diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ticker.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ticker.py
index d2bc7bc7a281..189949638100 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ticker.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_ticker.py
@@ -1764,6 +1764,14 @@ def test_latex(self, is_latex, usetex, expected):
         with mpl.rc_context(rc={'text.usetex': usetex}):
             assert fmt.format_pct(50, 100) == expected
 
+    def test_call_without_axis(self):
+        # With explicit decimals the axis view interval is not needed, so the
+        # formatter should format a value even when it is not attached to an
+        # axis, instead of raising an AttributeError.
+        with mpl.rc_context(rc={'text.usetex': False}):
+            assert mticker.PercentFormatter(xmax=1.0, decimals=1)(0.5) == '50.0%'
+            assert mticker.PercentFormatter(xmax=100, decimals=0)(50) == '50%'
+
 
 def _impl_locale_comma():
     try:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
index c82cd3bd0419..391e24dd2a06 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
@@ -1638,8 +1638,15 @@ def __init__(self, xmax=100, decimals=None, symbol='%', is_latex=False):
 
     def __call__(self, x, pos=None):
         """Format the tick as a percentage with the appropriate scaling."""
-        ax_min, ax_max = self.axis.get_view_interval()
-        display_range = abs(ax_max - ax_min)
+        if self.decimals is None:
+            # The display range of the axis is only needed to pick the number
+            # of decimals automatically; when ``decimals`` is set explicitly we
+            # avoid touching ``self.axis`` so the formatter also works when it
+            # is not attached to an axis.
+            ax_min, ax_max = self.axis.get_view_interval()
+            display_range = abs(ax_max - ax_min)
+        else:
+            display_range = None
         return self.fix_minus(self.format_pct(x, display_range))
 
     def format_pct(self, x, display_range):