diff --git a/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Controls/GridStyleTests.cs b/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Controls/GridStyleTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..580b5081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.WinForms.Tests/Controls/GridStyleTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+using System.Windows.Forms;
+using OpenNest.Controls;
+
+namespace OpenNest.WinForms.Tests.Controls;
+
+public class GridStyleTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void ColumnsSizeToFirstContentThenKeepTheUsersWidths() => ArchUnitsTests.RunSta(() =>
+    {
+        using var form = new Form { Width = 1200, Height = 400, ShowInTaskbar = false };
+        var grid = GridStyle.Apply(new DataGridView { Dock = DockStyle.Fill, AllowUserToAddRows = false });
+        var shortColumn = new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = "Qty", Width = 300 };
+        var longColumn = new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = "Name", Width = 40 };
+        var hugeColumn = new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = "Notes", Width = 40 };
+        grid.Columns.AddRange(shortColumn, longColumn, hugeColumn);
+        form.Controls.Add(grid);
+        form.Show();
+        Pump(grid);
+        Assert.Equal(300, shortColumn.Width); // no rows yet: nothing is measured
+
+        grid.Rows.Add("1", "A fairly long drawing name", new string('W', 200));
+        Pump(grid);
+
+        Assert.True(shortColumn.Width < 300);
+        Assert.True(longColumn.Width > 40);
+        Assert.Equal(400, hugeColumn.Width);
+        Assert.All(grid.Columns.Cast<DataGridViewColumn>(), column =>
+        {
+            Assert.Equal(DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.None, column.InheritedAutoSizeMode);
+            Assert.True(column.Resizable == DataGridViewTriState.True || column.Resizable == DataGridViewTriState.NotSet);
+        });
+
+        longColumn.Width = 77;
+        grid.Rows.Add("2", new string('X', 80), "");
+        Pump(grid);
+        Assert.Equal(77, longColumn.Width);
+    });
+
+    private static void Pump(Control control)
+    {
+        for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++)
+        {
+            control.Refresh();
+            Application.DoEvents();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest/Controls/DrawingLibraryView.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Controls/DrawingLibraryView.Designer.cs
index edc7bcca..0a76554f 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Controls/DrawingLibraryView.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Controls/DrawingLibraryView.Designer.cs
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls
             //
             // nestNameColumn
             //
-            nestNameColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            nestNameColumn.Width = 240;
             nestNameColumn.HeaderText = "Name";
             nestNameColumn.MinimumWidth = 160;
             nestNameColumn.Name = "nestNameColumn";
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls
             //
             // nameColumn
             //
-            nameColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            nameColumn.Width = 240;
             nameColumn.HeaderText = "Name";
             nameColumn.MinimumWidth = 160;
             nameColumn.Name = "nameColumn";
diff --git a/OpenNest/Controls/GridStyle.cs b/OpenNest/Controls/GridStyle.cs
index c52f4e44..38f6c611 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Controls/GridStyle.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Controls/GridStyle.cs
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls;
 /// <summary>
 /// The shared look of every <see cref="DataGridView"/> in the desktop app, taken from the
 /// database nest browser: flat light headers, faint grid lines, a soft blue selection and
-/// fixed row heights. Behaviour (editing, selection mode, column sizing) stays with each grid.
+/// fixed row heights. Columns size once to their first content and are then the user's to
+/// resize. Other behaviour (editing, selection mode) stays with each grid.
