diff --git a/src/data-table/__tests__/data-table-row-height.scenario.js b/src/data-table/__tests__/data-table-row-height.scenario.js
index 033521f901..b2a0e1ce22 100644
--- a/src/data-table/__tests__/data-table-row-height.scenario.js
+++ b/src/data-table/__tests__/data-table-row-height.scenario.js
@@ -23,9 +23,15 @@ const loremIpsum = `"We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp,
 const columns = [
   StringColumn({
     title: 'Name',
-    minWidth: 300,
+    minWidth: 250,
     mapDataToValue: (data: RowDataT) => data.Name,
   }),
+  StringColumn({
+    title: 'Vertically Center',
+    minWidth: 250,
+    mapDataToValue: (data: RowDataT) => data.Name,
+    cellBlockAlign: 'center',
+  }),
   StringColumn({
     title: 'Long Text',
     maxWidth: 300,
diff --git a/src/data-table/cell-shell.js b/src/data-table/cell-shell.js
deleted file mode 100644
index ac8b746e4b..0000000000
--- a/src/data-table/cell-shell.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright (c) 2018-2020 Uber Technologies, Inc.
-
-This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
-LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-*/
-// @flow
-
-import * as React from 'react';
-
-import {Checkbox} from '../checkbox/index.js';
-import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
-
-type PropsT = {|
-  children: React.Node,
-  isMeasured?: boolean,
-  isSelected?: boolean,
-  onSelect?: () => void,
-|};
-
-const CellShell = React.forwardRef<PropsT, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
-  const [css, theme] = useStyletron();
-
-  return (
-    <div
-      ref={ref}
-      className={css({
-        ...theme.typography.font100,
-        boxSizing: 'border-box',
-        color: theme.colors.contentPrimary,
-        display: props.isMeasured ? 'inline-block' : null,
-        paddingTop: theme.sizing.scale300,
-        paddingLeft: theme.sizing.scale500,
-        paddingBottom: theme.sizing.scale300,
-        paddingRight: theme.sizing.scale500,
-        width: props.isMeasured ? null : '100%',
-      })}
-    >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          display: 'flex',
-          alignItems: 'center',
-        })}
-      >
-        {Boolean(props.onSelect) && (
-          <Checkbox
-            onChange={props.onSelect}
-            checked={props.isSelected}
-            overrides={{
-              Checkmark: {style: {marginTop: null, marginBottom: null}},
-            }}
-          />
-        )}
-        {props.children}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-});
-CellShell.displayName = 'CellShell';
-
-export default CellShell;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-anchor.js b/src/data-table/column-anchor.js
index 99786b0d27..de350672ea 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-anchor.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-anchor.js
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 import {StyledLink} from '../link/index.js';
 import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS} from './constants.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 
 type ValueT = {content: string, href: string};
 
@@ -23,13 +23,8 @@ type ReplacementElementAs = React.AbstractComponent<{|
 |}>;
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<ValueT>,
   elementAs?: ReplacementElementAs | string,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => ValueT,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 type FilterParametersT = {};
@@ -40,54 +35,47 @@ function AnchorFilter(props) {
   return <div>not implemented for anchor column</div>;
 }
 
-const AnchorCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function AnchorCell(props) {
   const [css] = useStyletron();
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        display: '-webkit-box',
+        WebkitLineClamp: 1,
+        WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
+        overflow: 'hidden',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          display: '-webkit-box',
-          WebkitLineClamp: 1,
-          WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
-          overflow: 'hidden',
-        })}
-      >
-        <StyledLink $as={props.elementAs} href={props.value.href}>
-          {props.value.content}
-        </StyledLink>
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      <StyledLink $as={props.elementAs} href={props.value.href}>
+        {props.value.content}
+      </StyledLink>
+    </div>
   );
-});
-AnchorCell.displayName = 'AnchorCell';
+}
 
