the spanned cells should be aligned. \startxtable[distance=5mm,spaceinbetween=5mm] \startxrow \startxcell[ny=2] one + alpha\stopxcell \startxcell[nx=2] two + three \stopxcell \stopxrow \startxrow \startxcell beta \stopxcell \startxcell gamma \stopxcell \stopxrow \stopxtable