diff --git a/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/index.rst b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/index.rst
index e73ea3370ec..752589bf77f 100644
--- a/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/index.rst
+++ b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/index.rst
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ strings
     find
     find_multiple
     findall
+    padding
     regex_flags
     regex_program
     repeat
     replace
+    side_type
     slice
     split
     strip
diff --git a/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/padding.rst b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/padding.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5b417024fd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/padding.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+=======
+padding
+=======
+
+.. automodule:: pylibcudf.strings.padding
+   :members:
diff --git a/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.rst b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d5aef9c4f75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/cudf/source/user_guide/api_docs/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+=========
+side_type
+=========
+
+.. automodule:: pylibcudf.strings.side_type
+   :members:
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/__init__.py b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/__init__.py
index 4bf8a9b1a8f..049dbab4851 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/__init__.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/__init__.py
@@ -73,14 +73,7 @@
 from cudf._lib.strings.find_multiple import find_multiple
 from cudf._lib.strings.findall import findall
 from cudf._lib.strings.json import GetJsonObjectOptions, get_json_object
-from cudf._lib.strings.padding import (
-    SideType,
-    center,
-    ljust,
-    pad,
-    rjust,
-    zfill,
-)
+from cudf._lib.strings.padding import center, ljust, pad, rjust, zfill
 from cudf._lib.strings.repeat import repeat_scalar, repeat_sequence
 from cudf._lib.strings.replace import (
     insert,
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/padding.pyx b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/padding.pyx
index d0239e91ec3..015a2ebab8a 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/padding.pyx
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/padding.pyx
@@ -1,64 +1,31 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2020-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
-
-from libcpp.memory cimport unique_ptr
-from libcpp.string cimport string
-from libcpp.utility cimport move
-
 from cudf.core.buffer import acquire_spill_lock
 
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.column.column_view cimport column_view
 from pylibcudf.libcudf.types cimport size_type
 
 from cudf._lib.column cimport Column
 
-from enum import IntEnum
-
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.column.column cimport column
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.padding cimport (
-    pad as cpp_pad,
-    zfill as cpp_zfill,
-)
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport (
-    side_type,
-    underlying_type_t_side_type,
-)
-
-
-class SideType(IntEnum):
-    LEFT = <underlying_type_t_side_type> side_type.LEFT
-    RIGHT = <underlying_type_t_side_type> side_type.RIGHT
-    BOTH = <underlying_type_t_side_type> side_type.BOTH
+import pylibcudf as plc
 
 
 @acquire_spill_lock()
 def pad(Column source_strings,
         size_type width,
         fill_char,
-        side=SideType.LEFT):
+        side=plc.strings.side_type.SideType.LEFT):
     """
     Returns a Column by padding strings in `source_strings`
     up to the given `width`. Direction of padding is to be specified by `side`.
     The additional characters being filled can be changed by specifying
     `fill_char`.
     """
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef string f_char = <string>str(fill_char).encode()
-
-    cdef side_type pad_direction = <side_type>(
-        <underlying_type_t_side_type> side
+    plc_result = plc.strings.padding.pad(
+        source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
+        width,
+        side,
+        fill_char,
     )
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_pad(
-            source_view,
-            width,
-            pad_direction,
-            f_char
-        ))
-
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
+    return Column.from_pylibcudf(plc_result)
 
 
 @acquire_spill_lock()
@@ -68,19 +35,13 @@ def zfill(Column source_strings,
     Returns a Column by prepending strings in `source_strings`
     with '0' characters up to the given `width`.
     """
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_zfill(
-            source_view,
-            width
-        ))
-
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
+    plc_result = plc.strings.padding.zfill(
+        source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
+        width
+    )
+    return Column.from_pylibcudf(plc_result)
 
 
-@acquire_spill_lock()
 def center(Column source_strings,
            size_type width,
            fill_char):
@@ -89,23 +50,9 @@ def center(Column source_strings,
     in `source_strings` with additional character, `fill_char`
     up to the given `width`.
     """
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef string f_char = <string>str(fill_char).encode()
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_pad(
-            source_view,
-            width,
-            side_type.BOTH,
-            f_char
-        ))
+    return pad(source_strings, width, fill_char, plc.strings.side_type.SideType.BOTH)
 
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
 
-
-@acquire_spill_lock()
 def ljust(Column source_strings,
           size_type width,
           fill_char):
@@ -113,23 +60,9 @@ def ljust(Column source_strings,
     Returns a Column by filling right side of strings in `source_strings`
     with additional character, `fill_char` up to the given `width`.
     """
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef string f_char = <string>str(fill_char).encode()
+    return pad(source_strings, width, fill_char, plc.strings.side_type.SideType.RIGHT)
 
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_pad(
-            source_view,
-            width,
-            side_type.RIGHT,
-            f_char
-        ))
 
