diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
@@ -575,6 +575,9 @@ def add_label_near(self, x, y, inline=True, inline_spacing=5,
         # Get label width for rotating labels and breaking contours
         lw = self.get_label_width(self.labelLevelList[lmin],
                                   self.labelFmt, self.labelFontSizeList[lmin])
+        # lw is in points.
+        lw *= self.ax.figure.dpi / 72.0  # scale to screen coordinates
+        # now lw in pixels
 
         # Figure out label rotation.
         if inline:

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_labels_size_color.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_labels_size_color.png
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_manual_labels.pdf b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_manual_labels.pdf
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_manual_labels.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_contour/contour_manual_labels.png