diff --git a/src/axes.jl b/src/axes.jl
index 4288cde3..a3c3293c 100644
--- a/src/axes.jl
+++ b/src/axes.jl
@@ -239,8 +239,13 @@ function get_ticks(axis::Axis)
         # discrete ticks...
         axis[:continuous_values], dvals
     elseif ticks == :auto
-        # compute optimal ticks and labels
-        optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis)
+        if ispolar(axis.sps[1]) && axis[:letter] == :x
+            #force theta axis to be full circle
+            (collect(0:pi/4:7pi/4), string.(0:45:315))
+        else
+            # compute optimal ticks and labels
+            optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis)
+        end
     elseif typeof(ticks) <: Union{AVec, Int}
         # override ticks, but get the labels
         optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis, ticks)
@@ -427,7 +432,16 @@ function axis_limits(axis::Axis, should_widen::Bool = default_should_widen(axis)
     if !isfinite(amin) && !isfinite(amax)
         amin, amax = 0.0, 1.0
     end
-    if should_widen
+    if ispolar(axis.sps[1])
+        if axis[:letter] == :x
+            amin, amax = 0, 2pi
+        elseif lims == :auto
+            #widen max radius so ticks dont overlap with theta axis
+            amin, amax + 0.1 * abs(amax - amin)
+        else
+            amin, amax
+        end
+    elseif should_widen
         widen(amin, amax)
     else
         amin, amax
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 0b964aa0..9619f638 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -205,35 +205,62 @@ function gr_text(x, y, s)
     end
 end
 
-function gr_polaraxes(rmin, rmax)
+function gr_polaraxes(rmin::Real, rmax::Real, sp::Subplot)
     GR.savestate()
-    GR.setlinetype(GR.LINETYPE_SOLID)
-    GR.setlinecolorind(88)
-    tick = 0.5 * GR.tick(rmin, rmax)
-    n = round(Int, (rmax - rmin) / tick + 0.5)
-    for i in 0:n
-        r = float(i) / n
-        if i % 2 == 0
-            GR.setlinecolorind(88)
-            if i > 0
-                GR.drawarc(-r, r, -r, r, 0, 359)
-            end
-            GR.settextalign(GR.TEXT_HALIGN_LEFT, GR.TEXT_VALIGN_HALF)
-            x, y = GR.wctondc(0.05, r)
-            GR.text(x, y, string(signif(rmin + i * tick, 12)))
-        else
-            GR.setlinecolorind(90)
-            GR.drawarc(-r, r, -r, r, 0, 359)
+    xaxis = sp[:xaxis]
+    yaxis = sp[:yaxis]
+
+    α = 0:45:315
+    a = α .+ 90
+    sinf = sind.(a)
+    cosf = cosd.(a)
+    rtick_values, rtick_labels = get_ticks(yaxis)
+
+    #draw angular grid
+    if xaxis[:grid]
+        gr_set_line(xaxis[:gridlinewidth], xaxis[:gridstyle], xaxis[:foreground_color_grid])
+        GR.settransparency(xaxis[:gridalpha])
+        for i in 1:length(α)
+            GR.polyline([sinf[i], 0], [cosf[i], 0])
         end
     end
-    for α in 0:45:315
-        a = α + 90
-        sinf = sin(a * pi / 180)
-        cosf = cos(a * pi / 180)
-        GR.polyline([sinf, 0], [cosf, 0])
-        GR.settextalign(GR.TEXT_HALIGN_CENTER, GR.TEXT_VALIGN_HALF)
-        x, y = GR.wctondc(1.1 * sinf, 1.1 * cosf)
-        GR.textext(x, y, string(α, "^o"))
+
+    #draw radial grid
+    if yaxis[:grid]
+        gr_set_line(yaxis[:gridlinewidth], yaxis[:gridstyle], yaxis[:foreground_color_grid])
+        GR.settransparency(yaxis[:gridalpha])
+        for i in 1:length(rtick_values)
+            r = (rtick_values[i] - rmin) / (rmax - rmin)
+            if r <= 1.0 && r >= 0.0
+                GR.drawarc(-r, r, -r, r, 0, 359)
+            end
+        end
+        GR.drawarc(-1, 1, -1, 1, 0, 359)
+    end
+
+    #prepare to draw ticks
+    GR.settransparency(1)
+    GR.setlinecolorind(90)
+    GR.settextalign(GR.TEXT_HALIGN_CENTER, GR.TEXT_VALIGN_HALF)
+
+    #draw angular ticks
+    if xaxis[:showaxis]
+        GR.drawarc(-1, 1, -1, 1, 0, 359)
+        for i in 1:length(α)
+            x, y = GR.wctondc(1.1 * sinf[i], 1.1 * cosf[i])
+            GR.textext(x, y, string((360-α[i])%360, "^o"))
+        end
+    end
+
+    #draw radial ticks
+    if yaxis[:showaxis]
+        for i in 1:length(rtick_values)
+            r = (rtick_values[i] - rmin) / (rmax - rmin)
+            if r <= 1.0 && r >= 0.0
+                x, y = GR.wctondc(0.05, r)
+                gr_text(x, y, _cycle(rtick_labels, i))
+            end
+        end
     end
     GR.restorestate()
 end
@@ -758,9 +785,9 @@ function gr_display(sp::Subplot{GRBackend}, w, h, viewport_canvas)
 
