diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index fb04d917720f..a6dc1dd8dcdd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -3613,6 +3613,11 @@ def set_xlim(self, left=None, right=None, *, emit=True, auto=False,
         The *left* value may be greater than the *right* value, in which
         case the x-axis values will decrease from left to right.
 
+        To set limits with additional `.margins` applied, then instead
+        of `.set_xlim`, modify the ``x0`` and/or ``x1`` attributes on
+        the ``Axes.dataLim`` `.Bbox` and call `.autoscale` with an
+        *axis* argument of 'x'.
+
         Examples
         --------
         >>> set_xlim(left, right)
@@ -3844,6 +3849,11 @@ def set_ylim(self, bottom=None, top=None, *, emit=True, auto=False,
         The *bottom* value may be greater than the *top* value, in which
         case the y-axis values will decrease from *bottom* to *top*.
 
+        To set limits with additional `.margins` applied, then instead
+        of `.set_ylim`, modify the ``y0`` and/or ``y1`` attributes on
+        the ``Axes.dataLim`` `.Bbox` and call `.autoscale` with an
+        *axis* argument of 'y'.
+
         Examples
         --------
         >>> set_ylim(bottom, top)