diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2b5e05f..c5adf7c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 * Added `help_vertical_space` property for configuring number of extra
   newlines between help strings for different arguments and options in
   autogenerated help string.
+* Added `usage_margin` and `usage_max_width` properties for configuring
+  usage string autogeneration.
+* Added `help_usage_margin` and `help_description_margin` properties
+  for configuring help string autogeneration.
 
 ### Improvements
 
diff --git a/spec/help_spec.lua b/spec/help_spec.lua
index 48e811f..4a268c6 100644
--- a/spec/help_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/help_spec.lua
@@ -463,4 +463,37 @@ Options:
 
    -h, --help            Show this help message and exit.]], cmd2:get_help())
    end)
+
+   it("allows configuring margins using help_usage_margin and help_description_margin", function()
+      local parser = Parser "foo"
+         :help_usage_margin(2)
+         :help_description_margin(15)
+
+      parser:argument "arg1"
+         :description "Argument number one."
+      parser:argument "arg2"
+         :description "Argument number two."
+
+      parser:flag "-p"
+         :description "This is a thing."
+      parser:option "-f --foo"
+         :description [[
+And this things uses many lines.
+Because it has lots of complex behaviour.
+That needs documenting.]]
+
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-p] [-f <foo>] [-h] <arg1> <arg2>
+
+Arguments:
+  arg1         Argument number one.
+  arg2         Argument number two.
+
+Options:
+  -p           This is a thing.
+     -f <foo>, And this things uses many lines.
+  --foo <foo>  Because it has lots of complex behaviour.
+               That needs documenting.
+  -h, --help   Show this help message and exit.]], parser:get_help())
+   end)
 end)
diff --git a/spec/usage_spec.lua b/spec/usage_spec.lua
index 4c37f24..3d93f10 100644
--- a/spec/usage_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/usage_spec.lua
@@ -307,4 +307,38 @@ Usage: foo ([--opt1 <opt1>] | [--opt3 <opt3>] | [--opt5 <opt5>])
        ([<arg4>] | [--opt4 <opt4>])]=], parser:get_usage()
       )
    end)
+
+   it("allows configuring usage margin using usage_margin property", function()
+      local parser = Parser "foo"
+         :usage_margin(2)
+
+      parser:argument "long_argument_name"
+      parser:argument "very_long_words"
+
+      parser:option "--set-important-property"
+      parser:option "--include"
+         :args "*"
+
+      assert.equals([=[
+Usage: foo [--set-important-property <set_important_property>] [-h]
+  <long_argument_name> <very_long_words> [--include [<include>] ...]]=], parser:get_usage())
+   end)
+
+   it("allows configuring max usage width using usage_max_width property", function()
+      local parser = Parser "foo"
+         :usage_max_width(50)
+
+      parser:argument "long_argument_name"
+      parser:argument "very_long_words"
+
+      parser:option "--set-important-property"
+      parser:option "--include"
+         :args "*"
+
+      assert.equals([=[
+Usage: foo
+       [--set-important-property <set_important_property>]
+       [-h] <long_argument_name> <very_long_words>
+       [--include [<include>] ...]]=], parser:get_usage())
+   end)
 end)
diff --git a/src/argparse.lua b/src/argparse.lua
index 698bf75..36d3887 100644
--- a/src/argparse.lua
+++ b/src/argparse.lua
@@ -247,6 +247,10 @@ local Parser = class({
    typechecked("action", "function"),
    typechecked("command_target", "string"),
    typechecked("help_vertical_space", "number"),
+   typechecked("usage_margin", "number"),
+   typechecked("usage_max_width", "number"),
+   typechecked("help_usage_margin", "number"),
+   typechecked("help_description_margin", "number"),
    add_help
 })
 
@@ -265,6 +269,10 @@ local Command = class({
    typechecked("action", "function"),
    typechecked("command_target", "string"),
    typechecked("help_vertical_space", "number"),
+   typechecked("usage_margin", "number"),
+   typechecked("usage_max_width", "number"),
+   typechecked("help_usage_margin", "number"),
+   typechecked("help_description_margin", "number"),
    typechecked("hidden", "boolean"),
    add_help
 }, Parser)
@@ -638,7 +646,6 @@ function Parser:group(name, ...)
    return self
 end
 
-local max_usage_width = 70
 local usage_welcome = "Usage: "
 
 function Parser:get_usage()
@@ -646,13 +653,15 @@ function Parser:get_usage()
       return self._usage
    end
 
+   local usage_margin = self:_inherit_property("usage_margin", #usage_welcome)
+   local max_usage_width = self:_inherit_property("usage_max_width", 70)
    local lines = {usage_welcome .. self:_get_fullname()}
 
    local function add(s)
       if #lines[#lines]+1+#s <= max_usage_width then
          lines[#lines] = lines[#lines] .. " " .. s
       else
-         lines[#lines+1] = (" "):rep(#usage_welcome) .. s
+         lines[#lines+1] = (" "):rep(usage_margin) .. s
       end
    end
 
@@ -773,11 +782,6 @@ function Parser:get_usage()
    return table.concat(lines, "\n")
 end
 
-local margin_len = 3
-local margin2_len = 25
-local margin = (" "):rep(margin_len)
-local margin2 = (" "):rep(margin2_len)
-
 local function split_lines(s)
    if s == "" then
       return {}
@@ -796,7 +800,7 @@ local function split_lines(s)
    return lines
 end
 
-local function get_element_help(element)
+function Parser:_get_element_help(element)
    local label_lines = element:_get_label_lines()
    local description_lines = split_lines(element:_get_description())
 
@@ -806,13 +810,19 @@ local function get_element_help(element)
    -- If too long, start description after all the label lines.
    -- Otherwise, combine label and description lines.
 
-   if #label_lines[1] >= (margin2_len - margin_len) then
+   local usage_margin_len = self:_inherit_property("help_usage_margin", 3)
+   local usage_margin = (" "):rep(usage_margin_len)
+   local description_margin_len = self:_inherit_property("help_description_margin", 25)
+   local description_margin = (" "):rep(description_margin_len)
+
+
+   if #label_lines[1] >= (description_margin_len - usage_margin_len) then
       for _, label_line in ipairs(label_lines) do
-         table.insert(result_lines, margin .. label_line)
+         table.insert(result_lines, usage_margin .. label_line)
       end
 
       for _, description_line in ipairs(description_lines) do
-         table.insert(result_lines, margin2 .. description_line)
+         table.insert(result_lines, description_margin .. description_line)
       end
    else
       for i = 1, math.max(#label_lines, #description_lines) do
@@ -822,11 +832,11 @@ local function get_element_help(element)
          local line = ""
 
          if label_line then
-            line = margin .. label_line
+            line = usage_margin .. label_line
          end
 
          if description_line and description_line ~= "" then
-            line = line .. (" "):rep(margin2_len - #line) .. description_line
+            line = line .. (" "):rep(description_margin_len - #line) .. description_line
          end
 
          table.insert(result_lines, line)
@@ -852,7 +862,7 @@ function Parser:_add_group_help(blocks, added_elements, label, elements)
    for _, element in ipairs(elements) do
       if not element._hidden and not added_elements[element] then
          added_elements[element] = true
-         table.insert(buf, get_element_help(element))
+         table.insert(buf, self:_get_element_help(element))
       end
    end