 function AnchorColumn(options: OptionsT): AnchorColumnT {
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.ANCHOR,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
         return true;
       };
     },
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     filterable: false,
     mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
     maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
     minWidth: options.minWidth,
-    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
-      return <AnchorCell {...props} ref={ref} elementAs={options.elementAs} />;
-    }),
+    renderCell: function RenderAnchorCell(props) {
+      return <AnchorCell {...props} elementAs={options.elementAs} />;
+    },
     renderFilter: AnchorFilter,
     sortable: options.sortable === undefined ? true : options.sortable,
     sortFn: function(a, b) {
       return a.content.localeCompare(b.content);
     },
     title: options.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default AnchorColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-boolean.js b/src/data-table/column-boolean.js
index 3e7ae1080b..bd8b7916fd 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-boolean.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-boolean.js
@@ -10,20 +10,15 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 
 import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
 import {CategoricalFilter} from './column-categorical.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS} from './constants.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 import {LocaleContext} from '../locale/index.js';
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<boolean>,
   filterable?: boolean,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => boolean,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 type FilterParametersT = {|
@@ -82,34 +77,26 @@ function BooleanFilter(props) {
   );
 }
 
-const BooleanCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function BooleanCell(props) {
   const [css, theme] = useStyletron();
   const locale = React.useContext(LocaleContext);
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        textAlign: props.value ? 'right' : 'left',
+        minWidth: theme.sizing.scale1400,
+        width: '100%',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          textAlign: props.value ? 'right' : 'left',
-          minWidth: theme.sizing.scale1400,
-          width: '100%',
-        })}
-      >
-        {props.value
-          ? locale.datatable.booleanColumnTrueShort
-          : locale.datatable.booleanColumnFalseShort}
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      {props.value
+        ? locale.datatable.booleanColumnTrueShort
+        : locale.datatable.booleanColumnFalseShort}
+    </div>
   );
-});
-BooleanCell.displayName = 'BooleanCell';
+}
 
 function BooleanColumn(options: OptionsT): BooleanColumnT {
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.BOOLEAN,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
@@ -117,6 +104,7 @@ function BooleanColumn(options: OptionsT): BooleanColumnT {
         return params.exclude ? !included : included;
       };
     },
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     filterable: options.filterable === undefined ? true : options.filterable,
     mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
     maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
@@ -129,7 +117,7 @@ function BooleanColumn(options: OptionsT): BooleanColumnT {
       return a ? -1 : 1;
     },
     title: options.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default BooleanColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-categorical.js b/src/data-table/column-categorical.js
index 60e57cc6f6..ed3f267f15 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-categorical.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-categorical.js
@@ -16,21 +16,16 @@ import {Input, SIZE as INPUT_SIZE} from '../input/index.js';
 import {useStyletron, withStyle} from '../styles/index.js';
 import {Label3} from '../typography/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS} from './constants.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 import {LocaleContext} from '../locale/index.js';
 import FilterShell from './filter-shell.js';
 import {matchesQuery, splitByQuery, HighlightCellText} from './text-search.js';
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<string>,
   filterable?: boolean,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => string,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 type FilterParametersT = {|
@@ -219,36 +214,28 @@ export function CategoricalFilter(props: CategoricalFilterProps) {
   );
 }
 
-const CategoricalCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function CategoricalCell(props) {
   const [css] = useStyletron();
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        display: '-webkit-box',
+        WebkitLineClamp: 1,
+        WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
+        overflow: 'hidden',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          display: '-webkit-box',
-          WebkitLineClamp: 1,
-          WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
-          overflow: 'hidden',
-        })}
-      >
-        {props.textQuery ? (
-          <HighlightCellText text={props.value} query={props.textQuery} />
-        ) : (
-          props.value
-        )}
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      {props.textQuery ? (
+        <HighlightCellText text={props.value} query={props.textQuery} />
+      ) : (
+        props.value
+      )}
+    </div>
   );
-});
-CategoricalCell.displayName = 'CategoricalCell';
+}
 
