diff --git a/doc/changelog.dox b/doc/changelog.dox
index a250f97db..7d4e94984 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.dox
+++ b/doc/changelog.dox
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@ See also:
     @ref Primitives::grid3DSolid() and @ref Primitives::grid3DWireframe()
     primitives
 
+@subsection changelog-latest-buildsystem Build system
+
+-   All plugin interfaces now implement
+    @ref Corrade::PluginManager::AbstractPlugin::pluginSearchPaths() "pluginSearchPaths()"
+    for plugin directory autodetection --- you no longer need to specify the
+    plugin directory explicitly when loading plugins. See @ref plugins-loading
+    for more information.
+
 @subsection changelog-latest-bugfixes Bug fixes
 
 -   Engine startup info was not properly printed to Android log since
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.cpp b/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.cpp
index cfdf73106..3f8254759 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.cpp
@@ -29,12 +29,26 @@
 #include <Corrade/Utility/Assert.h>
 #include <Corrade/Utility/Directory.h>
 
+#include "Magnum/Audio/configure.h"
+
 namespace Magnum { namespace Audio {
 
 std::string AbstractImporter::pluginInterface() {
     return "cz.mosra.magnum.Audio.AbstractImporter/0.1";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> AbstractImporter::pluginSearchPaths() {
+    return {
+        #ifdef CORRADE_IS_DEBUG_BUILD
+        "magnum-d/audioimporters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR, "audioimporters")
+        #else
+        "magnum/audioimporters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR, "audioimporters")
+        #endif
+    };
+}
+
 AbstractImporter::AbstractImporter() = default;
 
 AbstractImporter::AbstractImporter(PluginManager::Manager<AbstractImporter>& manager): PluginManager::AbstractManagingPlugin<AbstractImporter>{manager} {}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.h b/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.h
index 06ad870a9..2ec9d71c9 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Audio/AbstractImporter.h
@@ -93,6 +93,19 @@ class MAGNUM_AUDIO_EXPORT AbstractImporter: public PluginManager::AbstractManagi
          */
         static std::string pluginInterface();
 
+        /**
+         * @brief Plugin search paths
+         *
+         * First looks in `magnum/audioimporters/` or `magnum-d/audioimporters/`
+         * next to the executable and as a fallback in `magnum/audioimporters/`
+         * or `magnum-d/audioimporters/` in the runtime install location
+         * (`lib[64]/` on Unix-like systems, `bin/` on Windows). The
+         * system-wide plugin search directory is configurable using the
+         * `MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR` CMake variables, see @ref building for more
+         * information.
+         */
+        static std::vector<std::string> pluginSearchPaths();
+
         /** @brief Default constructor */
         explicit AbstractImporter();
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Audio/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Magnum/Audio/CMakeLists.txt
index 027f6bdcb..046141159 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Audio/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Magnum/Audio/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ set(MagnumAudio_HEADERS
 
     visibility.h)
 
+configure_file(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/configure.h.cmake
+               ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/configure.h)
+
 if(WITH_SCENEGRAPH)
     list(APPEND MagnumAudio_HEADERS
         Listener.h
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Audio/configure.h.cmake b/src/Magnum/Audio/configure.h.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c5383224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Magnum/Audio/configure.h.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+    This file is part of Magnum.
+
+    Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
+              Vladimír Vondruš <mosra@centrum.cz>
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+    copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+    to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+    the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+    and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+    Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
+    in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
+    THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+    FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+    DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+*/
+
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR}"
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR}"
+
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.cpp b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.cpp
index 077e3d71b..2026bb514 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.cpp
@@ -32,12 +32,26 @@
 #include "Magnum/Math/Functions.h"
 #include "Magnum/Text/GlyphCache.h"
 
+#include "Magnum/Text/configure.h"
+
 namespace Magnum { namespace Text {
 
 std::string AbstractFont::pluginInterface() {
     return "cz.mosra.magnum.Text.AbstractFont/0.2.4";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> AbstractFont::pluginSearchPaths() {
+    return {
+        #ifdef CORRADE_IS_DEBUG_BUILD
+        "magnum-d/fonts",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR, "fonts")
+        #else
+        "magnum/fonts",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR, "fonts")
+        #endif
+    };
+}
+
 AbstractFont::AbstractFont(): _size(0.0f) {}
 