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
-
-
-@acquire_spill_lock()
 def rjust(Column source_strings,
           size_type width,
           fill_char):
@@ -137,17 +70,4 @@ def rjust(Column source_strings,
     Returns a Column by filling left side of strings in `source_strings`
     with additional character, `fill_char` up to the given `width`.
     """
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef string f_char = <string>str(fill_char).encode()
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_pad(
-            source_view,
-            width,
-            side_type.LEFT,
-            f_char
-        ))
-
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
+    return pad(source_strings, width, fill_char, plc.strings.side_type.SideType.LEFT)
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/strip.pyx b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/strip.pyx
index 38ecb21a94c..982c5a600e7 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/strip.pyx
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/_lib/strings/strip.pyx
@@ -1,18 +1,8 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2020-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
-from libcpp.memory cimport unique_ptr
-from libcpp.utility cimport move
-
 from cudf.core.buffer import acquire_spill_lock
 
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.column.column cimport column
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.column.column_view cimport column_view
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.scalar.scalar cimport string_scalar
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport side_type
-from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.strip cimport strip as cpp_strip
-
 from cudf._lib.column cimport Column
-from cudf._lib.scalar cimport DeviceScalar
 import pylibcudf as plc
 
 
@@ -24,15 +14,12 @@ def strip(Column source_strings,
     The set of characters need be stripped from left and right side
     can be specified by `py_repl`.
     """
-
-    cdef DeviceScalar repl = py_repl.device_value
-    return Column.from_pylibcudf(
-        plc.strings.strip.strip(
-            source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
-            plc.strings.SideType.BOTH,
-            repl.c_value
-        )
+    plc_result = plc.strings.strip.strip(
+        source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
+        plc.strings.side_type.SideType.BOTH,
+        py_repl.device_value.c_value,
     )
+    return Column.from_pylibcudf(plc_result)
 
 
 @acquire_spill_lock()
@@ -43,24 +30,12 @@ def lstrip(Column source_strings,
     The set of characters need be stripped from left side can
     be specified by `py_repl`.
     """
-
-    cdef DeviceScalar repl = py_repl.device_value
-
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef const string_scalar* scalar_str = <const string_scalar*>(
-        repl.get_raw_ptr()
+    plc_result = plc.strings.strip.strip(
+        source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
+        plc.strings.side_type.SideType.LEFT,
+        py_repl.device_value.c_value,
     )
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_strip(
-            source_view,
-            side_type.LEFT,
-            scalar_str[0]
-        ))
-
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
+    return Column.from_pylibcudf(plc_result)
 
 
 @acquire_spill_lock()
@@ -71,21 +46,9 @@ def rstrip(Column source_strings,
     The set of characters need be stripped from right side can
     be specified by `py_repl`.
     """
-
-    cdef DeviceScalar repl = py_repl.device_value
-
-    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
-    cdef column_view source_view = source_strings.view()
-
-    cdef const string_scalar* scalar_str = <const string_scalar*>(
-        repl.get_raw_ptr()
+    plc_result = plc.strings.strip.strip(
+        source_strings.to_pylibcudf(mode="read"),
+        plc.strings.side_type.SideType.RIGHT,
+        py_repl.device_value.c_value,
     )
-
-    with nogil:
-        c_result = move(cpp_strip(
-            source_view,
-            side_type.RIGHT,
-            scalar_str[0]
-        ))
-
-    return Column.from_unique_ptr(move(c_result))
+    return Column.from_pylibcudf(plc_result)
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/string.py b/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/string.py
index da422db5eae..88df57b1b3b 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/string.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/core/column/string.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import pyarrow as pa
 
+import pylibcudf as plc
+
 import cudf
 import cudf.api.types
 from cudf import _lib as libcudf
@@ -2966,7 +2968,7 @@ def pad(
             raise TypeError(msg)
 
         try:
-            side = libstrings.SideType[side.upper()]
+            side = plc.strings.side_type.SideType[side.upper()]
         except KeyError:
             raise ValueError(
                 "side has to be either one of {'left', 'right', 'both'}"
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/padding.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/padding.pxd
index 657fe61eb14..875f8cafd14 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/padding.pxd
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/padding.pxd
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ from pylibcudf.libcudf.types cimport size_type
 cdef extern from "cudf/strings/padding.hpp" namespace "cudf::strings" nogil:
 
     cdef unique_ptr[column] pad(
-        column_view source_strings,
+        column_view input,
         size_type width,
         side_type side,
         string fill_char) except +
 
     cdef unique_ptr[column] zfill(
-        column_view source_strings,
+        column_view input,
         size_type width) except +
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/side_type.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
index 019ff3f17ba..e92c5dc1d66 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
-from libc.stdint cimport int32_t
+from libcpp cimport int
 
 
 cdef extern from "cudf/strings/side_type.hpp" namespace "cudf::strings" nogil:
 