 function CategoricalColumn(options: OptionsT): CategoricalColumnT {
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.CATEGORICAL,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
@@ -256,6 +243,7 @@ function CategoricalColumn(options: OptionsT): CategoricalColumnT {
         return params.exclude ? !included : included;
       };
     },
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     textQueryFilter: function(textQuery, data) {
       return data.toLowerCase().includes(textQuery.toLowerCase());
     },
@@ -270,7 +258,7 @@ function CategoricalColumn(options: OptionsT): CategoricalColumnT {
       return a.localeCompare(b);
     },
     title: options.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default CategoricalColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-custom.js b/src/data-table/column-custom.js
index 88f0d53ffd..728635bbeb 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-custom.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-custom.js
@@ -8,18 +8,15 @@ LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
 
 import * as React from 'react';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS} from './constants.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 
 // I could not re-use the ColumnT type to build this.. tried to spread the ColumnT
 // and define renderFilter, etc. to optional, but required status was maintained.
 type OptionsT<ValueT, FilterParamsT> = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<ValueT>,
   filterable?: boolean,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => ValueT,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
   renderCell: React.ComponentType<{value: ValueT, isMeasured?: boolean}>,
   renderFilter?: React.ComponentType<{|
     close: () => void,
@@ -29,43 +26,13 @@ type OptionsT<ValueT, FilterParamsT> = {|
   |}>,
   buildFilter?: FilterParamsT => ValueT => boolean,
   textQueryFilter?: (string, ValueT) => boolean,
-  sortable?: boolean,
   sortFn?: (ValueT, ValueT) => number,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 function CustomColumn<ValueT, FilterParamsT>(
   options: OptionsT<ValueT, FilterParamsT>,
 ): ColumnT<ValueT, FilterParamsT> {
-  return {
-    kind: COLUMNS.CUSTOM,
-    buildFilter: options.buildFilter || (() => () => true),
-    textQueryFilter: options.textQueryFilter,
-    filterable:
-      Boolean(options.filterable) &&
-      Boolean(options.renderFilter) &&
-      Boolean(options.buildFilter),
-    mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
-    maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
-    minWidth: options.minWidth,
-    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
-      const ProvidedCell = options.renderCell;
-      return (
-        <CellShell
-          ref={ref}
-          isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-          isSelected={props.isSelected}
-          onSelect={props.onSelect}
-        >
-          <ProvidedCell value={props.value} />
-        </CellShell>
-      );
-    }),
-    renderFilter: options.renderFilter || (() => null),
-    sortable: Boolean(options.sortable) && Boolean(options.sortFn),
-    sortFn: options.sortFn || (() => 0),
-    title: options.title,
-  };
+  return Column({kind: COLUMNS.CUSTOM, ...options});
 }
 
 export default CustomColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-datetime.js b/src/data-table/column-datetime.js
index 903deba709..43a1d0118a 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-datetime.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-datetime.js
@@ -34,22 +34,17 @@ import {TimePicker} from '../timepicker/index.js';
 import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
 import {Select, type ValueT} from '../select/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS, DATETIME_OPERATIONS} from './constants.js';
 import FilterShell from './filter-shell.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 import {LocaleContext} from '../locale/index.js';
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<Date>,
   filterable?: boolean,
   formatString?: string,
   // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => Date,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
   locale?: any,
 |};
 
@@ -583,31 +578,22 @@ function DatetimeFilter(props) {
   );
 }
 
-const DatetimeCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function DatetimeCell(props) {
   const [css, theme] = useStyletron();
-
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        ...theme.typography.MonoParagraphXSmall,
+        display: 'flex',
+        justifyContent: 'flex-end',
+        width: '100%',
+        whiteSpace: 'nowrap',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          ...theme.typography.MonoParagraphXSmall,
-          display: 'flex',
-          justifyContent: 'flex-end',
-          width: '100%',
-          whiteSpace: 'nowrap',
-        })}
-      >
-        {format(props.value, props.formatString)}
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      {format(props.value, props.formatString)}
+    </div>
   );
-});
-DatetimeCell.displayName = 'DatetimeCell';
+}
 
 const defaultOptions = {
   title: '',
@@ -622,7 +608,7 @@ function DatetimeColumn(options: OptionsT): DatetimeColumnT {
     ...options,
   };
 
