diff --git a/packages/vx-axis/src/axis/AxisRenderer.tsx b/packages/vx-axis/src/axis/AxisRenderer.tsx
index 7355ec97c7..549b5846f8 100644
--- a/packages/vx-axis/src/axis/AxisRenderer.tsx
+++ b/packages/vx-axis/src/axis/AxisRenderer.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { TextProps } from '@vx/text/lib/Text';
 import getLabelTransform from '../utils/getLabelTransform';
 import { AxisRendererProps, AxisScale } from '../types';
 import Ticks from './Ticks';
+import { Orientation } from '..';
 
 const defaultTextProps: Partial<TextProps> = {
   textAnchor: 'middle',
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ export default function AxisRenderer<Scale extends AxisScale>({
   labelClassName,
   labelOffset = 14,
   labelProps = defaultTextProps,
-  orientation,
+  orientation = Orientation.bottom,
   scale,
   stroke = '#222',
   strokeDasharray,
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ export default function AxisRenderer<Scale extends AxisScale>({
   tickClassName,
   tickComponent,
   tickLabelProps = (/** tickValue, index */) => defaultTextProps,
-  tickLength,
+  tickLength = 8,
   tickStroke = '#222',
   tickTransform,
   ticks,