-    cpdef enum class side_type(int32_t):
-        LEFT 'cudf::strings::side_type::LEFT'
-        RIGHT 'cudf::strings::side_type::RIGHT'
-        BOTH 'cudf::strings::side_type::BOTH'
-
-ctypedef int32_t underlying_type_t_side_type
+    cpdef enum class side_type(int):
+        LEFT
+        RIGHT
+        BOTH
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/strip.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/strip.pxd
index b0ca771762d..dd527a78e7f 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/strip.pxd
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/libcudf/strings/strip.pxd
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@ from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport side_type
 cdef extern from "cudf/strings/strip.hpp" namespace "cudf::strings" nogil:
 
     cdef unique_ptr[column] strip(
-        column_view source_strings,
-        side_type stype,
+        column_view input,
+        side_type side,
         string_scalar to_strip) except +
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/CMakeLists.txt b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/CMakeLists.txt
index d92f806efbe..fd7f79ebc5b 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ set(cython_sources
     find.pyx
     find_multiple.pyx
     findall.pyx
+    padding.pyx
     regex_flags.pyx
     regex_program.pyx
     repeat.pyx
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.pxd
index 788e2c99ab1..d0181dcb93d 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.pxd
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.pxd
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ from . cimport (
     find,
     find_multiple,
     findall,
+    padding,
     regex_flags,
     regex_program,
     replace,
+    side_type,
     slice,
     split,
     strip,
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.py b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.py
index bcaeb073d0b..3765c9d2140 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.py
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/__init__.py
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@
     find,
     find_multiple,
     findall,
+    padding,
     regex_flags,
     regex_program,
     repeat,
     replace,
+    side_type,
     slice,
     split,
     strip,
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pxd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a035a5ad187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pxd
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+
+from libcpp.string cimport string
+from pylibcudf.column cimport Column
+from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport side_type
+from pylibcudf.libcudf.types cimport size_type
+
+
+cpdef Column pad(Column input, size_type width, side_type side, str fill_char)
+
+cpdef Column zfill(Column input, size_type width)
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pyx b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pyx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..24daaaa3838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/padding.pyx
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+from libcpp.memory cimport unique_ptr
+from libcpp.utility cimport move
+from pylibcudf.column cimport Column
+from pylibcudf.libcudf.column.column cimport column
+from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings cimport padding as cpp_padding
+from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport side_type
+
+
+cpdef Column pad(Column input, size_type width, side_type side, str fill_char):
+    """
+    Add padding to each string using a provided character.
+
+    For details, see :cpp:func:`cudf::strings::pad`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    input : Column
+        Strings instance for this operation
+    width : int
+        The minimum number of characters for each string.
+    side : SideType
+        Where to place the padding characters.
+    fill_char : str
+        Single UTF-8 character to use for padding
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Column
+        New column with padded strings.
+    """
+    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
+    cdef string c_fill_char = fill_char.encode("utf-8")
+
+    with nogil:
+        c_result = move(
+            cpp_padding.pad(
+                input.view(),
+                width,
+                side,
+                c_fill_char,
+            )
+        )
+
+    return Column.from_libcudf(move(c_result))
+
+cpdef Column zfill(Column input, size_type width):
+    """
+    Add '0' as padding to the left of each string.
+
+    For details, see :cpp:func:`cudf::strings::zfill`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    input : Column
+        Strings instance for this operation
+    width : int
+        The minimum number of characters for each string.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    Column
+        New column of strings.
+    """
+    cdef unique_ptr[column] c_result
+
+    with nogil:
+        c_result = move(
+            cpp_padding.zfill(
+                input.view(),
+                width,
+            )
+        )
+
+    return Column.from_libcudf(move(c_result))
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pxd b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
index 34b7a580380..34b03e9bc27 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pxd
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
-
 from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type cimport side_type
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pyx b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pyx
index acdc7d6ff1f..cf0c770cc11 100644
--- a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pyx
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/strings/side_type.pyx
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
-
 from pylibcudf.libcudf.strings.side_type import \
     side_type as SideType  # no-cython-lint
diff --git a/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/tests/test_string_padding.py b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/tests/test_string_padding.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2ba775d17ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/pylibcudf/pylibcudf/tests/test_string_padding.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+
+import pyarrow as pa
+import pyarrow.compute as pc
+import pylibcudf as plc
+
+
+def test_pad():
+    arr = pa.array(["a", "1", None])
+    plc_result = plc.strings.padding.pad(
+        plc.interop.from_arrow(arr),
+        2,
+        plc.strings.side_type.SideType.LEFT,
+        "!",
+    )
+    result = plc.interop.to_arrow(plc_result)
+    expected = pa.chunked_array(pc.utf8_lpad(arr, 2, padding="!"))
+    assert result.equals(expected)
+
+
+def test_zfill():
+    arr = pa.array(["a", "1", None])
+    plc_result = plc.strings.padding.zfill(plc.interop.from_arrow(arr), 2)
+    result = plc.interop.to_arrow(plc_result)
+    expected = pa.chunked_array(pc.utf8_lpad(arr, 2, padding="0"))
+    assert result.equals(expected)