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.DATETIME,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
@@ -670,22 +656,19 @@ function DatetimeColumn(options: OptionsT): DatetimeColumnT {
         return params.exclude ? !included : included;
       };
     },
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     filterable: normalizedOptions.filterable,
     mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
     maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
     minWidth: options.minWidth,
-    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
+    renderCell: function RenderDatetimeCell(props) {
       return (
         <DatetimeCell
-          ref={ref}
-          isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-          isSelected={props.isSelected}
-          onSelect={props.onSelect}
           value={props.value}
           formatString={normalizedOptions.formatString}
         />
       );
-    }),
+    },
     renderFilter: function RenderDatetimeFilter(props) {
       return <DatetimeFilter {...props} locale={options.locale} />;
     },
@@ -693,7 +676,7 @@ function DatetimeColumn(options: OptionsT): DatetimeColumnT {
     sortFn: sortDates,
 
     title: options.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default DatetimeColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-numerical.js b/src/data-table/column-numerical.js
index 6f9474f7fa..0d3161e14c 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-numerical.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-numerical.js
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import {Input, SIZE as INPUT_SIZE} from '../input/index.js';
 import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
 import {Paragraph4} from '../typography/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS, NUMERICAL_FORMATS, NUMERICAL_OPERATIONS} from './constants.js';
 import FilterShell from './filter-shell.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 import {LocaleContext} from '../locale/index.js';
 
 type NumericalFormats =
@@ -33,16 +33,11 @@ type NumericalOperations =
   | typeof NUMERICAL_OPERATIONS.LTE;
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<number>,
   filterable?: boolean,
   format?: NumericalFormats | ((value: number) => string),
   highlight?: number => boolean,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => number,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
   precision?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 type FilterParametersT = {|
@@ -431,35 +426,27 @@ function NumericalFilter(props) {
   );
 }
 
-const NumericalCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function NumericalCell(props) {
   const [css, theme] = useStyletron();
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        ...theme.typography.MonoParagraphXSmall,
+        display: 'flex',
+        justifyContent: theme.direction !== 'rtl' ? 'flex-end' : 'flex-start',
+        color: props.highlight(props.value)
+          ? theme.colors.contentNegative
+          : null,
+        width: '100%',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          ...theme.typography.MonoParagraphXSmall,
-          display: 'flex',
-          justifyContent: theme.direction !== 'rtl' ? 'flex-end' : 'flex-start',
-          color: props.highlight(props.value)
-            ? theme.colors.contentNegative
-            : null,
-          width: '100%',
-        })}
-      >
-        {format(props.value, {
-          format: props.format,
-          precision: props.precision,
-        })}
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      {format(props.value, {
+        format: props.format,
+        precision: props.precision,
+      })}
+    </div>
   );
-});
-NumericalCell.displayName = 'NumericalCell';
+}
 
 const defaultOptions = {
   title: '',
@@ -490,7 +477,7 @@ function NumericalColumn(options: OptionsT): NumericalColumnT {
     normalizedOptions.highlight = (n: number) => (n < 0: boolean);
   }
 