     elseif ispolar(sp)
         r = gr_set_viewport_polar()
-        rmin, rmax = GR.adjustrange(ignorenan_minimum(r), ignorenan_maximum(r))
-        # rmin, rmax = axis_limits(sp[:yaxis])
-        gr_polaraxes(rmin, rmax)
+        #rmin, rmax = GR.adjustrange(ignorenan_minimum(r), ignorenan_maximum(r))
+        rmin, rmax = axis_limits(sp[:yaxis])
+        gr_polaraxes(rmin, rmax, sp)
 
     elseif draw_axes
         if xmax > xmin && ymax > ymin
diff --git a/src/backends/inspectdr.jl b/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
index da7bc144..7d09045a 100644
--- a/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/inspectdr.jl
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ function _series_added(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend}, series::Series)
     #No support for polar grid... but can still perform polar transformation:
     if ispolar(sp)
         Θ = x; r = y
-        x = r.*cos(Θ); y = r.*sin(Θ)
+        x = r.*cos.(Θ); y = r.*sin.(Θ)
     end
 
     # doesn't handle mismatched x/y - wrap data (pyplot behaviour):
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
index 93acf765..8cfc5873 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
@@ -223,6 +223,9 @@ function pgf_series(sp::Subplot, series::Series)
         # If a marker_z is used pass it as third coordinate to a 2D plot.
         # See "Scatter Plots" in PGFPlots documentation
         d[:x], d[:y], d[:marker_z]
+    elseif ispolar(sp)
+        theta, r = filter_radial_data(d[:x], d[:y], axis_limits(sp[:yaxis]))
+        rad2deg.(theta), r
     else
         d[:x], d[:y]
     end
@@ -295,19 +298,23 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
     # grid on or off
     if axis[:grid] && framestyle != :none
         push!(style, "$(letter)majorgrids = true")
+    else
+        push!(style, "$(letter)majorgrids = false")
     end
 
     # limits
     # TODO: support zlims
     if letter != :z
-        lims = axis_limits(axis)
+        lims = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? rad2deg.(axis_limits(axis)) : axis_limits(axis)
         kw[Symbol(letter,:min)] = lims[1]
         kw[Symbol(letter,:max)] = lims[2]
     end
 
     if !(axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false, :none)) && framestyle != :none
         ticks = get_ticks(axis)
-        push!(style, string(letter, "tick = {", join(ticks[1],","), "}"))
+        #pgf plot ignores ticks with angle below 90 when xmin = 90 so shift values
+        tick_values = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? [rad2deg.(ticks[1])[3:end]..., 360, 415] : ticks[1]
+        push!(style, string(letter, "tick = {", join(tick_values,","), "}"))
         if axis[:showaxis] && axis[:scale] in (:ln, :log2, :log10) && axis[:ticks] == :auto
             # wrap the power part of label with }
             tick_labels = String[begin
@@ -317,7 +324,8 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
             end for label in ticks[2]]
             push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {\$", join(tick_labels,"\$,\$"), "\$}"))
         elseif axis[:showaxis]
-            push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {", join(ticks[2],","), "}"))
+            tick_labels = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? [ticks[2][3:end]..., "0", "45"] : ticks[2]
+            push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {", join(tick_labels,","), "}"))
         else
             push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {}"))
         end
@@ -405,6 +413,9 @@ function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
         axisf = PGFPlots.Axis
         if sp[:projection] == :polar
             axisf = PGFPlots.PolarAxis
+            #make radial axis vertical
+            kw[:xmin] = 90
+            kw[:xmax] = 450
         end
 
         # Search series for any gradient. In case one series uses a gradient set
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index b15e82c0..e9a662cc 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -291,6 +291,22 @@ function plotly_axis(axis::Axis, sp::Subplot)
     ax
 end
 
