diff --git a/doc/changes/dev/14018.newfeature.rst b/doc/changes/dev/14018.newfeature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eee30a1c02a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changes/dev/14018.newfeature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add a ``show_zero_line`` parameter (and :kbd:`0` keyboard shortcut) to :func:`mne.io.Raw.plot` and :func:`mne.Epochs.plot` to show a reference line at each channel's zero, by `Clemens Brunner`_.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mne/epochs.py b/mne/epochs.py
index 442359f3d65..2f8342f7b37 100644
--- a/mne/epochs.py
+++ b/mne/epochs.py
@@ -1317,6 +1317,7 @@ def plot(
         butterfly=False,
         show_scrollbars=True,
         show_scalebars=True,
+        show_zero_line=False,
         epoch_colors=None,
         event_id=None,
         group_by="type",
@@ -1345,6 +1346,7 @@ def plot(
             butterfly=butterfly,
             show_scrollbars=show_scrollbars,
             show_scalebars=show_scalebars,
+            show_zero_line=show_zero_line,
             epoch_colors=epoch_colors,
             event_id=event_id,
             group_by=group_by,
diff --git a/mne/io/base.py b/mne/io/base.py
index 597723d72b8..5d692871738 100644
--- a/mne/io/base.py
+++ b/mne/io/base.py
@@ -1993,6 +1993,7 @@ def plot(
         event_id=None,
         show_scrollbars=True,
         show_scalebars=True,
+        show_zero_line=False,
         time_format="float",
         precompute=None,
         use_opengl=None,
@@ -2034,6 +2035,7 @@ def plot(
             event_id=event_id,
             show_scrollbars=show_scrollbars,
             show_scalebars=show_scalebars,
+            show_zero_line=show_zero_line,
             time_format=time_format,
             precompute=precompute,
             use_opengl=use_opengl,
diff --git a/mne/utils/docs.py b/mne/utils/docs.py
index 74b54e62b21..b47c0ce74cd 100644
--- a/mne/utils/docs.py
+++ b/mne/utils/docs.py
@@ -4271,6 +4271,17 @@ def _reflow_param_docstring(docstring, has_first_line=True, width=75):
     .. versionadded:: 0.20.0
 """
 
+docdict["show_zero_line"] = """
+show_zero_line : bool
+    Whether to show the zero line for each channel trace when the plot is
+    initialized. The zero line marks the true zero of each channel's own
+    displayed trace, independent of any DC removal or highpass filtering
+    already applied to the data. Can be toggled after initialization by
+    pressing :kbd:`0` while the plot window is focused. Default is ``False``.
+
+    .. versionadded:: 1.13
+"""
+
 docdict["size_topomap"] = """
 size : float
     Side length of each subplot in inches.
diff --git a/mne/viz/_figure.py b/mne/viz/_figure.py
index cf49ce28ceb..954b90c9e95 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_figure.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_figure.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
             patch=0,
             grid=1,
             ann=2,
+            zero_line=3,
             events=10003,
             bads=10004,
             data=10005,
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
             self.mne.scale_factor = 0.5 if self.mne.butterfly else 1.0
         self.mne.scalebars = dict()
         self.mne.scalebar_texts = dict()
+        self.mne.zero_lines = list()
         # ancillary child figures
         self.mne.child_figs = list()
         self.mne.fig_help = None
diff --git a/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py b/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
index 2a3b2385c31..daf5f0bc790 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_mpl_figure.py
@@ -645,6 +645,13 @@ def __init__(self, inst, figsize, ica=None, xlabel="Time (s)", **kwargs):
         self.mne.traces = ax_main.plot(
             np.full((1, self.mne.n_channels), np.nan), **self.mne.trace_kwargs
         )
+        self.mne.zero_line_kwargs = dict(
+            color=self.mne.fgcolor,
+            alpha=0.5,
+            linewidth=0.5,
+            linestyle="dashed",
+            zorder=self.mne.zorder["zero_line"],
+        )
 
         # SAVE UI ELEMENT HANDLES
         vars(self.mne).update(
@@ -874,6 +881,8 @@ def _keypress(self, event):
                     checkbox.set_active(0)
         elif key == "s":  # scalebars
             self._toggle_scalebars(event)
+        elif key == "0":  # zero line
+            self._toggle_zero_line(event)
         elif key == "w":  # toggle noise cov whitening
             self._toggle_whitening()
         elif key == "z":  # zen mode: hide scrollbars and buttons
@@ -1124,6 +1133,7 @@ def _get_help_text(self):
                 ("shift+j", "Toggle all SSPs"),
                 ("p", "Toggle draggable annotations" if is_raw else None),
                 ("s", "Toggle scalebars" if not is_ica else None),
+                ("0", "Toggle zero line"),
                 ("z", "Toggle scrollbars"),
                 ("t", "Toggle time format" if not is_epo else None),
                 ("F11", "Toggle fullscreen" if not is_mac else None),
@@ -1993,6 +2003,11 @@ def _toggle_scalebars(self, event):
         self.mne.scalebars_visible = not self.mne.scalebars_visible
         self._redraw(update_data=False)
 
+    def _toggle_zero_line(self, event):
+        """Show/hide the zero line for each channel trace."""
+        self.mne.zero_line_visible = not self.mne.zero_line_visible
+        self._redraw(update_data=False)
+
     def _draw_one_scalebar(self, x, y, ch_type):
         """Draw a scalebar."""
         from .utils import _simplify_float
@@ -2213,6 +2228,23 @@ def _draw_traces(self):
             trace.remove()
         self.mne.traces = self.mne.traces[:n_picks]
 
