diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
index 6d956a29ee48..2fe1bd5c3369 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
@@ -262,6 +262,9 @@ def _update_bbox_to_anchor(self, loc_in_canvas):
 handlelength : float, default: :rc:`legend.handlelength`
     The length of the legend handles, in font-size units.
 
+handleheight : float, default: :rc:`legend.handleheight`
+    The height of the legend handles, in font-size units.
+
 handletextpad : float, default: :rc:`legend.handletextpad`
     The pad between the legend handle and text, in font-size units.