diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 65afa2f..c13711e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -138,10 +138,14 @@ Aliases are accepted for readability: `receive_delay` for `rd`, `send_delay`
 for `sd`, `server_processing` for `proc`, `server_received_count` for
 `server_received`, and `server_received_window` for `server_window`.
 
-The default table output favors readability and omits `echo_sent` rows. Custom
-table column selections and machine-friendly formats include all event rows.
-Missing table values render as `-`; missing CSV and TSV values render as empty
-fields; missing JSONL values render as `null`.
+The default table output favors readability with compact columns:
+`event,seq,rtt,rd,sd,ipdv,proc,message`. It omits `echo_sent` rows. Passing
+`--columns default` is the same as omitting `--columns`, including the default
+table row filtering. Custom table column selections include all event rows.
+CSV, TSV, and JSONL default to all columns for structured export; use
+`--columns all` explicitly to request every column in any format. Missing table
+values render as `-`; missing CSV and TSV values render as empty fields;
+missing JSONL values render as `null`.
 
 Use JSON Lines for structured event streaming:
 
diff --git a/crates/irtt-cli/src/cmd/client/output.rs b/crates/irtt-cli/src/cmd/client/output.rs
index a3ee717..536bfbc 100644
--- a/crates/irtt-cli/src/cmd/client/output.rs
+++ b/crates/irtt-cli/src/cmd/client/output.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ impl OutputConfig {
         header: HeaderMode,
         verbose: bool,
     ) -> Result<Self, String> {
-        let default_table_rows = format == OutputFormat::Table && columns.is_none();
+        let uses_default_columns = columns
+            .map(|columns| columns.trim() == "default")
+            .unwrap_or(true);
+        let default_table_rows = format == OutputFormat::Table && uses_default_columns;
         let columns = match columns {
             Some(columns) => parse_columns(columns, format, verbose)?,
             None => default_columns(format, verbose),
@@ -740,18 +743,18 @@ fn default_columns(format: OutputFormat, verbose: bool) -> Vec<Column> {
             let mut columns = vec![
                 Column::Event,
                 Column::Seq,
-                Column::Remote,
                 Column::Rtt,
                 Column::ReceiveDelay,
                 Column::SendDelay,
                 Column::Ipdv,
                 Column::ServerProcessing,
-                Column::ServerReceivedCount,
-                Column::ServerReceivedWindow,
                 Column::Message,
             ];
             if verbose {
                 columns.extend([
+                    Column::Remote,
+                    Column::ServerReceivedCount,
+                    Column::ServerReceivedWindow,
                     Column::RawRttUs,
                     Column::AdjustedRttUs,
                     Column::Bytes,