diff --git a/src/govuk/helpers/_links.scss b/src/govuk/helpers/_links.scss
index 9796a89bcb..22496f8644 100644
--- a/src/govuk/helpers/_links.scss
+++ b/src/govuk/helpers/_links.scss
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@
   @if ($govuk-link-underline-offset) {
     text-underline-offset: $govuk-link-underline-offset;
   }
+
+  @if ($govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness) {
+    &:hover {
+      text-decoration-thickness: $govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 /// Default link style mixin
diff --git a/src/govuk/helpers/links.test.js b/src/govuk/helpers/links.test.js
index d9df72deb1..c1bba795d9 100644
--- a/src/govuk/helpers/links.test.js
+++ b/src/govuk/helpers/links.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 const { renderSass } = require('../../../lib/jest-helpers')
 
 const sassConfig = {
-  outputStyle: 'nested'
+  outputStyle: 'compact'
 }
 
 describe('@mixin govuk-link-decoration', () => {
@@ -66,4 +66,34 @@ describe('@mixin govuk-link-decoration', () => {
       expect(results.css.toString()).not.toContain('text-underline-offset')
     })
   })
+
+  it('sets text-decoration-thickness on hover', async () => {
+    const sass = `
+    $govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness: 10px;
+      @import "base";
+
+      .foo {
+        @include govuk-link-decoration;
+      }`
+
+    const results = await renderSass({ data: sass, ...sassConfig })
+
+    expect(results.css.toString()).toContain('.foo:hover { text-decoration-thickness: 10px; }')
+  })
+
+  describe('when $govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness is falsey', () => {
+    it('does not set a hover state', async () => {
+      const sass = `
+      $govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness: false;
+      @import "base";
+
+      .foo {
+          @include govuk-link-decoration;
+      }`
+
+      const results = await renderSass({ data: sass, ...sassConfig })
+
+      expect(results.css.toString()).not.toContain(':hover')
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/govuk/settings/_measurements.scss b/src/govuk/settings/_measurements.scss
index b38401cee5..d15d2022b1 100644
--- a/src/govuk/settings/_measurements.scss
+++ b/src/govuk/settings/_measurements.scss
@@ -112,6 +112,14 @@ $govuk-hover-width: 10px !default;
 /// @access public
 $govuk-link-underline-thickness: 1px !default;
 
+/// Link hover state underline thickness
+///
+/// Set to false to disable setting a thickness
+///
+/// @type Number
+/// @access public
+$govuk-link-hover-underline-thickness: unquote("max(3px, .12em)") !default;
+
 /// Link underline offset.
 ///
 /// Set to false to disable setting an offset