diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
index 299984c5e4..f46f05cdcb 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/basic_widgets.py
@@ -892,8 +892,7 @@ class Cover(ImageView):  # {{{
     download_cover = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, parent):
-        ImageView.__init__(self, parent)
-        self.show_size = True
+        ImageView.__init__(self, parent, show_size_pref_name='edit_metadata_cover_widget', default_show_size=True)
         self.dialog = parent
         self._cdata = None
         self.cdata_before_trim = None
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
index 71cc7b6169..ad51090556 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class ImageDropMixin(object):  # {{{
     def set_pixmap(self, pmap):
         self.setPixmap(pmap)
 
-    def contextMenuEvent(self, ev):
+    def build_context_menu(self):
         cm = QMenu(self)
         paste = cm.addAction(_('Paste Cover'))
         copy = cm.addAction(_('Copy Cover'))
@@ -255,7 +255,10 @@ class ImageDropMixin(object):  # {{{
             paste.setEnabled(False)
         copy.triggered.connect(self.copy_to_clipboard)
         paste.triggered.connect(self.paste_from_clipboard)
-        cm.exec_(ev.globalPos())
+        return cm
+
+    def contextMenuEvent(self, ev):
+        self.build_context_menu().exec_(ev.globalPos())
 
     def copy_to_clipboard(self):
         QApplication.instance().clipboard().setPixmap(self.get_pixmap())
@@ -276,13 +279,16 @@ class ImageView(QWidget, ImageDropMixin):  # {{{
     BORDER_WIDTH = 1
     cover_changed = pyqtSignal(object)
 
-    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, show_size_pref_name=None, default_show_size=False):
         QWidget.__init__(self, parent)
+        self.show_size_pref_name = ('show_size_on_cover_' + show_size_pref_name) if show_size_pref_name else None
         self._pixmap = QPixmap(self)
         self.setMinimumSize(QSize(150, 200))
         ImageDropMixin.__init__(self)
         self.draw_border = True
         self.show_size = False
+        if self.show_size_pref_name:
+            self.show_size = gprefs.get(self.show_size_pref_name, default_show_size)
 
     def setPixmap(self, pixmap):
         if not isinstance(pixmap, QPixmap):
@@ -291,6 +297,19 @@ class ImageView(QWidget, ImageDropMixin):  # {{{
         self.updateGeometry()
         self.update()
 
+    def build_context_menu(self):
+        m = ImageDropMixin.build_context_menu(self)
+        if self.show_size_pref_name:
+            text = _('Hide size in corner') if self.show_size else _('Show size in corner')
+            m.addAction(text, self.toggle_show_size)
+        return m
+
+    def toggle_show_size(self):
+        self.show_size ^= True
+        if self.show_size_pref_name:
+            gprefs[self.show_size_pref_name] = self.show_size
+        self.update()
+
     def pixmap(self):
         return self._pixmap