diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index aa0f834c2..15d41662f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Improve rendering of borders when using minimal borders. Use less space and
   does not display a box around active windows.
 
+- Allow specifying border sizes in either pts or pixels. Change the default to
+  1px borders as this works best with the new minimal border style.
+
 - Add support for displaying correct colors with non-sRGB PNG files (Adds a
   dependency on liblcms2)
 
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index 7457ebe9a..6cc13af71 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -670,9 +670,25 @@ for vertical resizing.
 '''))
 o('window_resize_step_lines', 2, option_type=positive_int)
 
-o('window_border_width', 1.0, option_type=positive_float, long_text=_('''
-The width (in pts) of window borders. Will be rounded to the nearest number of pixels based on screen resolution.
-Note that borders are displayed only when more than one window is visible. They are meant to separate multiple windows.'''))
+
+def window_border_width(x: Union[str, int, float]) -> Tuple[float, str]:
+    unit = 'pt'
+    if isinstance(x, str):
+        trailer = x[-2:]
+        if trailer in ('px', 'pt'):
+            unit = trailer
+            val = float(x[:-2])
+    else:
+        val = float(x)
+    return max(0, val), unit
+
+
+o('window_border_width', '1px', option_type=window_border_width, long_text=_('''
+The width of window borders. Can be either in pixels (px) or pts (pt). Values
+in pts will be rounded to the nearest number of pixels based on screen
+resolution. If not specified the unit is assumed to be pts.
+Note that borders are displayed only when more than one window
+is visible. They are meant to separate multiple windows.'''))
 
 o('draw_minimal_borders', True, long_text=_('''
 Draw only the minimum borders needed. This means that only the minimum
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index a631180b0..541ce11f3 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -330,7 +330,12 @@ class Window:
             self.update_effective_padding()
 
     def effective_border(self) -> int:
-        return pt_to_px(self.opts.window_border_width, self.os_window_id)
+        val, unit = self.opts.window_border_width
+        if unit == 'pt':
+            val = pt_to_px(val, self.os_window_id)
+        else:
+            val = round(val)
+        return int(val)
 
     @property
     def title(self) -> str: