diff --git a/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py b/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
index b97881f6c37..5b66707befd 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
@@ -345,9 +345,9 @@
     histtype=0,
     # Calculate the bar width in respect to the bin width, here for two data sets half
     # of the bin width
-    # Offset ("+o") the bars to align each bar with the left limit of the corresponding
-    # bin
-    bar_width=f"{binwidth / 2}+o-{binwidth / 4}",
+    bar_width=binwidth / 2,
+    # Offset the bars to align each bar with the left limit of the corresponding bin
+    bar_offset=-binwidth / 4,
     label="data01",
 )
 
@@ -358,7 +358,8 @@
     fill="orange",
     pen="1p,darkgray,solid",
     histtype=0,
-    bar_width=f"{binwidth / 2}+o{binwidth / 4}",
+    bar_width=binwidth / 2,
+    bar_offset=binwidth / 4,
     label="data02",
 )
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/histogram.py b/pygmt/src/histogram.py
index f1aa068a484..5b52ddac0eb 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/histogram.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/histogram.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 from typing import Literal
 
 from pygmt._typing import PathLike, TableLike
-from pygmt.alias import AliasSystem
+from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput
 from pygmt.helpers import (
     build_arg_list,
     deprecate_parameter,
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@
     A="horizontal",
     C="cmap",
     D="annotate",
-    E="bar_width",
     F="center",
     G="fill",
     L="extreme",
@@ -41,10 +41,12 @@
     w="wrap",
 )
 @kwargs_to_strings(T="sequence")
-def histogram(
+def histogram(  # noqa: PLR0913
     self,
     data: PathLike | TableLike,
     projection: str | None = None,
+    bar_width: float | str | None = None,
+    bar_offset: float | str | None = None,
     frame: str | Sequence[str] | bool = False,
     region: Sequence[float | str] | str | None = None,
     verbose: Literal["quiet", "error", "warning", "timing", "info", "compat", "debug"]
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ def histogram(
 
     $aliases
        - B = frame
+       - E = bar_width, bar_offset
        - J = projection
        - R = region
        - V = verbose
@@ -91,15 +94,14 @@ def histogram(
         annotation font; use **+o** to change the offset between bar and
         label [Default is ``"6p"``]; use **+r** to rotate the labels from
         horizontal to vertical.
-    bar_width : float or str
-        *width*\ [**+o**\ *offset*].
+    bar_width
         Use an alternative histogram bar width than the default set via
-        ``series``, and optionally shift all bars by an *offset*. Here
-        *width* is either an alternative width in data units, or the user may
-        append a valid plot dimension unit (**c**\|\ **i**\|\ **p**) for a
-        fixed dimension instead. Optionally, all bins may be shifted along the
-        axis by *offset*. As for *width*, it may be given in data units of
-        plot dimension units by appending the relevant unit.
+        ``series``. Give either an alternative width in data units, or the user
+        may append a valid plot dimension unit (**c**\|\ **i**\|\ **p**) for a
+        fixed dimension instead.
+    bar_offset
+        Shift all bars along the axis by *offset*. It may be given in data units
+        of plot dimension units by appending the relevant unit.
     center : bool
         Center bin on each value. [Default is left edge].
     distribution : bool, float, or str
@@ -159,7 +161,16 @@ def histogram(
     """
     self._activate_figure()
 
-    aliasdict = AliasSystem().add_common(
+    if bar_offset is not None and bar_width is None:
+        msg = "Setting 'bar_offset' requires setting 'bar_width'."
+        raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
+
+    aliasdict = AliasSystem(
+        E=[
+            Alias(bar_width, name="bar_width"),
+            Alias(bar_offset, name="bar_offset", prefix="+o"),
+        ],
+    ).add_common(
         B=frame,
         J=projection,
         R=region,
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_histogram.py b/pygmt/tests/test_histogram.py
index 8a85ffd4666..3f1a78f04b0 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_histogram.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_histogram.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import pytest
 from pygmt import Figure
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="data", params=[list, pd.Series])
@@ -32,3 +33,20 @@ def test_histogram(data):
         fill="green",
     )
     return fig
+
+
+def test_histogram_baroffset(data):
+    """
+    Test passing bar_offset requires bar_width.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+        fig.histogram(
+            data=data,
+            projection="X10c/10c",
+            region=[0, 9, 0, 6],
+            series=1,
+            frame="a",
+            fill="green",
+            bar_offset=0.25,
+        )