diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py b/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
index f40800d367a..37d7797ce01 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@
             Shift plot origin in y-direction. Full documentation is at
             :gmt-docs:`gmt.html#xy-full`.
          """,
+    "c": r"""panel : int or list or bool
+            [*row*\ ,\ *col*\|\ *index*].
+            Selects a specific subplot panel. Only allowed when in subplot
+            mode. Use ``panel=True`` to advance to the next panel in the
+            selected order. Instead of *row,col* you may also give a scalar
+            value *index* which depends on the order you set via ``autolabel``
+            when the subplot was defined. **Note**: *row*, *col*, and *index*
+            all start at 0.
+         """,
     "j": """\
         distcalc : str
             ``e|f|g``.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/basemap.py b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
index 60fe1ddb217..678540c48f7 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/basemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
@@ -27,10 +27,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def basemap(self, **kwargs):
     """
     Plot base maps and frames for the figure.
@@ -66,13 +67,14 @@ def basemap(self, **kwargs):
     {U}
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)  # pylint: disable=protected-access
-    if not args_in_kwargs(args=["B", "L", "Td", "Tm"], kwargs=kwargs):
+    if not args_in_kwargs(args=["B", "L", "Td", "Tm", "c"], kwargs=kwargs):
         raise GMTInvalidInput(
-            "At least one of frame, map_scale, compass, or rose must be specified."
+            "At least one of frame, map_scale, compass, rose, or panel must be specified."
         )
     with Session() as lib:
         lib.call_module("basemap", build_arg_string(kwargs))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/coast.py b/pygmt/src/coast.py
index 21dccb52599..38f3719d47a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/coast.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/coast.py
@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def coast(self, **kwargs):
     r"""
     Plot continents, shorelines, rivers, and borders on maps
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ def coast(self, **kwargs):
         the segment headers via **-Z**\ *code* settings.To apply different
         settings to different countries, pass a list of string arguments.
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     {V}
diff --git a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
index 571dc8e760e..f523ab63609 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
@@ -20,10 +20,13 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", G="sequence", I="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(
+    R="sequence", G="sequence", I="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence"
+)
 def colorbar(self, **kwargs):
     """
     Plot a gray or color scale-bar on maps.
@@ -94,6 +97,7 @@ def colorbar(self, **kwargs):
         illumination.
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/contour.py b/pygmt/src/contour.py
index 2ad34a366e0..a782d8d814b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/contour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/contour.py
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def contour(self, x=None, y=None, z=None, data=None, **kwargs):
     """
     Contour table data by direct triangulation.
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ def contour(self, x=None, y=None, z=None, data=None, **kwargs):
         separator for the two labels instead.
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py b/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
index 9b839f931a8..932e5b7a89e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
@@ -30,10 +30,13 @@
     l="label",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", L="sequence", A="sequence_plus", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(
+    R="sequence", L="sequence", A="sequence_plus", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence"
+)
 def grdcontour(self, grid, **kwargs):
     """
     Convert grids or images to contours and plot them on maps.
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@ def grdcontour(self, grid, **kwargs):
     {V}
     {W}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     label : str
         Add a legend entry for the contour being plotted. Normally, the
         annotated contour is selected for the legend. You can select the
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
index f0cb2bd5a6a..9658164677b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
@@ -32,11 +32,12 @@
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
     n="interpolation",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
     x="cores",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def grdimage(self, grid, **kwargs):
     """
     Project and plot grids or images.
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ def grdimage(self, grid, **kwargs):
     {R}
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {n}
     {p}
     {t}
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdview.py b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
index 63ca411be34..77127e343d9 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdview.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
@@ -33,10 +33,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def grdview(self, grid, **kwargs):
     """
     Create 3-D perspective image or surface mesh from a grid.
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ def grdview(self, grid, **kwargs):
 
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/image.py b/pygmt/src/image.py
index 72c5f7949d5..9864422a120 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/image.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/image.py
@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def image(self, imagefile, **kwargs):
     """
     Place images or EPS files on maps.
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ def image(self, imagefile, **kwargs):
         YIQ-transformation.
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/legend.py b/pygmt/src/legend.py
index c8d3fcef8e3..cd3e9362f12 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/legend.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/legend.py
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def legend(self, spec=None, position="JTR+jTR+o0.2c", box="+gwhite+p1p", **kwargs):
     """
     Plot legends on maps.
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ def legend(self, spec=None, position="JTR+jTR+o0.2c", box="+gwhite+p1p", **kwarg
         using a 1 point black pen and adds a white background.
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/logo.py b/pygmt/src/logo.py
index c2f29fae2d1..af0d60c0754 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/logo.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/logo.py
@@ -17,9 +17,10 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def logo(self, **kwargs):
     """
     Plot the GMT logo.
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ def logo(self, **kwargs):
     {U}
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {t}
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)  # pylint: disable=protected-access
diff --git a/pygmt/src/meca.py b/pygmt/src/meca.py
index f50933facf1..0fe68b8c8b9 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/meca.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/meca.py
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@
     V="verbose",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def meca(
     self,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     spec,
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ def meca(
     {B}
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index 0324e1c25d0..0ec3d0bc89a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@
     Z="zvalue",
     i="columns",
     l="label",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def plot(self, x=None, y=None, data=None, sizes=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
     """
     Plot lines, polygons, and symbols in 2-D.
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ def plot(self, x=None, y=None, data=None, sizes=None, direction=None, **kwargs):
         polygon in the input data. To apply it to the fill color, use
         ``color='+z'``. To apply it to the pen color, append **+z** to
         **pen**.
+    {c}
     columns : str or 1d array
         Choose which columns are x, y, color, and size, respectively if
         input is provided via *data*. E.g. ``columns = [0, 1]`` or
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index d828d85c6c3..682cd7494a4 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@
     Z="zvalue",
     i="columns",
     l="label",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
-@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
+@kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", i="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def plot3d(
     self, x=None, y=None, z=None, data=None, sizes=None, direction=None, **kwargs
 ):
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ def plot3d(
         polygon in the input data. To apply it to the fill color, use
         ``color='+z'``. To apply it to the pen color, append **+z** to
         **pen**.
+    {c}
     label : str
         Add a legend entry for the symbol or line being plotted.
     {p}
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index 6bcf7e0989e..0fa0a9698a8 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     W="pen",
     X="xshift",
     Y="yshift",
+    c="panel",
     p="perspective",
     t="transparency",
 )
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
     angle="sequence_comma",
     font="sequence_comma",
     justify="sequence_comma",
+    c="sequence_comma",
     p="sequence",
 )
 def text_(
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ def text_(
         clip].
     {V}
     {XY}
+    {c}
     {p}
     {t}
     """