 AbstractFont::AbstractFont(PluginManager::AbstractManager& manager, const std::string& plugin): AbstractPlugin{manager, plugin}, _size{0.0f}, _lineHeight{0.0f} {}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.h b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.h
index d11b9ed28..0911a1fcf 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFont.h
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@ class MAGNUM_TEXT_EXPORT AbstractFont: public PluginManager::AbstractPlugin {
          */
         static std::string pluginInterface();
 
+        /**
+         * @brief Plugin search paths
+         *
+         * First looks in `magnum/fonts/` or `magnum-d/fonts/` next to the
+         * executable and as a fallback in `magnum/fonts/` or `magnum-d/fonts/`
+         * in the runtime install location (`lib[64]/` on Unix-like systems,
+         * `bin/` on Windows). The system-wide plugin search directory is
+         * configurable using the `MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR` CMake variables, see
+         * @ref building for more information.
+         */
+        static std::vector<std::string> pluginSearchPaths();
+
         /** @brief Default constructor */
         explicit AbstractFont();
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.cpp b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.cpp
index 21bc93a4b..1c5245490 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 #include "Magnum/Text/GlyphCache.h"
 
+#include "Magnum/Text/configure.h"
+
 namespace Magnum { namespace Text {
 
 namespace {
@@ -55,6 +57,18 @@ std::string AbstractFontConverter::pluginInterface() {
     return "cz.mosra.magnum.Text.AbstractFontConverter/0.1.2";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> AbstractFontConverter::pluginSearchPaths() {
+    return {
+        #ifdef CORRADE_IS_DEBUG_BUILD
+        "magnum-d/fontconverters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR, "fontconverters")
+        #else
+        "magnum/fontconverters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR, "fontconverters")
+        #endif
+    };
+}
+
 AbstractFontConverter::AbstractFontConverter() = default;
 
 AbstractFontConverter::AbstractFontConverter(PluginManager::AbstractManager& manager, const std::string& plugin): PluginManager::AbstractPlugin{manager, plugin} {}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.h b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.h
index b439d9983..974e9dedd 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/AbstractFontConverter.h
@@ -135,6 +135,19 @@ class MAGNUM_TEXT_EXPORT AbstractFontConverter: public PluginManager::AbstractPl
          */
         static std::string pluginInterface();
 
+        /**
+         * @brief Plugin search paths
+         *
+         * First looks in `magnum/fontconverters/` or `magnum-d/fontconverters/`
+         * next to the executable and as a fallback in `magnum/fontconverters/`
+         * or `magnum-d/fontconverters/` in the runtime install location
+         * (`lib[64]/` on Unix-like systems, `bin/` on Windows). The
+         * system-wide plugin search directory is configurable using the
+         * `MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR` CMake variables, see @ref building for more
+         * information.
+         */
+        static std::vector<std::string> pluginSearchPaths();
+
         /** @brief Default constructor */
         explicit AbstractFontConverter();
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Magnum/Text/CMakeLists.txt
index 95d1fdd6d..0153086de 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Text/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ set(MagnumText_HEADERS
 
     visibility.h)
 
+configure_file(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/configure.h.cmake
+               ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/configure.h)
+
 # Text library
 add_library(MagnumText ${SHARED_OR_STATIC}
     ${MagnumText_SRCS}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Text/configure.h.cmake b/src/Magnum/Text/configure.h.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3c9194bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Magnum/Text/configure.h.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+    This file is part of Magnum.
+
+    Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
+              Vladimír Vondruš <mosra@centrum.cz>
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+    copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+    to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+    the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+    and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+    Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
+    in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
+    THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+    FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+    DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+*/
+
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR}"
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR}"
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.cpp b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.cpp
index cf781e130..8d23f9248 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 #include "Magnum/Image.h"
 #include "Magnum/Trade/ImageData.h"
+#include "Magnum/Trade/configure.h"
 
 namespace Magnum { namespace Trade {
 
@@ -38,6 +39,18 @@ std::string AbstractImageConverter::pluginInterface() {
     return "cz.mosra.magnum.Trade.AbstractImporter/0.3";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> AbstractImageConverter::pluginSearchPaths() {
+    return {
+        #ifdef CORRADE_IS_DEBUG_BUILD
+        "magnum-d/imageconverters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR, "imageconverters")
+        #else
+        "magnum/imageconverters",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR, "imageconverters")
+        #endif
+    };
+}
+
 AbstractImageConverter::AbstractImageConverter() = default;
 
