diff --git a/crates/layout/src/table.rs b/crates/layout/src/table.rs
index 25bacdc39..c6feb0e57 100644
--- a/crates/layout/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/layout/src/table.rs
@@ -357,7 +357,15 @@ pub fn layout_table(ctx: &mut Ctx, story: StoryRef, t: &Table, path: &[u32], ava
     let ncols = t.cols().max(1);
     // Column widths.
     let mut grid: Vec<f32> = if t.grid.len() == ncols {
-        t.grid.iter().map(|w| if w.is_finite() { w.max(4.0) } else { 72.0 }).collect()
+        // Grid units can be narrower than a text box, including omitted row-end columns.
+        t.grid
+            .iter()
+            .map(|&w| match w {
+                w if !w.is_finite() => 72.0,
+                w if w <= 0.0 => 4.0,
+                w => w,
+            })
+            .collect()
     } else {
         vec![avail / ncols as f32; ncols]
     };
@@ -373,8 +381,13 @@ pub fn layout_table(ctx: &mut Ctx, story: StoryRef, t: &Table, path: &[u32], ava
         _ => None,
     };
     if let Some(tw) = target {
-        let k = tw / total.max(1.0);
-        grid.iter_mut().for_each(|w| *w *= k);
+        if total > 0.0 && total < 1.0 {
+            // Divide first: a tiny positive total can overflow the scale factor.
+            grid.iter_mut().for_each(|w| *w = (*w / total) * tw);
+        } else {
+            let k = tw / total.max(1.0);
+            grid.iter_mut().for_each(|w| *w *= k);
+        }
         total = tw;
     }
     if total > avail * 1.5 && !t.props.fixed {
diff --git a/crates/layout/src/tests.rs b/crates/layout/src/tests.rs
index 4f9602c2d..e5547e3b2 100644
--- a/crates/layout/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/layout/src/tests.rs
@@ -8528,3 +8528,87 @@ fn cell_break_only_is_marker() {
         .unwrap();
     assert!(para.clusters.iter().all(|c| c.kind == para::ClKind::Marker));
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn subpoint_grid_keeps_widths() {
+    for gap in [0.05, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0] {
+        let mut d = Document::new();
+        let mut table = Table::new(1, 3, 300.0);
+        table.props.fixed = true;
+        table.props.width = Some(300.0);
+        table.grid = vec![100.0, 200.0 - gap, gap];
+        let row = &mut table.rows[0];
+        row.props.grid_after = 1;
+        row.props.w_after = Some(gap);
+        row.cells.truncate(1);
+        row.cells[0].props.span = 2;
+        row.cells[0].props.width = Some(300.0 - gap);
+        d.body = vec![Arc::new(Block::Table(table))];
+        let l = lay(&d);
+        let width = l.pages[0]
+            .items
+            .iter()
+            .find_map(|item| match item {
+                Placed::Cell { rect, .. } => Some(rect.w),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!((width - (300.0 - gap)).abs() < 0.001, "gap {gap}: cell width {width}");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn invalid_grid_keeps_fallback() {
+    for width in [0.0, -1.0, f32::NAN, f32::INFINITY] {
+        let mut d = Document::new();
+        let mut table = Table::new(1, 2, 300.0);
+        table.props.fixed = true;
+        table.props.width = Some(300.0);
+        table.grid = vec![width; 2];
+        for cell in &mut table.rows[0].cells {
+            cell.props.width = None;
+        }
+        d.body = vec![Arc::new(Block::Table(table))];
+        let l = lay(&d);
+        let widths: Vec<_> = l.pages[0]
+            .items
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|item| match item {
+                Placed::Cell { rect, .. } => Some(rect.w),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        assert_eq!(widths, [150.0, 150.0], "grid {width}");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn tiny_grid_scales_to_width() {
+    for unit in [0.05, 0.25, 0.5, f32::MIN_POSITIVE, f32::from_bits(1)] {
+        for ratio in [1.0, 3.0] {
+            let mut d = Document::new();
+            let mut table = Table::new(1, 2, 300.0);
+            table.props.fixed = true;
+            table.props.width = Some(300.0);
+            table.grid = vec![unit, unit * ratio];
+            for cell in &mut table.rows[0].cells {
+                cell.props.width = None;
+            }
+            d.body = vec![Arc::new(Block::Table(table))];
+            let l = lay(&d);
+            let widths: Vec<_> = l.pages[0]
+                .items
+                .iter()
+                .filter_map(|item| match item {
+                    Placed::Cell { rect, .. } => Some(rect.w),
+                    _ => None,
+                })
+                .collect();
+            let first = 300.0 / (1.0 + ratio);
+            assert_eq!(widths.len(), 2);
+            for (width, want) in widths.iter().zip([first, 300.0 - first]) {
+                assert!(width.is_finite() && (width - want).abs() < 0.001, "unit {unit}, ratio {ratio}: {widths:?}");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/layout-parity.md b/docs/layout-parity.md
index 71ab85a36..bafe3b130 100644
--- a/docs/layout-parity.md
+++ b/docs/layout-parity.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Exact line spacing keeps the run font baseline around tall equations; automatic
 |---|---|---|---|
 | 2026-10-16 | trivial | Split-cell content retains its resolved top margin and border band on continuation pages, matching original Word Mac16.113.2 controls. Synthetic regressions cover margins, borders, line spacing and image frames. |
 | Hint-reliant CJK glyph outlines (DFKai-SB / 標楷體) | 🟡 | Required TrueType interpreter runs at units-per-em size; local Windows glyph-bounds regression and synthetic DOCX page/window comparison pass. Other platforms and hint-reliant families remain unmeasured; no native Word comparison. | — |
+| Subpoint table grid columns | 🟡 | Preserve positive grid widths rather than imposing a text-box minimum; ECMA-376 §17.4.16. Native Word for Mac 16.113.2 build26092012 confirms narrow trailing grid units. `layout::tests::subpoint_grid_keeps_widths`, `tiny_grid_scales_to_width`. Tiny totals normalize without overflowing the scale factor. Zero and invalid widths retain their fallback. Border painting remains separate. | n/a |
 | Line breaking (UAX #14 with Word's exceptions: no break after `/`) | ✅ | `layout::tests::no_line_break_right_after_a_slash` | — |
 | Narrow table cells | ✅ | `layout::tests::narrow_cells_keep_their_width`: usable widths below 12 pt wrap without expansion; oversized glyphs still make progress | 0 |
 | Justification, Word 2013+ space shrinking (compat mode 15) | ✅ | #109 | — |
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ Footer flow-table strokes reserve their drawn top edge, including the half-width
 | 2026-10-16 | trivial | Preserve direct TOC number tabs during regeneration |
 | 2026-10-16 | trivial | Explicit cell page breaks take no line height; original native Word controls in modes 14 and 15 and synthetic cluster/cache regressions. |
 | 2026-10-16 | trivial | Flow-table top border strokes in footers reserve body clearance; original mode-15 Word controls and a synthetic layout regression. |
+| 2026-10-16 | trivial | Subpoint grid units retain their declared widths without shrinking adjacent cells; tiny totals normalize without scale-factor overflow |
 | 2026-10-14 | trivial | Row table border exceptions draw without leaking into other rows |
 | 2026-10-14 | trivial | Consistent cell widths override a stale table grid |
 | 2026-10-14 | trivial | Paragraphs inside complex-field instructions take no flow height; empty result paragraphs keep their line. |