diff --git a/include/xlnt/worksheet/worksheet.hpp b/include/xlnt/worksheet/worksheet.hpp
index aca470e7..018d8fc0 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/worksheet/worksheet.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/worksheet/worksheet.hpp
@@ -370,11 +370,21 @@ public:
     /// </summary>
     row_t lowest_row() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the row of the first non-empty cell or lowest row with properties in the worksheet.
+    /// </summary>
+    row_t lowest_row_or_props() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns the row of the last non-empty cell in the worksheet.
     /// </summary>
     row_t highest_row() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the row of the last non-empty cell or highest row with properties in the worksheet.
+    /// </summary>
+    row_t highest_row_or_props() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns the row directly below the last non-empty cell in the worksheet.
     /// </summary>
@@ -385,11 +395,21 @@ public:
     /// </summary>
     column_t lowest_column() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the column of the first non-empty cell or lowest column with properties in the worksheet.
+    /// </summary>
+    column_t lowest_column_or_props() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns the column of the last non-empty cell in the worksheet.
     /// </summary>
     column_t highest_column() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the column of the last non-empty cell or highest column with properties in the worksheet.
+    /// </summary>
+    column_t highest_column_or_props() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns a range_reference pointing to the full range of non-empty cells in the worksheet.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
index dfbe3bb8..fd660d5d 100644
--- a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
+++ b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
@@ -2030,8 +2030,9 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_worksheet(const relationship &rel)
 
     write_start_element(xmlns, "dimension");
     const auto dimension = ws.calculate_dimension();
-    write_attribute(
-        "ref", dimension.is_single_cell() ? dimension.top_left().to_string() : dimension.to_string());
+    write_attribute("ref", dimension.is_single_cell()
+        ? dimension.top_left().to_string()
+        : dimension.to_string());
     write_end_element(xmlns, "dimension");
 
     if (ws.has_view())
@@ -2123,7 +2124,7 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_worksheet(const relationship &rel)
     {
         write_start_element(xmlns, "cols");
 
-        for (auto column = ws.lowest_column(); column <= ws.highest_column(); column++)
+        for (auto column = ws.lowest_column_or_props(); column <= ws.highest_column_or_props(); column++)
         {
             if (!ws.has_column_properties(column)) continue;
 
@@ -2172,16 +2173,20 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_worksheet(const relationship &rel)
 
     write_start_element(xmlns, "sheetData");
 
-    for (auto row : ws.rows())
+    for (auto row = ws.lowest_row_or_props(); row <= ws.highest_row_or_props(); ++row)
     {
-        auto min = static_cast<xlnt::row_t>(row.length());
-        xlnt::row_t max = 0;
+        auto first_column = constants::max_column();
+        auto last_column = constants::min_column();
         bool any_non_null = false;
 
-        for (auto cell : row)
+        for (auto column = dimension.top_left().column(); column <= dimension.bottom_right().column(); ++column)
         {
-            min = std::min(min, cell.column().index);
-            max = std::max(max, cell.column().index);
+            if (!ws.has_cell(cell_reference(column, row))) continue;
+
+            auto cell = ws.cell(cell_reference(column, row));
+
+            first_column = std::min(first_column, cell.column());
+            last_column = std::max(last_column, cell.column());
 
             if (!cell.garbage_collectible())
             {
@@ -2189,19 +2194,20 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_worksheet(const relationship &rel)
             }
         }
 
-        if (!any_non_null)
-        {
-            continue;
-        }
+        if (!any_non_null && !ws.has_row_properties(row)) continue;
 
         write_start_element(xmlns, "row");
+        write_attribute("r", row);
 
-        write_attribute("r", row.front().row());
-        write_attribute("spans", std::to_string(min) + ":" + std::to_string(max));
-
-        if (ws.has_row_properties(row.front().row()))
+        if (any_non_null)
         {
-            const auto &props = ws.row_properties(row.front().row());
+            auto span_string = std::to_string(first_column.index) + ":" + std::to_string(last_column.index);
+            write_attribute("spans", span_string);
+        }
+
+        if (ws.has_row_properties(row))
+        {
+            const auto &props = ws.row_properties(row);
 
             if (props.custom_height)
             {
@@ -2228,130 +2234,137 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_worksheet(const relationship &rel)
             }
         }
 