+function plotly_polaraxis(axis::Axis)
+    ax = KW(
+        :visible => axis[:showaxis],
+        :showline => axis[:grid],
+    )
+
+    if axis[:letter] == :x
+        ax[:range] = rad2deg.(axis_limits(axis))
+    else
+        ax[:range] = axis_limits(axis)
+        ax[:orientation] = -90
+    end
+
+    ax
+end
+
 function plotly_layout(plt::Plot)
     d_out = KW()
 
@@ -345,6 +361,9 @@ function plotly_layout(plt::Plot)
                     ),
                 ),
             )
+        elseif ispolar(sp)
+            d_out[Symbol("angularaxis$spidx")] = plotly_polaraxis(sp[:xaxis])
+            d_out[Symbol("radialaxis$spidx")] = plotly_polaraxis(sp[:yaxis])
         else
             d_out[Symbol("xaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp[:xaxis], sp)
             d_out[Symbol("yaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp[:yaxis], sp)
@@ -698,8 +717,9 @@ end
 function plotly_polar!(d_out::KW, series::Series)
     # convert polar plots x/y to theta/radius
     if ispolar(series[:subplot])
-        d_out[:t] = rad2deg(pop!(d_out, :x))
-        d_out[:r] = pop!(d_out, :y)
+        theta, r = filter_radial_data(pop!(d_out, :x), pop!(d_out, :y), axis_limits(series[:subplot][:yaxis]))
+        d_out[:t] = rad2deg.(theta)
+        d_out[:r] = r
     end
 end
 
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index 4a8c3c95..d325b21b 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -1054,6 +1054,9 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
             end
             py_set_scale(ax, axis)
             py_set_lims(ax, axis)
+            if ispolar(sp) && letter == :y
+                ax[:set_rlabel_position](90)
+            end
             ticks = sp[:framestyle] == :none ? nothing : get_ticks(axis)
             # don't show the 0 tick label for the origin framestyle
             if sp[:framestyle] == :origin && length(ticks) > 1
@@ -1080,6 +1083,8 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
                     linewidth = axis[:gridlinewidth],
                     alpha = axis[:gridalpha])
                 ax[:set_axisbelow](true)
+            else
+                pyaxis[:grid](false)
             end
             py_set_axis_colors(sp, ax, axis)
         end
@@ -1088,7 +1093,11 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
         if !sp[:xaxis][:showaxis]
             kw = KW()
             for dir in (:top, :bottom)
-                ax[:spines][string(dir)][:set_visible](false)
+                if ispolar(sp)
+                    ax[:spines]["polar"][:set_visible](false)
+                else
+                    ax[:spines][string(dir)][:set_visible](false)
+                end
                 kw[dir] = kw[Symbol(:label,dir)] = "off"
             end
             ax[:xaxis][:set_tick_params](; which="both", kw...)
@@ -1096,7 +1105,9 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
         if !sp[:yaxis][:showaxis]
             kw = KW()
             for dir in (:left, :right)
-                ax[:spines][string(dir)][:set_visible](false)
+                if !ispolar(sp)
+                    ax[:spines][string(dir)][:set_visible](false)
+                end
                 kw[dir] = kw[Symbol(:label,dir)] = "off"
             end
             ax[:yaxis][:set_tick_params](; which="both", kw...)
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index 81cd3571..d19a2acb 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -363,15 +363,26 @@ end
 
 function convert_to_polar(x, y, r_extrema = calc_r_extrema(x, y))
     rmin, rmax = r_extrema
-    phi, r = x, y
+    theta, r = filter_radial_data(x, y, r_extrema)
     r = (r - rmin) / (rmax - rmin)
-    n = max(length(phi), length(r))
-    x = zeros(n)
-    y = zeros(n)
+    x = r.*cos.(theta)
+    y = r.*sin.(theta)
+    x, y
+end
+
+# Filters radial data for points within the axis limits
+function filter_radial_data(theta, r, r_extrema::Tuple{Real, Real})
+    n = max(length(theta), length(r))
+    rmin, rmax = r_extrema
+    x, y = zeros(n), zeros(n)
     for i in 1:n
-        x[i] = _cycle(r,i) * cos.(_cycle(phi,i))
-        y[i] = _cycle(r,i) * sin.(_cycle(phi,i))
+        x[i] = _cycle(theta, i)
+        y[i] = _cycle(r, i)
     end
+    points = map((a, b) -> (a, b), x, y)
+    filter!(a -> a[2] >= rmin && a[2] <= rmax, points)
+    x = map(a -> a[1], points)
+    y = map(a -> a[2], points)
     x, y
 end