 /// </summary>
 public static class GridStyle
 {
     public const int RowHeight = 22;
+    private const int MaxInitialColumnWidth = 400;
 
     private static readonly Color HeaderBackColor = Color.FromArgb(245, 245, 245);
     private static readonly Color HeaderForeColor = Color.FromArgb(90, 90, 90);
@@ -42,6 +44,35 @@ public static class GridStyle
         grid.RowHeadersDefaultCellStyle.SelectionBackColor = SelectionBackColor;
         grid.RowHeadersDefaultCellStyle.SelectionForeColor = Color.Black;
         grid.RowHeadersDefaultCellStyle.Alignment = DataGridViewContentAlignment.MiddleRight;
+        SizeColumnsOnceToContent(grid);
         return grid;
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Widens each column to fit its header and the rows first shown, once, then leaves the
+    /// widths to the user. Columns never stretch to fill the grid.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void SizeColumnsOnceToContent(DataGridView grid)
+    {
+        // The first paint with rows is the first time they are on screen to be measured. The
+        // empty new-row placeholder does not count: a grid that starts empty keeps its widths
+        // until it has content.
+        void OnPaint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
+        {
+            var newRowShown = grid.NewRowIndex >= 0 && grid.Rows[grid.NewRowIndex].Displayed;
+            if (grid.DisplayedRowCount(false) - (newRowShown ? 1 : 0) <= 0)
+                return;
+            grid.Paint -= OnPaint;
+            grid.BeginInvoke(() =>
+            {
+                if (grid.IsDisposed)
+                    return;
+                grid.AutoResizeColumns(DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.DisplayedCells);
+                foreach (DataGridViewColumn column in grid.Columns)
+                    column.Width = System.Math.Min(column.Width, MaxInitialColumnWidth);
+            });
+        }
+
+        grid.Paint += OnPaint;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/OpenNest/Controls/PostSettingsEditor.cs b/OpenNest/Controls/PostSettingsEditor.cs
index 0c220428..b3b062a5 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Controls/PostSettingsEditor.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Controls/PostSettingsEditor.cs
@@ -258,14 +258,13 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls
                 Height = 200,
                 AllowUserToAddRows = true,
                 AllowUserToDeleteRows = true,
-                AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill,
                 RowHeadersWidth = 28,
                 SelectionMode = DataGridViewSelectionMode.FullRowSelect,
                 MultiSelect = true,
                 Margin = new Padding(0, 4, 0, 0),
             });
-            table.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = field.KeyHeader, FillWeight = 65 });
-            table.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = field.ValueHeader, FillWeight = 35 });
+            table.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = field.KeyHeader, Width = 260 });
+            table.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn { HeaderText = field.ValueHeader, Width = 140 });
 
             if (map != null)
             {
diff --git a/OpenNest/Controls/SetReleasesView.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Controls/SetReleasesView.Designer.cs
index ca62f8cc..0b249f98 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Controls/SetReleasesView.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Controls/SetReleasesView.Designer.cs
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Controls
             releaseNotesColumn.HeaderText = "Notes";
             releaseNotesColumn.Name = "releaseNotesColumn";
             releaseNotesColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
-            releaseNotesColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            releaseNotesColumn.Width = 300;
             //
             // nestsGroup
             //
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/AddReleaseDrawingsForm.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/AddReleaseDrawingsForm.Designer.cs
index 1247027b..6eed9121 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/AddReleaseDrawingsForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/AddReleaseDrawingsForm.Designer.cs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // libraryCustomerColumn
             //
-            libraryCustomerColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            libraryCustomerColumn.Width = 150;
             libraryCustomerColumn.HeaderText = "Customer";
             libraryCustomerColumn.MinimumWidth = 60;
             libraryCustomerColumn.Name = "libraryCustomerColumn";
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/BomImportForm.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/BomImportForm.Designer.cs
index eb7ddcc0..75976651 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/BomImportForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/BomImportForm.Designer.cs
@@ -270,7 +270,6 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             dgvParts.AllowUserToAddRows = false;
             dgvParts.AllowUserToDeleteRows = false;
-            dgvParts.AutoSizeColumnsMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill;
             dgvParts.Columns.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn[] { colItemNum, colFileName, colDescription, colMaterial, colThickness, colQty, colStatus });