-        for (auto cell : row) // CT_Cell
+        if (any_non_null)
         {
-            if (cell.garbage_collectible()) continue;
-
-            // record data about the cell needed later
-
-            if (cell.has_comment())
+            for (auto column = dimension.top_left().column(); column <= dimension.bottom_right().column(); ++column)
             {
-                cells_with_comments.push_back(cell.reference());
-            }
+                if (!ws.has_cell(cell_reference(column, row))) continue;
 
-            if (cell.has_hyperlink())
-            {
-                hyperlink_references[cell.reference().to_string()] = reverse_hyperlink_references[cell.hyperlink()];
-            }
+                auto cell = ws.cell(cell_reference(column, row));
 
-            write_start_element(xmlns, "c");
+                if (cell.garbage_collectible()) continue;
 
-            // begin cell attributes
+                // record data about the cell needed later
 
-            write_attribute("r", cell.reference().to_string());
-
-            if (cell.has_format())
-            {
-                write_attribute("s", cell.format().d_->id);
-            }
-
-            switch (cell.data_type())
-            {
-	    case cell::type::empty:
-                break;
-
-	    case cell::type::boolean:
-                write_attribute("t", "b");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::date:
-                write_attribute("t", "d");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::error:
-                write_attribute("t", "e");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::inline_string:
-                write_attribute("t", "inlineStr");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::number:
-                write_attribute("t", "n");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::shared_string:
-                write_attribute("t", "s");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::formula_string:
-                write_attribute("t", "str");
-                break;
-            }
-
-            //write_attribute("cm", "");
-            //write_attribute("vm", "");
-            //write_attribute("ph", "");
-
-            // begin child elements
-
-            if (cell.has_formula())
-            {
-                write_element(xmlns, "f", cell.formula());
-            }
-
-            switch (cell.data_type())
-            {
-            case cell::type::empty:
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::boolean:
-                write_element(xmlns, "v", write_bool(cell.value<bool>()));
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::date:
-                write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::error:
-                write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::inline_string:
-                write_start_element(xmlns, "is");
-                // TODO: make a write_rich_text method and use that here
-                write_element(xmlns, "t", cell.value<std::string>());
-                write_end_element(xmlns, "is");
-                break;
-
-            case cell::type::number:
-                write_start_element(xmlns, "v");
-
-                if (is_integral(cell.value<double>()))
+                if (cell.has_comment())
                 {
-                    write_characters(static_cast<std::int64_t>(cell.value<double>()));
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    std::stringstream ss;
-                    ss.precision(20);
-                    ss << cell.value<double>();
-                    write_characters(ss.str());
+                    cells_with_comments.push_back(cell.reference());
                 }
 
-                write_end_element(xmlns, "v");
-                break;
+                if (cell.has_hyperlink())
+                {
+                    hyperlink_references[cell.reference().to_string()] = reverse_hyperlink_references[cell.hyperlink()];
+                }
 
-            case cell::type::shared_string:
-                write_element(xmlns, "v", static_cast<std::size_t>(cell.d_->value_numeric_));
-                break;
+                write_start_element(xmlns, "c");
 