 AbstractImageConverter::AbstractImageConverter(PluginManager::Manager<AbstractImageConverter>& manager): PluginManager::AbstractManagingPlugin<AbstractImageConverter>{manager} {}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.h b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.h
index 3dfe440f4..06c735602 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImageConverter.h
@@ -123,6 +123,19 @@ class MAGNUM_EXPORT AbstractImageConverter: public PluginManager::AbstractManagi
          */
         static std::string pluginInterface();
 
+        /**
+         * @brief Plugin search paths
+         *
+         * First looks in `magnum/imageconverters/` or `magnum-d/imageconverters/`
+         * next to the executable and as a fallback in `magnum/imageconverters/`
+         * or `magnum-d/imageconverters/` in the runtime install location
+         * (`lib[64]/` on Unix-like systems, `bin/` on Windows). The
+         * system-wide plugin search directory is configurable using the
+         * `MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR` CMake variables, see @ref building for more
+         * information.
+         */
+        static std::vector<std::string> pluginSearchPaths();
+
         /** @brief Default constructor */
         explicit AbstractImageConverter();
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.cpp b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.cpp
index 19db18ac7..0eb13ba41 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "Magnum/Trade/ObjectData3D.h"
 #include "Magnum/Trade/SceneData.h"
 #include "Magnum/Trade/TextureData.h"
+#include "Magnum/Trade/configure.h"
 
 namespace Magnum { namespace Trade {
 
@@ -47,6 +48,18 @@ std::string AbstractImporter::pluginInterface() {
     return "cz.mosra.magnum.Trade.AbstractImporter/0.3";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> AbstractImporter::pluginSearchPaths() {
+    return {
+        #ifdef CORRADE_IS_DEBUG_BUILD
+        "magnum-d/importers",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR, "importers")
+        #else
+        "magnum/importers",
+        Utility::Directory::join(MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR, "importers")
+        #endif
+    };
+}
+
 AbstractImporter::AbstractImporter() = default;
 
 AbstractImporter::AbstractImporter(PluginManager::Manager<AbstractImporter>& manager): PluginManager::AbstractManagingPlugin<AbstractImporter>{manager} {}
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.h b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.h
index ba9fc44c3..0fc875dab 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/AbstractImporter.h
@@ -113,6 +113,18 @@ class MAGNUM_EXPORT AbstractImporter: public PluginManager::AbstractManagingPlug
          */
         static std::string pluginInterface();
 
+        /**
+         * @brief Plugin search paths
+         *
+         * First looks in `magnum/importers/` or `magnum-d/importers/` next to
+         * the executable and as a fallback in `magnum/importers/` or
+         * `magnum-d/importers/` in the runtime install location (`lib[64]/` on
+         * Unix-like systems, `bin/` on Windows). The system-wide plugin search
+         * directory is configurable using the `MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR` CMake
+         * variables, see @ref building for more information.
+         */
+        static std::vector<std::string> pluginSearchPaths();
+
         /** @brief Default constructor */
         explicit AbstractImporter();
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Magnum/Trade/CMakeLists.txt
index c4abf1f32..34e9a8432 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Trade/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ set(MagnumTrade_HEADERS
     TextureData.h
     Trade.h)
 
+configure_file(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/configure.h.cmake
+               ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/configure.h)
+
 # Force IDEs to display all header files in project view
 add_custom_target(MagnumTrade SOURCES ${MagnumTrade_HEADERS})
 set_target_properties(MagnumTrade PROPERTIES FOLDER "Magnum/Trade")
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Trade/configure.h.cmake b/src/Magnum/Trade/configure.h.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b409476ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Magnum/Trade/configure.h.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+    This file is part of Magnum.
+
+    Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
+              Vladimír Vondruš <mosra@centrum.cz>
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+    copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+    to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+    the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+    and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+    Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
+    in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
+    THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+    FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+    DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+*/
+
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DIR}"
+#define MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR "${MAGNUM_PLUGINS_DEBUG_DIR}"