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.NUMERICAL,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
@@ -515,24 +502,21 @@ function NumericalColumn(options: OptionsT): NumericalColumnT {
         return params.exclude ? !included : included;
       };
     },
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     filterable: normalizedOptions.filterable,
     mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
     maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
     minWidth: options.minWidth,
-    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
+    renderCell: function RenderNumericalCell(props) {
       return (
         <NumericalCell
-          ref={ref}
-          isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-          isSelected={props.isSelected}
-          onSelect={props.onSelect}
-          value={props.value}
+          {...props}
           format={normalizedOptions.format}
           highlight={normalizedOptions.highlight}
           precision={normalizedOptions.precision}
         />
       );
-    }),
+    },
     renderFilter: function RenderNumericalFilter(props) {
       return <NumericalFilter {...props} options={normalizedOptions} />;
     },
@@ -541,7 +525,7 @@ function NumericalColumn(options: OptionsT): NumericalColumnT {
       return a - b;
     },
     title: normalizedOptions.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default NumericalColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column-string.js b/src/data-table/column-string.js
index 9720bed613..2b65fc4e64 100644
--- a/src/data-table/column-string.js
+++ b/src/data-table/column-string.js
@@ -10,19 +10,14 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 
 import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
 
-import CellShell from './cell-shell.js';
+import Column from './column.js';
 import {COLUMNS} from './constants.js';
 import {HighlightCellText} from './text-search.js';
-import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+import type {ColumnT, SharedColumnOptionsT} from './types.js';
 
 type OptionsT = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<string>,
   lineClamp?: number,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => string,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
-  sortable?: boolean,
-  title: string,
 |};
 
 type FilterParametersT = {|
@@ -36,37 +31,30 @@ function StringFilter(props) {
   return <div>not implemented for string column</div>;
 }
 
-const StringCell = React.forwardRef<_, HTMLDivElement>((props, ref) => {
+function StringCell(props) {
   const [css] = useStyletron();
   return (
-    <CellShell
-      ref={ref}
-      isMeasured={props.isMeasured}
-      isSelected={props.isSelected}
-      onSelect={props.onSelect}
+    <div
+      className={css({
+        display: '-webkit-box',
+        WebkitLineClamp: props.lineClamp || 1,
+        WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
+        overflow: 'hidden',
+      })}
     >
-      <div
-        className={css({
-          display: '-webkit-box',
-          WebkitLineClamp: props.lineClamp || 1,
-          WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
-          overflow: 'hidden',
-        })}
-      >
-        {props.textQuery ? (
-          <HighlightCellText text={props.value} query={props.textQuery} />
-        ) : (
-          props.value
-        )}
-      </div>
-    </CellShell>
+      {props.textQuery ? (
+        <HighlightCellText text={props.value} query={props.textQuery} />
+      ) : (
+        props.value
+      )}
+    </div>
   );
-});
-StringCell.displayName = 'StringCell';
+}
 
 function StringColumn(options: OptionsT): StringColumnT {
-  return {
+  return Column({
     kind: COLUMNS.STRING,
+    cellBlockAlign: options.cellBlockAlign,
     buildFilter: function(params) {
       return function(data) {
         return true;
@@ -79,16 +67,16 @@ function StringColumn(options: OptionsT): StringColumnT {
     mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
     maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
     minWidth: options.minWidth,
-    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
-      return <StringCell {...props} ref={ref} lineClamp={options.lineClamp} />;
-    }),
+    renderCell: function RenderStringCell(props) {
+      return <StringCell {...props} lineClamp={options.lineClamp} />;
+    },
     renderFilter: StringFilter,
     sortable: options.sortable === undefined ? true : options.sortable,
     sortFn: function(a, b) {
       return a.localeCompare(b);
     },
     title: options.title,
-  };
+  });
 }
 