-            case cell::type::formula_string:
-                write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
-                break;
+                // begin cell attributes
+
+                write_attribute("r", cell.reference().to_string());
+
+                if (cell.has_format())
+                {
+                    write_attribute("s", cell.format().d_->id);
+                }
+
+                switch (cell.data_type())
+                {
+                case cell::type::empty:
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::boolean:
+                    write_attribute("t", "b");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::date:
+                    write_attribute("t", "d");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::error:
+                    write_attribute("t", "e");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::inline_string:
+                    write_attribute("t", "inlineStr");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::number:
+                    write_attribute("t", "n");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::shared_string:
+                    write_attribute("t", "s");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::formula_string:
+                    write_attribute("t", "str");
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                //write_attribute("cm", "");
+                //write_attribute("vm", "");
+                //write_attribute("ph", "");
+
+                // begin child elements
+
+                if (cell.has_formula())
+                {
+                    write_element(xmlns, "f", cell.formula());
+                }
+
+                switch (cell.data_type())
+                {
+                case cell::type::empty:
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::boolean:
+                    write_element(xmlns, "v", write_bool(cell.value<bool>()));
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::date:
+                    write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::error:
+                    write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::inline_string:
+                    write_start_element(xmlns, "is");
+                    // TODO: make a write_rich_text method and use that here
+                    write_element(xmlns, "t", cell.value<std::string>());
+                    write_end_element(xmlns, "is");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::number:
+                    write_start_element(xmlns, "v");
+
+                    if (is_integral(cell.value<double>()))
+                    {
+                        write_characters(static_cast<std::int64_t>(cell.value<double>()));
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        std::stringstream ss;
+                        ss.precision(20);
+                        ss << cell.value<double>();
+                        write_characters(ss.str());
+                    }
+
+                    write_end_element(xmlns, "v");
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::shared_string:
+                    write_element(xmlns, "v", static_cast<std::size_t>(cell.d_->value_numeric_));
+                    break;
+
+                case cell::type::formula_string:
+                    write_element(xmlns, "v", cell.value<std::string>());
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                write_end_element(xmlns, "c");
             }
-
-            write_end_element(xmlns, "c");
         }
 
         write_end_element(xmlns, "row");
diff --git a/source/worksheet/worksheet.cpp b/source/worksheet/worksheet.cpp
index 7078cba2..830d3eb4 100644
--- a/source/worksheet/worksheet.cpp
+++ b/source/worksheet/worksheet.cpp
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ column_t worksheet::lowest_column() const
         return constants::min_column();
     }
 
-    column_t lowest = constants::max_column();
+    auto lowest = constants::max_column();
 
     for (auto &row : d_->cell_map_)
     {
@@ -494,6 +494,23 @@ column_t worksheet::lowest_column() const
     return lowest;
 }
 
+column_t worksheet::lowest_column_or_props() const
+{
+    auto lowest = lowest_column();
+
+    if (d_->cell_map_.empty() && !d_->column_properties_.empty())
+    {
+        lowest = d_->column_properties_.begin()->first;
+    }
+
+    for (auto &props : d_->column_properties_)
+    {
+        lowest = std::min(lowest, props.first);
+    }
+
+    return lowest;
+}
+
 row_t worksheet::lowest_row() const
 {
     if (d_->cell_map_.empty())
@@ -501,7 +518,7 @@ row_t worksheet::lowest_row() const
         return constants::min_row();
     }
 
-    row_t lowest = constants::max_row();
+    auto lowest = constants::max_row();
 
     for (auto &row : d_->cell_map_)
     {
@@ -511,9 +528,26 @@ row_t worksheet::lowest_row() const
     return lowest;
 }
 
+row_t worksheet::lowest_row_or_props() const
+{
+    auto lowest = lowest_row();
+
+    if (d_->cell_map_.empty() && !d_->row_properties_.empty())
+    {
+        lowest = d_->row_properties_.begin()->first;
+    }
+
+    for (auto &props : d_->row_properties_)
+    {
+        lowest = std::min(lowest, props.first);
+    }
+
+    return lowest;
+}
+
 row_t worksheet::highest_row() const
 {
-    row_t highest = constants::min_row();
+    auto highest = constants::min_row();
 
     for (auto &row : d_->cell_map_)
     {
@@ -523,9 +557,26 @@ row_t worksheet::highest_row() const
     return highest;
 }
 
+row_t worksheet::highest_row_or_props() const
+{
+    auto highest = highest_row();
+
+    if (d_->cell_map_.empty() && !d_->row_properties_.empty())
+    {
+        highest = d_->row_properties_.begin()->first;
+    }
+
+    for (auto &props : d_->row_properties_)
+    {
+        highest = std::max(highest, props.first);
+    }
+
+    return highest;
+}
+
 column_t worksheet::highest_column() const
 {
-    column_t highest = constants::min_column();
+    auto highest = constants::min_column();
 
     for (auto &row : d_->cell_map_)
     {
@@ -538,6 +589,23 @@ column_t worksheet::highest_column() const
     return highest;
 }
 
