diff --git a/redo/basicctrls_windows.go b/redo/basicctrls_windows.go
index b116ae3..feb4332 100644
--- a/redo/basicctrls_windows.go
+++ b/redo/basicctrls_windows.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ func newCheckbox(text string) *checkbox {
 		// we'll handle actually toggling the check state ourselves (see controls_windows.c)
 		button:	startNewButton(text, C.BS_CHECKBOX),
 	}
+	c.fpreferredSize = c.checkboxpreferredSize
 	C.setCheckboxSubclass(c.hwnd, unsafe.Pointer(c))
 	return c
 }
@@ -96,6 +97,18 @@ type textField struct {
 	*controlbase
 }
 
+const (
+	// from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742486.aspx#sizingandspacing
+	checkboxHeight = 10
+	// from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb226818%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
+	checkboxXFromLeftOfBoxToLeftOfLabel = 12
+)
+
+func (c *checkbox) checkboxpreferredSize(d *sizing) (width, height int) {
+	return fromdlgunitsX(checkboxXFromLeftOfBoxToLeftOfLabel, d) + int(c.textlen),
+		fromdlgunitsY(checkboxHeight, d)
+}
+
 var editclass = toUTF16("EDIT")
 
 func startNewTextField(style C.DWORD) *textField {
@@ -174,7 +187,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 func (l *label) labelpreferredSize(d *sizing) (width, height int) {
-	// TODO have some padding to the right of the width
 	return int(l.textlen), fromdlgunitsY(labelHeight, d)
 }