diff --git a/include/resize.h b/include/resize.h
index 8d205d3b4c..d49cc74a76 100644
--- a/include/resize.h
+++ b/include/resize.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _SWAY_RESIZE_H
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+bool set_size_tiled(int amount, bool use_width);
 bool resize_tiled(int amount, bool use_width);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/commands.c b/sway/commands.c
index 5e84ea9ac3..4009997b83 100644
--- a/sway/commands.c
+++ b/sway/commands.c
@@ -2000,33 +2000,38 @@ static struct cmd_results *cmd_resize(int argc, char **argv) {
 	struct cmd_results *error = NULL;
 	if (config->reading) return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "resize", "Can't be used in config file.");
 	if (!config->active) return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "resize", "Can only be used when sway is running.");
-	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "resize", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 3))) {
+	if ((error = checkarg(argc, "resize", EXPECTED_AT_LEAST, 2))) {
 		return error;
 	}
-	char *end;
-	int amount = (int)strtol(argv[2], &end, 10);
+
+	int amount = (int)strtol(argv[argc - 1], NULL, 10);
 	if (errno == ERANGE || amount == 0) {
 		errno = 0;
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "resize", "Number is out of range.");
 	}
 
-	if (strcmp(argv[0], "shrink") != 0 && strcmp(argv[0], "grow") != 0) {
-		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "resize",
-			"Expected 'resize <shrink|grow> <width|height> <amount>'");
-	}
-
-	if (strcmp(argv[0], "shrink") == 0) {
-		amount *= -1;
-	}
+	if (strcmp(argv[0], "shrink") == 0 || strcmp(argv[0], "grow") == 0) {
+		if (strcmp(argv[0], "shrink") == 0) {
+			amount *= -1;
+		}
 
-	if (strcmp(argv[1], "width") == 0) {
-		resize_tiled(amount, true);
-	} else if (strcmp(argv[1], "height") == 0) {
-		resize_tiled(amount, false);
+		if (strcmp(argv[1], "width") == 0) {
+			resize_tiled(amount, true);
+		} else if (strcmp(argv[1], "height") == 0) {
+			resize_tiled(amount, false);
+		} else {
+			return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "resize",
+				"Expected 'resize <shrink|grow> <width|height> <amount>' or 'resize <width|height> <amount>'");
+		}
+	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "width") == 0) {
+		set_size_tiled(amount, true);
+	} else if (strcmp(argv[0], "height") == 0) {
+		set_size_tiled(amount, false);
 	} else {
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "resize",
-			"Expected 'resize <shrink|grow> <width|height> <amount>'");
+			"Expected 'resize <shrink|grow> <width|height> <amount>' or 'resize <width|height> <amount>'");
 	}
+
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
diff --git a/sway/resize.c b/sway/resize.c
index f1b1f4ae4a..9411cfd85c 100644
--- a/sway/resize.c
+++ b/sway/resize.c
@@ -5,6 +5,20 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "input_state.h"
 #include "handlers.h"
+#include "resize.h"
+
+bool set_size_tiled(int amount, bool use_width) {
+	int desired;
+	swayc_t *focused = get_focused_view(swayc_active_workspace());
+
+	if (use_width) {
+		desired = amount - focused->width;
+	} else {
+		desired = amount - focused->height;
+	}
+
+	return resize_tiled(desired, use_width);
+}
 
 bool resize_tiled(int amount, bool use_width) {
 	swayc_t *parent = get_focused_view(swayc_active_workspace());
diff --git a/sway/sway.5.txt b/sway/sway.5.txt
index 008061124e..76d09edbe9 100644
--- a/sway/sway.5.txt
+++ b/sway/sway.5.txt
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ They are expected to be used with **bindsym** or at runtime through **swaymsg**(
 	Resizes the currently focused container or view by _amount_. _amount_ can be
 	specified as "n px" or "n ppt" or "n px or n ppt".
 
+**resize** <width|height> <amount>::
+	Sets the _width_ or _height_ of the currently focused container to _amount_.
+	_amount_ can be specified as "n px" or "n ppt" or "n px or n ppt".
+
 **split** <vertical|v|horizontal|h|toggle|t>::
 	Splits the current container, vertically or horizontally. If toggled then the
 	current container is split opposite to the parent container.