+        # add/remove zero lines if needed
+        if self.mne.zero_line_visible:
+            if n_picks > len(self.mne.zero_lines):
+                n_new_chs = n_picks - len(self.mne.zero_lines)
+                new_zero_lines = self.mne.ax_main.plot(
+                    np.full((1, n_new_chs), np.nan), **self.mne.zero_line_kwargs
+                )
+                self.mne.zero_lines.extend(new_zero_lines)
+            extra_zero_lines = self.mne.zero_lines[n_picks:]
+            for zero_line in extra_zero_lines:
+                zero_line.remove()
+            self.mne.zero_lines = self.mne.zero_lines[:n_picks]
+        elif self.mne.zero_lines:
+            for zero_line in self.mne.zero_lines:
+                zero_line.remove()
+            self.mne.zero_lines = list()
+
         # check for bad epochs
         time_range = (self.mne.times + self.mne.first_time)[[0, -1]]
         if self.mne.instance_type == "epochs":
@@ -2248,6 +2280,9 @@ def _draw_traces(self):
             this_name = ch_names[ii]
             this_type = ch_types[ii]
             this_offset = offsets[ii]
+            if self.mne.zero_line_visible:
+                self.mne.zero_lines[ii].set_xdata(time_range)
+                self.mne.zero_lines[ii].set_ydata((this_offset, this_offset))
             this_times = decim_times[decim[ii]]
             this_data = this_offset - self.mne.data[ii] * self.mne.scale_factor
             this_data = this_data[..., :: decim[ii]]
diff --git a/mne/viz/epochs.py b/mne/viz/epochs.py
index 0154f357588..fdd97d5605f 100644
--- a/mne/viz/epochs.py
+++ b/mne/viz/epochs.py
@@ -755,6 +755,7 @@ def plot_epochs(
     butterfly=False,
     show_scrollbars=True,
     show_scalebars=True,
+    show_zero_line=False,
     epoch_colors=None,
     event_id=None,
     group_by="type",
@@ -845,6 +846,7 @@ def plot_epochs(
     %(show_scalebars)s
 
         .. versionadded:: 0.24.0
+    %(show_zero_line)s
     epoch_colors : list of (n_epochs) list (of n_channels) | None
         Colors to use for individual epochs. If None, use default colors.
     event_id : bool | dict
@@ -1081,6 +1083,7 @@ def plot_epochs(
         clipping=None,
         scrollbars_visible=show_scrollbars,
         scalebars_visible=show_scalebars,
+        zero_line_visible=show_zero_line,
         window_title=title,
         xlabel="Epoch number",
         # pyqtgraph-specific
diff --git a/mne/viz/ica.py b/mne/viz/ica.py
index ffb2f9fd422..3c2ae69cbdf 100644
--- a/mne/viz/ica.py
+++ b/mne/viz/ica.py
@@ -1442,6 +1442,7 @@ def _plot_sources(
         clipping=None,
         scrollbars_visible=show_scrollbars,
         scalebars_visible=False,
+        zero_line_visible=False,
         window_title=title,
         precompute=precompute,
         use_opengl=use_opengl,
diff --git a/mne/viz/raw.py b/mne/viz/raw.py
index 5e6febc550c..d5288bc9123 100644
--- a/mne/viz/raw.py
+++ b/mne/viz/raw.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def plot_raw(
     event_id=None,
     show_scrollbars=True,
     show_scalebars=True,
+    show_zero_line=False,
     time_format="float",
     precompute=None,
     use_opengl=None,
@@ -213,6 +214,7 @@ def plot_raw(
     %(show_scalebars)s
 
         .. versionadded:: 0.20.0
+    %(show_zero_line)s
     %(time_format)s
     %(precompute)s
     %(use_opengl)s
@@ -427,6 +429,7 @@ def plot_raw(
         clipping=clipping,
         scrollbars_visible=show_scrollbars,
         scalebars_visible=show_scalebars,
+        zero_line_visible=show_zero_line,
         window_title=title,
         bgcolor=bgcolor,
         # Qt-specific
diff --git a/mne/viz/tests/test_raw.py b/mne/viz/tests/test_raw.py
index dab3deb5165..14cc83e9eee 100644
--- a/mne/viz/tests/test_raw.py
+++ b/mne/viz/tests/test_raw.py
@@ -344,6 +344,22 @@ def test_scale_bar(browser_backend):
         browser_backend._close_all()
 
 
+def test_zero_line(raw, mpl_backend):
+    """Test toggling the zero line for raw (matplotlib backend only)."""
+    fig = raw.plot()
+    assert not fig.mne.zero_line_visible
+    assert len(fig.mne.zero_lines) == 0
+    fig._fake_keypress("0")
+    assert fig.mne.zero_line_visible
+    assert len(fig.mne.zero_lines) == len(fig.mne.picks)
+    for zero_line, offset in zip(fig.mne.zero_lines, fig.mne.trace_offsets):
+        assert_allclose(zero_line.get_ydata(), (offset, offset))
+    assert_allclose(fig.mne.zero_lines[0].get_xdata(), fig.mne.ax_main.get_xlim())
+    fig._fake_keypress("0")  # toggle back off -> artists removed
+    assert not fig.mne.zero_line_visible
+    assert len(fig.mne.zero_lines) == 0
+
+
 def test_plot_raw_selection(raw, browser_backend):
     """Test selection mode of plot_raw()."""
     ismpl = browser_backend.name == "matplotlib"