 export default StringColumn;
diff --git a/src/data-table/column.js b/src/data-table/column.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3108ab1e80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/data-table/column.js
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+Copyright (c) 2018-2020 Uber Technologies, Inc.
+
+This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+*/
+// @flow
+
+import * as React from 'react';
+
+import {Checkbox} from '../checkbox/index.js';
+import {useStyletron} from '../styles/index.js';
+
+import type {ColumnT} from './types.js';
+
+function Column<ValueT, FilterParamsT>(
+  options: ColumnT<ValueT, FilterParamsT>,
+): ColumnT<ValueT, FilterParamsT> {
+  return {
+    kind: options.kind,
+    buildFilter: options.buildFilter || (() => () => true),
+    textQueryFilter: options.textQueryFilter,
+    filterable:
+      Boolean(options.filterable) &&
+      Boolean(options.renderFilter) &&
+      Boolean(options.buildFilter),
+    mapDataToValue: options.mapDataToValue,
+    maxWidth: options.maxWidth,
+    minWidth: options.minWidth,
+    renderCell: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
+      const [css, theme] = useStyletron();
+      const ProvidedCell = options.renderCell;
+
+      let cellBlockAlign = 'flex-start';
+      if (options.cellBlockAlign === 'center') {
+        cellBlockAlign = 'center';
+      } else if (options.cellBlockAlign === 'end') {
+        cellBlockAlign = 'flex-end';
+      }
+
+      return (
+        <div
+          ref={ref}
+          className={css({
+            ...theme.typography.font100,
+            boxSizing: 'border-box',
+            color: theme.colors.contentPrimary,
+            display: props.isMeasured ? 'inline-block' : null,
+            height: '100%',
+            paddingTop: theme.sizing.scale300,
+            paddingLeft: theme.sizing.scale500,
+            paddingBottom: theme.sizing.scale300,
+            paddingRight: theme.sizing.scale500,
+            width: props.isMeasured ? null : '100%',
+          })}
+        >
+          <div
+            className={css({
+              alignItems: cellBlockAlign,
+              display: 'flex',
+              height: '100%',
+            })}
+          >
+            {Boolean(props.onSelect) && (
+              <Checkbox
+                onChange={props.onSelect}
+                checked={props.isSelected}
+                overrides={{
+                  Checkmark: {style: {marginTop: null, marginBottom: null}},
+                }}
+              />
+            )}
+            <ProvidedCell textQuery={props.textQuery} value={props.value} />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      );
+    }),
+    renderFilter: options.renderFilter || (() => null),
+    sortable: Boolean(options.sortable) && Boolean(options.sortFn),
+    sortFn: options.sortFn || (() => 0),
+    title: options.title,
+  };
+}
+
+export default Column;
diff --git a/src/data-table/types.js b/src/data-table/types.js
index 6cdaba0947..fcd964fec2 100644
--- a/src/data-table/types.js
+++ b/src/data-table/types.js
@@ -24,14 +24,24 @@ export type ColumnsT =
   | typeof COLUMNS.NUMERICAL
   | typeof COLUMNS.STRING;
 
+// These options are available on all column kinds. Most have additional
+// unique options depending on the data visualization requirements.
+export type SharedColumnOptionsT<ValueT> = {|
+  cellBlockAlign?: 'start' | 'center' | 'end',
+  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
+  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => ValueT,
+  maxWidth?: number,
+  minWidth?: number,
+  sortable?: boolean,
+  title: string,
+|};
+
 // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
 export type ColumnT<ValueT = any, FilterParamsT = any> = {|
+  ...SharedColumnOptionsT<ValueT>,
   kind: ColumnsT,
-  title: string,
   sortable: boolean,
   filterable: boolean,
-  // eslint-disable-next-line flowtype/no-weak-types
-  mapDataToValue: (data: any) => ValueT,
   renderCell: React.AbstractComponent<{
     value: ValueT,
     isMeasured?: boolean,
@@ -48,8 +58,6 @@ export type ColumnT<ValueT = any, FilterParamsT = any> = {|
   buildFilter: FilterParamsT => ValueT => boolean,
   textQueryFilter?: (string, ValueT) => boolean,
   sortFn: (ValueT, ValueT) => number,
-  maxWidth?: number,
-  minWidth?: number,
 |};
 
 export type RowT = {
diff --git a/vrt/__image_snapshots__/data-table-row-height__dark-snap.png b/vrt/__image_snapshots__/data-table-row-height__dark-snap.png
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diff --git a/vrt/__image_snapshots__/data-table-row-height__mobile-snap.png b/vrt/__image_snapshots__/data-table-row-height__mobile-snap.png
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