diff --git a/libqtile/layout/columns.py b/libqtile/layout/columns.py
index 72aee89a91..93b52dc6a0 100644
--- a/libqtile/layout/columns.py
+++ b/libqtile/layout/columns.py
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ class Columns(Layout):
             "(one of ``Columns._left`` or ``Columns._right``). "
             "Ignored if 'fair=True'.",
         ),
+        ("initial_ratio", 1, "Ratio of first column to second column."),
     ]
 
     def __init__(self, **config):
@@ -226,6 +227,16 @@ def focus(self, client: Window) -> None:
     def cc(self):
         return self.columns[self.current]
 
+    def get_ratio_widths(self):
+        # Total width is 200
+        # main + secondary = 200
+        # main = secondary * ratio
+        # secondary column is therefore 200 / (1 + ratio)
+        # main column is 200 - secondary column
+        secondary = 200 // (1 + self.initial_ratio)
+        main = 200 - secondary
+        return main, secondary
+
     def add_column(self, prepend=False):
         c = _Column(self.split, self.insert_position)
         if prepend:
@@ -233,6 +244,10 @@ def add_column(self, prepend=False):
             self.current += 1
         else:
             self.columns.append(c)
+        if len(self.columns) == 2 and not self.fair:
+            main, secondary = self.get_ratio_widths()
+            self.cc.width = main
+            c.width = secondary
         return c
 
     def remove_column(self, col):
@@ -549,12 +564,31 @@ def grow_down(self):
 
     @expose_command()
     def normalize(self):
+        """Give columns equal widths."""
         for col in self.columns:
             for client in col:
                 col.heights[client] = 100
             col.width = 100
         self.group.layout_all()
 
+    @expose_command()
+    def reset(self):
+        """Resets column widths, respecting 'initial_ratio' value."""
+        if self.initial_ratio == 1 or len(self.columns) == 1 or self.fair:
+            self.normalize()
+            return
+
+        main, secondary = self.get_ratio_widths()
+
+        if self.align == Columns._right:
+            self.columns[0].width = main
+            self.columns[1].width = secondary
+        else:
+            self.columns[-1].width = main
+            self.columns[-2].width = secondary
+
+        self.group.layout_all()
+
     def swap_column(self, src, dst):
         self.columns[src], self.columns[dst] = self.columns[dst], self.columns[src]
         self.current = dst
diff --git a/test/layouts/test_columns.py b/test/layouts/test_columns.py
index 17fc23f52e..28be305395 100644
--- a/test/layouts/test_columns.py
+++ b/test/layouts/test_columns.py
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ class ColumnsLeftAlign(ColumnsConfig):
     layouts = [layout.Columns(align=layout.Columns._left, border_width=0)]
 
 
+class ColumnsInitialRatio(ColumnsConfig):
+    layouts = [
+        layout.Columns(initial_ratio=3, border_width=0),
+        layout.Columns(initial_ratio=3, align=layout.Columns._left, border_width=0),
+    ]
+
+
 columns_config = pytest.mark.parametrize("manager", [ColumnsConfig], indirect=True)
 columns_single_border_disabled_config = pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "manager", [ColumnsSingleBorderDisabledConfig], indirect=True
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ class ColumnsLeftAlign(ColumnsConfig):
     "manager", [ColumnsSingleBorderEnabledConfig], indirect=True
 )
 columns_left_align = pytest.mark.parametrize("manager", [ColumnsLeftAlign], indirect=True)
+columns_initial_ratio = pytest.mark.parametrize("manager", [ColumnsInitialRatio], indirect=True)
 
 
 # This currently only tests the window focus cycle
@@ -229,3 +237,62 @@ def test_columns_left_align(manager):
     assert info["y"] == 0
     assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 2
     assert info["height"] == HEIGHT / 2
+
+
+@columns_initial_ratio
+def test_columns_initial_ratio_right(manager):
+    manager.test_window("1")
+    manager.test_window("2")
+
+    # initial_ratio is 3 (i.e. main column is 3 times size of secondary column)
+    # so secondary column is 1/4 of screen width
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["x"] == 3 * WIDTH / 4
+    assert info["y"] == 0
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 4
+    assert info["height"] == HEIGHT
+
+    # Growing right means secondary column is now smaller
+    manager.c.layout.grow_right()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] < WIDTH / 4
+
+    # Reset to restore initial_ratio
+    manager.c.layout.reset()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 4
+
+    # Normalize to make columns equal
+    manager.c.layout.normalize()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 2
+
+
+@columns_initial_ratio
+def test_columns_initial_ratio_left(manager):
+    manager.c.next_layout()
+    manager.test_window("1")
+    manager.test_window("2")
+
+    # initial_ratio is 3 (i.e. main column is 3 times size of secondary column)
+    # so secondary column is 1/4 of screen width
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["x"] == 0
+    assert info["y"] == 0
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 4
+    assert info["height"] == HEIGHT
+
+    # Growing right means secondary column is now smaller
+    manager.c.layout.grow_left()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] < WIDTH / 4
+
+    # Reset to restore initial_ratio
+    manager.c.layout.reset()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 4
+
+    # Normalize to make columns equal
+    manager.c.layout.normalize()
+    info = manager.c.window.info()
+    assert info["width"] == WIDTH / 2