+column_t worksheet::highest_column_or_props() const
+{
+    auto highest = highest_column();
+
+    if (d_->cell_map_.empty() && !d_->column_properties_.empty())
+    {
+        highest = d_->column_properties_.begin()->first;
+    }
+
+    for (auto &props : d_->column_properties_)
+    {
+        highest = std::max(highest, props.first);
+    }
+
+    return highest;
+}
+
 range_reference worksheet::calculate_dimension() const
 {
     return range_reference(lowest_column(), lowest_row(), highest_column(), highest_row());
diff --git a/tests/data/13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx b/tests/data/13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx
index 13d7a54d..875edd53 100644
Binary files a/tests/data/13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx and b/tests/data/13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx differ
diff --git a/tests/workbook/serialization_test_suite.hpp b/tests/workbook/serialization_test_suite.hpp
index 89ccbf00..da4db5ae 100644
--- a/tests/workbook/serialization_test_suite.hpp
+++ b/tests/workbook/serialization_test_suite.hpp
@@ -395,22 +395,27 @@ public:
         wb.load(path_helper::test_file("13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx"));
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
 
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A1").value<std::string>(), "170xd");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B1").value<std::string>(), "40xd");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("C1").value<std::string>(), "dxd");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A2").value<std::string>(), "170x30");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B2").value<std::string>(), "40x30");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("C2").value<std::string>(), "dx30");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A3").value<std::string>(), "170x10");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B3").value<std::string>(), "40x10");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("C3").value<std::string>(), "dx10");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A1").value<std::string>(), "A1");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B1").value<std::string>(), "B1");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("D1").value<std::string>(), "D1");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A2").value<std::string>(), "A2");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B2").value<std::string>(), "B2");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("D2").value<std::string>(), "D2");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("A4").value<std::string>(), "A4");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("B4").value<std::string>(), "B4");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell("D4").value<std::string>(), "D4");
 
-        xlnt_assert(!ws.row_properties(1).height.is_set());
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(2).height.get(), 30);
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(3).height.get(), 10);
-        xlnt_assert_delta(ws.column_properties("A").width.get(), 27.617745535714285, 1.0E-9);
-        xlnt_assert_delta(ws.column_properties("B").width.get(), 5.9497767857142856, 1.0E-9);
-        xlnt_assert(!ws.column_properties("C").width.is_set());
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(1).height.get(), 100);
+        xlnt_assert(!ws.row_properties(2).height.is_set());
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(3).height.get(), 100);
+        xlnt_assert(!ws.row_properties(4).height.is_set());
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(5).height.get(), 100);
+
+        xlnt_assert_delta(ws.column_properties("A").width.get(), 15.949776785714286, 1.0E-9);
+        xlnt_assert(!ws.column_properties("B").width.is_set());
+        xlnt_assert_delta(ws.column_properties("C").width.get(), 15.949776785714286, 1.0E-9);
+        xlnt_assert(!ws.column_properties("D").width.is_set());
+        xlnt_assert_delta(ws.column_properties("E").width.get(), 15.949776785714286, 1.0E-9);
     }
 
     void test_write_custom_heights_widths()
@@ -418,21 +423,33 @@ public:
         xlnt::workbook wb;
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
 
-        ws.cell("A1").value("170xd");
-        ws.cell("B1").value("40xd");
-        ws.cell("C1").value("dxd");
-        ws.cell("A2").value("170x30");
-        ws.cell("B2").value("40x30");
-        ws.cell("C2").value("dx30");
-        ws.cell("A3").value("170x10");
-        ws.cell("B3").value("40x10");
-        ws.cell("C3").value("dx10");
+        ws.cell("A1").value("A1");
+        ws.cell("B1").value("B1");
+        ws.cell("D1").value("D1");
+        ws.cell("A2").value("A2");
+        ws.cell("B2").value("B2");
+        ws.cell("D2").value("D2");
+        ws.cell("A4").value("A4");
+        ws.cell("B4").value("B4");
+        ws.cell("D4").value("D4");
 