             dgvParts.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;
             dgvParts.Name = "dgvParts";
@@ -288,7 +287,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // colItemNum
             //
             colItemNum.DataPropertyName = "ItemNum";
-            colItemNum.FillWeight = 40F;
+            colItemNum.Width = 60;
             colItemNum.HeaderText = "Item #";
             colItemNum.Name = "colItemNum";
             colItemNum.ReadOnly = true;
@@ -297,7 +296,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // colFileName
             //
             colFileName.DataPropertyName = "FileName";
-            colFileName.FillWeight = 120F;
+            colFileName.Width = 180;
             colFileName.HeaderText = "File Name";
             colFileName.Name = "colFileName";
             colFileName.ReadOnly = true;
@@ -306,7 +305,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // colDescription
             //
             colDescription.DataPropertyName = "Description";
-            colDescription.FillWeight = 150F;
+            colDescription.Width = 220;
             colDescription.HeaderText = "Description";
             colDescription.Name = "colDescription";
             colDescription.ReadOnly = true;
@@ -315,7 +314,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // colMaterial
             //
             colMaterial.DataPropertyName = "Material";
-            colMaterial.FillWeight = 110F;
+            colMaterial.Width = 140;
             colMaterial.HeaderText = "Material";
             colMaterial.Name = "colMaterial";
             colMaterial.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
@@ -327,7 +326,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             thicknessCellStyle.Format = "0.####";
             colThickness.DataPropertyName = "Thickness";
             colThickness.DefaultCellStyle = thicknessCellStyle;
-            colThickness.FillWeight = 70F;
+            colThickness.Width = 80;
             colThickness.HeaderText = "Thickness";
             colThickness.Name = "colThickness";
             colThickness.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
@@ -338,7 +337,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             qtyCellStyle.DataSourceNullValue = null;
             colQty.DataPropertyName = "Qty";
             colQty.DefaultCellStyle = qtyCellStyle;
-            colQty.FillWeight = 50F;
+            colQty.Width = 60;
             colQty.HeaderText = "Qty";
             colQty.Name = "colQty";
             colQty.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
@@ -346,7 +345,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // colStatus
             //
             colStatus.DataPropertyName = "StatusText";
-            colStatus.FillWeight = 100F;
+            colStatus.Width = 140;
             colStatus.HeaderText = "Status";
             colStatus.Name = "colStatus";
             colStatus.ReadOnly = true;
@@ -363,7 +362,6 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             dgvGroups.AllowUserToAddRows = false;
             dgvGroups.AllowUserToDeleteRows = false;
-            dgvGroups.AutoSizeColumnsMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill;
             dgvGroups.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;
             dgvGroups.Name = "dgvGroups";
             dgvGroups.RowHeadersVisible = false;
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/CuttingInspectionPanel.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/CuttingInspectionPanel.cs
index 5ee0f705..fb4ff9cf 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/CuttingInspectionPanel.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/CuttingInspectionPanel.cs
@@ -212,17 +212,15 @@ internal sealed class CuttingInspectionPanel : UserControl
             warningGrid.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn
             {
                 HeaderText = name,
-                Width = 48,
+                Width = name is "Issue" or "Status" ? 260 : 48,
                 SortMode = DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable,
-                AutoSizeMode = name == "Issue" ? DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill : DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.None
             });
         foreach (var name in new[] { "Plate", "Part", "Status" })
             partsGrid.Columns.Add(new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn
             {
                 HeaderText = name,
-                Width = 48,
+                Width = name is "Issue" or "Status" ? 260 : 48,
                 SortMode = DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable,
-                AutoSizeMode = name == "Status" ? DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill : DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.None
             });
         Padding = new Padding(10);
         planButton.Click += (_, _) => StartCurrentMode();
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/EditDrawingSetForm.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/EditDrawingSetForm.Designer.cs
index 82b2f8ee..09ebc899 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/EditDrawingSetForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/EditDrawingSetForm.Designer.cs
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // libraryCustomerColumn
             //
-            libraryCustomerColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            libraryCustomerColumn.Width = 120;
             libraryCustomerColumn.HeaderText = "Customer";
