diff --git a/lib/caracal/core/models/table_model.rb b/lib/caracal/core/models/table_model.rb
index 2f41a22e..5949a3c0 100644
--- a/lib/caracal/core/models/table_model.rb
+++ b/lib/caracal/core/models/table_model.rb
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class TableModel < BaseModel
         attr_reader :table_border_right       # returns border model
         attr_reader :table_border_horizontal  # returns border model
         attr_reader :table_border_vertical    # returns border model
+        attr_reader :table_column_widths
         
         # initialization
         def initialize(options={}, &block)
@@ -148,6 +149,11 @@ def cell_style(models, options={})
             instance_variable_set("@table_#{ m }", value.to_s.to_sym)
           end
         end
+
+        # column widths
+        def column_widths(value)
+          @table_column_widths = value.map(&:to_i) if value.is_a?(Array)
+        end
         
         # .data
         def data(value)
@@ -196,6 +202,7 @@ def option_keys
           k << [:data, :align, :width]
           k << [:border_color, :border_line, :border_size, :border_spacing]
           k << [:border_bottom, :border_left, :border_right, :border_top, :border_horizontal, :border_vertical]
+          k << [:column_widths]
           k.flatten
         end
         
diff --git a/lib/caracal/renderers/document_renderer.rb b/lib/caracal/renderers/document_renderer.rb
index 5b14b3fb..83771124 100644
--- a/lib/caracal/renderers/document_renderer.rb
+++ b/lib/caracal/renderers/document_renderer.rb
@@ -332,17 +332,19 @@ def render_table(xml, model)
             xml['w'].tblLook({ 'w:val'  => '0600'  })
           end
           xml['w'].tblGrid do
-            model.rows.first.each do |tc|
-              (tc.cell_colspan || 1).times do
-                xml['w'].gridCol({ 'w:w' => tc.cell_width })
-              end
+            column_widths = model.table_column_widths
+            column_widths ||= model.rows.first.map do |tc|
+              [tc.cell_width] * (tc.cell_colspan || 1)
+            end.flatten
+
+            column_widths.each do |width|
+              xml['w'].gridCol({ 'w:w' => width })
             end
+
             xml['w'].tblGridChange({ 'w:id' => '0' }) do
               xml['w'].tblGrid do
-                model.rows.first.each do |tc|
-                  (tc.cell_colspan || 1).times do
-                    xml['w'].gridCol({ 'w:w' => tc.cell_width })
-                  end
+                column_widths.each do |width|
+                  xml['w'].gridCol({ 'w:w' => width })
                 end
               end
             end