-        ws.row_properties(2).height = 30;
-        ws.row_properties(3).height = 10;
+        ws.row_properties(1).height = 100;
+        ws.row_properties(1).custom_height = true;
 
-        ws.column_properties("A").width = 27.617745535714285;
-        ws.column_properties("B").width = 5.9497767857142856;
+        ws.row_properties(3).height = 100;
+        ws.row_properties(3).custom_height = true;
+
+        ws.row_properties(5).height = 100;
+        ws.row_properties(5).custom_height = true;
+
+        ws.column_properties("A").width = 15.949776785714286;
+        ws.column_properties("A").custom_width = true;
+
+        ws.column_properties("C").width = 15.949776785714286;
+        ws.column_properties("C").custom_width = true;
+
+        ws.column_properties("E").width = 15.949776785714286;
+        ws.column_properties("E").custom_width = true;
         
         wb.save("temp.xlsx");
         xlnt_assert(workbook_matches_file(wb, path_helper::test_file("13_custom_heights_widths.xlsx")));
diff --git a/tests/worksheet/worksheet_test_suite.hpp b/tests/worksheet/worksheet_test_suite.hpp
index 5f308e14..be0b7c1b 100644
--- a/tests/worksheet/worksheet_test_suite.hpp
+++ b/tests/worksheet/worksheet_test_suite.hpp
@@ -68,10 +68,14 @@ public:
         register_test(test_freeze_panes_horiz);
         register_test(test_freeze_panes_vert);
         register_test(test_freeze_panes_both);
-        register_test(test_min_column);
-        register_test(test_max_column);
-        register_test(test_min_row);
-        register_test(test_max_row);
+        register_test(test_lowest_column);
+        register_test(test_lowest_column_or_props);
+        register_test(test_highest_column);
+        register_test(test_highest_column_or_props);
+        register_test(test_lowest_row);
+        register_test(test_lowest_row_or_props);
+        register_test(test_highest_row);
+        register_test(test_highest_row_or_props);
         register_test(test_const_iterators);
         register_test(test_const_reverse_iterators);
         register_test(test_column_major_iterators);
@@ -503,14 +507,22 @@ public:
         xlnt_assert_equals(view.pane().y_split, 3);
     }
 
-    void test_min_column()
+    void test_lowest_column()
     {
         xlnt::workbook wb;
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
         xlnt_assert_equals(ws.lowest_column(), 1);
     }
 
-    void test_max_column()
+    void test_lowest_column_or_props()
+    {
+        xlnt::workbook wb;
+        auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
+        ws.column_properties("J").width = 14.3;
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.lowest_column_or_props(), "J");
+    }
+
+    void test_highest_column()
     {
         xlnt::workbook wb;
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
@@ -518,17 +530,33 @@ public:
         ws[xlnt::cell_reference("F2")].value(32);
         ws[xlnt::cell_reference("F3")].formula("=F1+F2");
         ws[xlnt::cell_reference("A4")].formula("=A1+A2+A3");
-        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.highest_column(), 6);
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.highest_column(), "F");
     }
 
-    void test_min_row()
+    void test_highest_column_or_props()
+    {
+        xlnt::workbook wb;
+        auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
+        ws.column_properties("J").width = 14.3;
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.highest_column_or_props(), "J");
+    }
+
+    void test_lowest_row()
     {
         xlnt::workbook wb;
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
         xlnt_assert_equals(ws.lowest_row(), 1);
     }
 
-    void test_max_row()
+    void test_lowest_row_or_props()
+    {
+        xlnt::workbook wb;
+        auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
+        ws.row_properties(11).height = 14.3;
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.lowest_row_or_props(), 11);
+    }
+
+    void test_highest_row()
     {
         xlnt::workbook wb;
         auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
@@ -536,6 +564,14 @@ public:
         xlnt_assert_equals(ws.highest_row(), 4);
     }
 
+    void test_highest_row_or_props()
+    {
+        xlnt::workbook wb;
+        auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
+        ws.row_properties(11).height = 14.3;
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.highest_row_or_props(), 11);
+    }
+
     void test_const_iterators()
     {
         xlnt::workbook wb;