             libraryCustomerColumn.MinimumWidth = 60;
             libraryCustomerColumn.Name = "libraryCustomerColumn";
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // warningColumn
             //
-            warningColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            warningColumn.Width = 200;
             warningColumn.HeaderText = "Note";
             warningColumn.MinimumWidth = 60;
             warningColumn.Name = "warningColumn";
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/ImportBomToSetForm.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/ImportBomToSetForm.Designer.cs
index b86ba0a7..4b7370e0 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/ImportBomToSetForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/ImportBomToSetForm.Designer.cs
@@ -190,7 +190,6 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             drawingGrid.AllowUserToAddRows = false;
             drawingGrid.AllowUserToDeleteRows = false;
             drawingGrid.AllowUserToResizeRows = false;
-            drawingGrid.AutoSizeColumnsMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill;
             drawingGrid.ColumnHeadersHeightSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnHeadersHeightSizeMode.AutoSize;
             drawingGrid.Columns.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumn[] { drawingColumn, materialColumn, thicknessColumn, quantityColumn, libraryColumn, noteColumn });
             drawingGrid.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;
@@ -203,21 +202,21 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // drawingColumn
             //
-            drawingColumn.FillWeight = 130F;
+            drawingColumn.Width = 180;
             drawingColumn.HeaderText = "Drawing";
             drawingColumn.Name = "drawingColumn";
             drawingColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
             //
             // materialColumn
             //
-            materialColumn.FillWeight = 80F;
+            materialColumn.Width = 120;
             materialColumn.HeaderText = "Material";
             materialColumn.Name = "materialColumn";
             materialColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
             //
             // thicknessColumn
             //
-            thicknessColumn.FillWeight = 50F;
+            thicknessColumn.Width = 80;
             thicknessColumn.HeaderText = "Thickness";
             thicknessColumn.Name = "thicknessColumn";
             thicknessColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
@@ -225,7 +224,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // quantityColumn
             //
             quantityColumn.DefaultCellStyle = new System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCellStyle { Alignment = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewContentAlignment.MiddleRight };
-            quantityColumn.FillWeight = 40F;
+            quantityColumn.Width = 60;
             quantityColumn.HeaderText = "Qty";
             quantityColumn.Name = "quantityColumn";
             quantityColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
@@ -233,14 +232,14 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // libraryColumn
             //
-            libraryColumn.FillWeight = 120F;
+            libraryColumn.Width = 180;
             libraryColumn.HeaderText = "Drawing library";
             libraryColumn.Name = "libraryColumn";
             libraryColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
             //
             // noteColumn
             //
-            noteColumn.FillWeight = 120F;
+            noteColumn.Width = 200;
             noteColumn.HeaderText = "Note";
             noteColumn.Name = "noteColumn";
             noteColumn.SortMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewColumnSortMode.NotSortable;
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/OptionsForm.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/OptionsForm.cs
index e790cbf8..291fb12d 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/OptionsForm.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/OptionsForm.cs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
                     Name = "Name",
                     HeaderText = "Strategy",
                     ReadOnly = true,
-                    AutoSizeMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill,
+                    Width = 220,
                 }
             );
 
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/ReleaseSetForm.Designer.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/ReleaseSetForm.Designer.cs
index 81e11031..7c61ec6e 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/ReleaseSetForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/ReleaseSetForm.Designer.cs
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // setNameColumn
             //
-            setNameColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            setNameColumn.Width = 260;
             setNameColumn.HeaderText = "Set or drawing";
             setNameColumn.Name = "setNameColumn";
             setNameColumn.ReadOnly = true;
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             //
             // statusColumn
             //
-            statusColumn.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.Fill;
+            statusColumn.Width = 200;
             statusColumn.HeaderText = "Status";
             statusColumn.Name = "statusColumn";
             statusColumn.ReadOnly = true;