diff --git a/internal/area/area.go b/internal/area/area.go
index c0b3a30..236b9b7 100644
--- a/internal/area/area.go
+++ b/internal/area/area.go
@@ -78,6 +78,29 @@ func VSplit(area image.Rectangle, widthPerc int) (left image.Rectangle, right im
 	return left, right, nil
 }
 
+// VSplitCells returns two new areas created by splitting the provided area
+// after the specified amount of cells of its width. The number of cells must
+// be a zero or a positive integer. Providing a zero returns left=image.ZR,
+// right=area. Providing a number equal or larger to area's width returns
+// left=area, right=image.ZR.
+func VSplitCells(area image.Rectangle, cells int) (left image.Rectangle, right image.Rectangle, err error) {
+	if min := 0; cells < min {
+		return image.ZR, image.ZR, fmt.Errorf("invalid cells %d, must be a positive integer", cells)
+	}
+	if cells == 0 {
+		return image.ZR, area, nil
+	}
+
+	width := area.Dx()
+	if cells >= width {
+		return area, image.ZR, nil
+	}
+
+	left = image.Rect(area.Min.X, area.Min.Y, area.Min.X+cells, area.Max.Y)
+	right = image.Rect(area.Min.X+cells, area.Min.Y, area.Max.X, area.Max.Y)
+	return left, right, nil
+}
+
 // ExcludeBorder returns a new area created by subtracting a border around the
 // provided area. Return the zero area if there isn't enough space to exclude
 // the border.
diff --git a/internal/area/area_test.go b/internal/area/area_test.go
index cd92df9..16630cd 100644
--- a/internal/area/area_test.go
+++ b/internal/area/area_test.go
@@ -282,6 +282,91 @@ func TestVSplit(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestVSplitCells(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		desc      string
+		area      image.Rectangle
+		cells     int
+		wantLeft  image.Rectangle
+		wantRight image.Rectangle
+		wantErr   bool
+	}{
+		{
+			desc:    "fails on negative cells",
+			area:    image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			cells:   -1,
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "returns area as left on cells too large",
+			area:      image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			cells:     2,
+			wantLeft:  image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			wantRight: image.ZR,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "returns area as left on cells equal area width",
+			area:      image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			cells:     1,
+			wantLeft:  image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			wantRight: image.ZR,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "returns area as right on zero cells",
+			area:      image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			cells:     0,
+			wantRight: image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 2),
+			wantLeft:  image.ZR,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "zero area to begin with",
+			area:      image.ZR,
+			cells:     0,
+			wantLeft:  image.ZR,
+			wantRight: image.ZR,
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "splits area with even width",
+			area:      image.Rect(1, 1, 3, 3),
+			cells:     1,
+			wantLeft:  image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 3),
+			wantRight: image.Rect(2, 1, 3, 3),
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "splits area with odd width",
+			area:      image.Rect(1, 1, 4, 4),
+			cells:     1,
+			wantLeft:  image.Rect(1, 1, 2, 4),
+			wantRight: image.Rect(2, 1, 4, 4),
+		},
+		{
+			desc:      "splits to unequal areas",
+			area:      image.Rect(0, 0, 4, 4),
+			cells:     3,
+			wantLeft:  image.Rect(0, 0, 3, 4),
+			wantRight: image.Rect(3, 0, 4, 4),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			gotLeft, gotRight, err := VSplitCells(tc.area, tc.cells)
+			if (err != nil) != tc.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("VSplitCells => unexpected error:%v, wantErr:%v", err, tc.wantErr)
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			if diff := pretty.Compare(tc.wantLeft, gotLeft); diff != "" {
+				t.Errorf("VSplitCells => left value unexpected diff (-want, +got):\n%s", diff)
+			}
+			if diff := pretty.Compare(tc.wantRight, gotRight); diff != "" {
+				t.Errorf("VSplitCells => right value unexpected diff (-want, +got):\n%s", diff)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExcludeBorder(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		desc string