, data_array):
 
         """
         # TODO this should really be a static method
-        return (getattr(data_array, 'label', '') or
+        name = (getattr(data_array, 'label', '') or
                 getattr(data_array, 'name', ''))
+        unit = getattr(data_array, 'unit', '')
+        return  name, unit
 
     def expand_trace(self, args, kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/qcodes/plots/pyqtgraph.py b/qcodes/plots/pyqtgraph.py
index 79671456980..c19213115da 100644
--- a/qcodes/plots/pyqtgraph.py
+++ b/qcodes/plots/pyqtgraph.py
@@ -346,17 +346,16 @@ def _update_labels(self, subplot_object, config):
         """
         for axletter, side in (('x', 'bottom'), ('y', 'left')):
             ax = subplot_object.getAxis(side)
-            unit = config[axletter].unit
-
             # pyqtgraph doesn't seem able to get labels, only set
             # so we'll store it in the axis object and hope the user
             # doesn't set it separately before adding all traces
+            
             if axletter+'label' in config and not ax._qcodes_label:
-                label = config[axletter+'label']
+                label, unit = config[axletter+'label']
                 ax._qcodes_label = label
                 ax.setLabel(label, unit)
             if axletter in config and not ax._qcodes_label:
-                label = self.get_label(config[axletter])
+                label, unit = self.get_label(config[axletter])
                 if label:
                     ax._qcodes_label = label
                     ax.setLabel(label, unit)
diff --git a/qcodes/plots/qcmatplotlib.py b/qcodes/plots/qcmatplotlib.py
index 135edac3c9e..b050f3c2f2b 100644
--- a/qcodes/plots/qcmatplotlib.py
+++ b/qcodes/plots/qcmatplotlib.py
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ def _get_axes(self, config):
 
     def _update_labels(self, ax, config):
         if 'x' in config and not ax.get_xlabel():
-            ax.set_xlabel(self.get_label(config['x']))
+            name, unit = self.get_label(config['x'])
+            ax.set_xlabel("{} ({})".format(name, unit))
         if 'y' in config and not ax.get_ylabel():
-            ax.set_ylabel(self.get_label(config['y']))
+            name, unit = self.get_label(config['y'])
+            ax.set_ylabel("{} ({})".format(name, unit))
 
     def update_plot(self):
         """