diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/docx/writer/tables.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/docx/writer/tables.py
index bb1a19b21a..e821adc3c9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/docx/writer/tables.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/docx/writer/tables.py
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ class Cell(object):
             self.col_span = max(0, int(html_tag.get('colspan', 1)))
         except Exception:
             self.col_span = 1
+        self.valign = {'top':'top', 'bottom':'bottom', 'middle':'center'}.get(tag_style._get('vertical-align'))
         self.items = []
         self.width = convert_width(tag_style)
         self.background_color = None if tag_style is None else convert_color(tag_style.backgroundColor)
@@ -134,6 +135,9 @@ class Cell(object):
         if len(m) > 0:
             tcPr.append(m)
 
+        if self.valign is not None:
+            makeelement(tcPr, 'w:vAlign', w_val=self.valign)
+
         if self.row_span > 1:
             makeelement(tcPr, 'w:vMerge', w_val='restart')
         if self.col_span > 1: