diff --git a/bin/generate_schema.py b/bin/generate_schema.py
index 21e94b9a..ec422938 100755
--- a/bin/generate_schema.py
+++ b/bin/generate_schema.py
@@ -104,7 +104,24 @@ properties:
   dependency-versions:
     default: pinned
     description: Specify how cibuildwheel controls the versions of the tools it uses
-    type: string
+    oneOf:
+      - enum: [pinned, latest]
+      - type: string
+        description: Path to a file containing dependency versions, or inline package specifications, starting with "packages:"
+        not:
+          enum: [pinned, latest]
+      - type: object
+        additionalProperties: false
+        properties:
+          file:
+            type: string
+      - type: object
+        additionalProperties: false
+        properties:
+          packages:
+            type: array
+            items:
+              type: string
   enable:
     description: Enable or disable certain builds.
     oneOf:
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/linux.py b/cibuildwheel/linux.py
index ecc6be6f..3a652b36 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/linux.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/linux.py
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ def build_in_container(
     container: OCIContainer,
     container_project_path: PurePath,
     container_package_dir: PurePath,
+    local_tmp_dir: Path,
 ) -> None:
     container_output_dir = PurePosixPath("/output")
 
@@ -199,22 +200,22 @@ def build_in_container(
 
     for config in platform_configs:
         log.build_start(config.identifier)
+        local_identifier_tmp_dir = local_tmp_dir / config.identifier
         build_options = options.build_options(config.identifier)
         build_frontend = build_options.build_frontend or BuildFrontendConfig("pip")
         use_uv = build_frontend.name == "build[uv]"
         pip = ["uv", "pip"] if use_uv else ["pip"]
 
-        dependency_constraint_flags: list[PathOrStr] = []
-
         log.step("Setting up build environment...")
 
-        if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-            constraints_file = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
-                config.version
-            )
+        dependency_constraint_flags: list[PathOrStr] = []
+        local_constraints_file = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+            version=config.version,
+            tmp_dir=local_identifier_tmp_dir,
+        )
+        if local_constraints_file:
             container_constraints_file = PurePosixPath("/constraints.txt")
-
-            container.copy_into(constraints_file, container_constraints_file)
+            container.copy_into(local_constraints_file, container_constraints_file)
             dependency_constraint_flags = ["-c", container_constraints_file]
 
         env = container.get_environment()
@@ -426,7 +427,7 @@ def build_in_container(
     log.step_end()
 
 
-def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:  # noqa: ARG001
+def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     python_configurations = get_python_configurations(
         options.globals.build_selector, options.globals.architectures
     )
@@ -480,6 +481,7 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:  # noqa: ARG001
                     container=container,
                     container_project_path=container_project_path,
                     container_package_dir=container_package_dir,
+                    local_tmp_dir=tmp_path,
                 )
 
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as error:
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/macos.py b/cibuildwheel/macos.py
index 176759d0..a6829eca 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/macos.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/macos.py
@@ -421,12 +421,12 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
             config_is_arm64 = config.identifier.endswith("arm64")
             config_is_universal2 = config.identifier.endswith("universal2")
 
-            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = []
-            if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-                dependency_constraint_flags = [
-                    "-c",
-                    build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(config.version),
-                ]
+            constraints_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+                version=config.version, tmp_dir=identifier_tmp_dir
+            )
+            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = (
+                ["-c", constraints_path] if constraints_path else []
+            )
 
             base_python, env = setup_python(
                 identifier_tmp_dir / "build",
@@ -463,12 +463,9 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
                 build_env = env.copy()
                 if not use_uv:
                     build_env["VIRTUALENV_PIP"] = pip_version
-                if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-                    constraint_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
-                        config.version
-                    )
+                if constraints_path:
                     combine_constraints(
-                        build_env, constraint_path, identifier_tmp_dir if use_uv else None
+                        build_env, constraints_path, identifier_tmp_dir if use_uv else None
                     )
 
                 if build_frontend.name == "pip":
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/options.py b/cibuildwheel/options.py
index 3febe36e..de82d644 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/options.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/options.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class BuildOptions:
     repair_command: str
     manylinux_images: dict[str, str] | None
     musllinux_images: dict[str, str] | None
-    dependency_constraints: DependencyConstraints | None
+    dependency_constraints: DependencyConstraints
     test_command: str | None
     before_test: str | None
     test_sources: list[str]
@@ -693,7 +693,6 @@ class Options:
                 "config-settings", option_format=ShlexTableFormat(sep=" ", pair_sep="=")
             )
 
-            dependency_versions = self.reader.get("dependency-versions")
             test_command = self.reader.get("test-command", option_format=ListFormat(sep=" && "))
             before_test = self.reader.get("before-test", option_format=ListFormat(sep=" && "))
             test_sources = shlex.split(
@@ -739,15 +738,18 @@ class Options:
                     with contextlib.suppress(KeyError):
                         environment.add(env_var_name, self.env[env_var_name], prepend=True)
 
-            if dependency_versions == "pinned":
-                dependency_constraints: DependencyConstraints | None = (
-                    DependencyConstraints.with_defaults()
+            dependency_versions_str = self.reader.get(
+                "dependency-versions",
+                env_plat=True,
+                option_format=ShlexTableFormat(sep="; ", pair_sep=":", allow_merge=False),
+            )
+            try:
+                dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints.from_config_string(
+                    dependency_versions_str
                 )
-            elif dependency_versions == "latest":
-                dependency_constraints = None
-            else:
-                dependency_versions_path = Path(dependency_versions)
-                dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints(dependency_versions_path)
+            except (ValueError, OSError) as e:
+                msg = f"Failed to parse dependency versions. {e}"
+                raise errors.ConfigurationError(msg) from e
 
             if test_extras:
                 test_extras = f"[{test_extras}]"
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/pyodide.py b/cibuildwheel/pyodide.py
index 332be935..3c56df7e 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/pyodide.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/pyodide.py
@@ -265,12 +265,12 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
             built_wheel_dir.mkdir()
             repaired_wheel_dir.mkdir()
 
-            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = []
-            if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-                constraints_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
-                    config.version, variant="pyodide"
-                )
-                dependency_constraint_flags = ["-c", constraints_path]
+            constraints_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+                version=config.version, variant="pyodide", tmp_dir=identifier_tmp_dir
+            )
+            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = (
+                ["-c", constraints_path] if constraints_path else []
+            )
 
             env = setup_python(
                 identifier_tmp_dir / "build",
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
                 )
 
                 build_env = env.copy()
-                if build_options.dependency_constraints:
+                if constraints_path:
                     combine_constraints(build_env, constraints_path, identifier_tmp_dir)
                 build_env["VIRTUALENV_PIP"] = pip_version
                 call(
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/cibuildwheel.schema.json b/cibuildwheel/resources/cibuildwheel.schema.json
index ddbadf3d..2a811d2f 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/cibuildwheel.schema.json
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/cibuildwheel.schema.json
@@ -233,7 +233,45 @@
     "dependency-versions": {
       "default": "pinned",
       "description": "Specify how cibuildwheel controls the versions of the tools it uses",
-      "type": "string",
+      "oneOf": [
+        {
+          "enum": [
+            "pinned",
+            "latest"
+          ]
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Path to a file containing dependency versions, or inline package specifications, starting with \"packages:\"",
+          "not": {
+            "enum": [
+              "pinned",
+              "latest"
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "object",
+          "additionalProperties": false,
+          "properties": {
+            "file": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "object",
+          "additionalProperties": false,
+          "properties": {
+            "packages": {
+              "type": "array",
+              "items": {
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      ],
       "title": "CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS"
     },
     "enable": {
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/util/packaging.py b/cibuildwheel/util/packaging.py
index 3d284820..2c8795b8 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/util/packaging.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/util/packaging.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+import shlex
 from collections.abc import Mapping, MutableMapping, Sequence
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pathlib import Path, PurePath
 from typing import Any, Literal, Self, TypeVar
 
@@ -6,47 +8,109 @@ from packaging.utils import parse_wheel_filename
 
 from . import resources
 from .cmd import call
+from .helpers import parse_key_value_string, unwrap
 
 
+@dataclass()
 class DependencyConstraints:
-    def __init__(self, base_file_path: Path):
-        assert base_file_path.exists()
-        self.base_file_path = base_file_path.resolve()
+    base_file_path: Path | None = None
+    packages: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        if self.packages and self.base_file_path is not None:
+            msg = "Cannot specify both a file and packages in the dependency constraints"
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
+        if self.base_file_path is not None:
+            if not self.base_file_path.exists():
+                msg = f"Dependency constraints file not found: {self.base_file_path}"
+                raise FileNotFoundError(msg)
+            self.base_file_path = self.base_file_path.resolve()
 
     @classmethod
-    def with_defaults(cls) -> Self:
+    def pinned(cls) -> Self:
         return cls(base_file_path=resources.CONSTRAINTS)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def latest(cls) -> Self:
+        return cls()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_config_string(cls, config_string: str) -> Self:
+        if config_string == "pinned":
+            return cls.pinned()
+
+        if config_string == "latest" or not config_string:
+            return cls.latest()
+
+        if config_string.startswith(("file:", "packages:")):
+            # we only do the table-style parsing if it looks like a table,
+            # because this option used to be only a file path. We don't want
+            # to break existing configurations, whose file paths might include
+            # special characters like ':' or ' ', which would require quoting
+            # if they were to be passed as a parse_key_value_string positional
+            # argument.
+            return cls.from_table_style_config_string(config_string)
+
+        return cls(base_file_path=Path(config_string))
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_table_style_config_string(cls, config_string: str) -> Self:
+        config_dict = parse_key_value_string(config_string, kw_arg_names=["file", "packages"])
+        files = config_dict.get("file")
+        packages = config_dict.get("packages") or []
+
+        if files and packages:
+            msg = "Cannot specify both a file and packages in dependency-versions"
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
+        if files:
+            if len(files) > 1:
+                msg = unwrap("""
+                    Only one file can be specified in dependency-versions.
+                    If you intended to pass only one, perhaps you need to quote the path?
+                """)
+                raise ValueError(msg)
+
+            return cls(base_file_path=Path(files[0]))
+
+        return cls(packages=packages)
+
     def get_for_python_version(
-        self, version: str, *, variant: Literal["python", "pyodide"] = "python"
-    ) -> Path:
-        version_parts = version.split(".")
+        self, *, version: str, variant: Literal["python", "pyodide"] = "python", tmp_dir: Path
+    ) -> Path | None:
+        if self.packages:
+            constraint_file = tmp_dir / "constraints.txt"
+            constraint_file.write_text("\n".join(self.packages))
+            return constraint_file
 
-        # try to find a version-specific dependency file e.g. if
-        # ./constraints.txt is the base, look for ./constraints-python36.txt
-        specific_stem = self.base_file_path.stem + f"-{variant}{version_parts[0]}{version_parts[1]}"
-        specific_name = specific_stem + self.base_file_path.suffix
-        specific_file_path = self.base_file_path.with_name(specific_name)
+        if self.base_file_path is not None:
+            version_parts = version.split(".")
 
-        if specific_file_path.exists():
-            return specific_file_path
-        else:
-            return self.base_file_path
+            # try to find a version-specific dependency file e.g. if
+            # ./constraints.txt is the base, look for ./constraints-python36.txt
+            specific_stem = (
+                self.base_file_path.stem + f"-{variant}{version_parts[0]}{version_parts[1]}"
+            )
+            specific_name = specific_stem + self.base_file_path.suffix
+            specific_file_path = self.base_file_path.with_name(specific_name)
 
-    def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        return f"{self.__class__.__name__}({self.base_file_path!r})"
+            if specific_file_path.exists():
+                return specific_file_path
+            else:
+                return self.base_file_path
 
-    def __eq__(self, o: object) -> bool:
-        if not isinstance(o, DependencyConstraints):
-            return False
-
-        return self.base_file_path == o.base_file_path
+        return None
 
     def options_summary(self) -> Any:
-        if self == DependencyConstraints.with_defaults():
+        if self == DependencyConstraints.pinned():
             return "pinned"
-        else:
+        elif self.packages:
+            return {"packages": " ".join(shlex.quote(p) for p in self.packages)}
+        elif self.base_file_path is not None:
             return self.base_file_path.name
+        else:
+            return "latest"
 
 
 def get_pip_version(env: Mapping[str, str]) -> str:
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/windows.py b/cibuildwheel/windows.py
index d07d0707..268e73de 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/windows.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/windows.py
@@ -364,12 +364,13 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
             built_wheel_dir = identifier_tmp_dir / "built_wheel"
             repaired_wheel_dir = identifier_tmp_dir / "repaired_wheel"
 
-            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = []
-            if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-                dependency_constraint_flags = [
-                    "-c",
-                    build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(config.version),
-                ]
+            constraints_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+                version=config.version,
+                tmp_dir=identifier_tmp_dir,
+            )
+            dependency_constraint_flags: Sequence[PathOrStr] = (
+                ["-c", constraints_path] if constraints_path else []
+            )
 
             # install Python
             base_python, env = setup_python(
@@ -411,10 +412,7 @@ def build(options: Options, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
                 if not use_uv:
                     build_env["VIRTUALENV_PIP"] = pip_version
 
-                if build_options.dependency_constraints:
-                    constraints_path = build_options.dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
-                        config.version
-                    )
+                if constraints_path:
                     combine_constraints(build_env, constraints_path, identifier_tmp_dir)
 
                 if build_frontend.name == "pip":
diff --git a/docs/options.md b/docs/options.md
index d3609122..0dfaf0a7 100644
--- a/docs/options.md
+++ b/docs/options.md
@@ -1356,9 +1356,10 @@ Options can be supplied after the name.
 
 
 ### `CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS` {: #dependency-versions}
-> Specify how cibuildwheel controls the versions of the tools it uses
 
-Options: `pinned` `latest` `<your constraints file>`
+> Control the versions of the tools cibuildwheel uses
+
+Options: `pinned` `latest` `packages: SPECIFIER...` `<your constraints file>`
 
 Default: `pinned`
 
@@ -1373,7 +1374,8 @@ fixes that can't wait for a new cibuildwheel release.
 
 To control the versions of dependencies yourself, you can supply a [pip
 constraints](https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/user_guide/#constraints-files) file
-here and it will be used instead.
+here and it will be used instead. Alternatively, you can list constraint
+specifiers inline with the `packages: SPECIFIER...` syntax.
 
 !!! note
     If you need different dependencies for each python version, provide them
@@ -1404,6 +1406,15 @@ Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
 
     # Use your own pip constraints file
     CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS: ./constraints.txt
+
+    # Specify requirements inline
+    CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS: "packages: auditwheel==6.2.0"
+
+    # Choose a specific pyodide-build version
+    CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS_PYODIDE: "packages: pyodide-build==0.29.1"
+
+    # Use shell-style quoting around spaces package specifiers
+    CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS: "packages: 'pip >=16.0.0, !=17'"
     ```
 
 !!! tab examples "pyproject.toml"
@@ -1417,7 +1428,14 @@ Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
     dependency-versions = "latest"
 
     # Use your own pip constraints file
-    dependency-versions = "./constraints.txt"
+    dependency-versions = { file = "./constraints.txt" }
+
+    # Specify requirements inline
+    dependency-versions = { packages = ["auditwheel==6.2.0"] }
+
+    [tool.cibuildwheel.pyodide]
+    # Choose a specific pyodide-build version
+    dependency-versions = { packages = ["pyodide-build==0.29.1"] }
     ```
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_dependency_versions.py b/test/test_dependency_versions.py
index 2cb8a583..b264868f 100644
--- a/test/test_dependency_versions.py
+++ b/test/test_dependency_versions.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def test_pinned_versions(tmp_path, python_version, build_frontend_env_nouv):
     assert set(actual_wheels) == set(expected_wheels)
 
 
-def test_dependency_constraints_file(tmp_path, build_frontend_env_nouv):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("method", ["inline", "file"])
+def test_dependency_constraints(method, tmp_path, build_frontend_env_nouv):
     if utils.platform == "linux":
         pytest.skip("linux doesn't pin individual tool versions, it pins manylinux images instead")
 
@@ -103,15 +104,24 @@ def test_dependency_constraints_file(tmp_path, build_frontend_env_nouv):
         "delocate": "0.10.3",
     }
 
-    constraints_file = tmp_path / "constraints file.txt"
-    constraints_file.write_text(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
-            pip=={pip}
-            delocate=={delocate}
-            """.format(**tool_versions)
+    if method == "file":
+        constraints_file = tmp_path / "constraints file.txt"
+        constraints_file.write_text(
+            textwrap.dedent(
+                """
+                pip=={pip}
+                delocate=={delocate}
+                """.format(**tool_versions)
+            )
         )
-    )
+        dependency_version_option = str(constraints_file)
+    elif method == "inline":
+        dependency_version_option = "packages: " + " ".join(
+            f"{k}=={v}" for k, v in tool_versions.items()
+        )
+    else:
+        msg = f"Unknown method: {method}"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
 
     build_environment = {}
 
@@ -126,7 +136,7 @@ def test_dependency_constraints_file(tmp_path, build_frontend_env_nouv):
         project_dir,
         add_env={
             "CIBW_ENVIRONMENT": cibw_environment_option,
-            "CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS": str(constraints_file),
+            "CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS": dependency_version_option,
             **build_frontend_env_nouv,
         },
     )
diff --git a/unit_test/dependency_constraints_test.py b/unit_test/dependency_constraints_test.py
index 5fcdd600..78d4ab9e 100644
--- a/unit_test/dependency_constraints_test.py
+++ b/unit_test/dependency_constraints_test.py
@@ -1,21 +1,55 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
+import pytest
+
 from cibuildwheel.util.packaging import DependencyConstraints
 
 
-def test_defaults():
-    dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints.with_defaults()
+def test_defaults(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints.pinned()
 
     project_root = Path(__file__).parents[1]
     resources_dir = project_root / "cibuildwheel" / "resources"
 
+    assert dependency_constraints.base_file_path
     assert dependency_constraints.base_file_path.samefile(resources_dir / "constraints.txt")
-    assert dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version("3.99").samefile(
-        resources_dir / "constraints.txt"
+
+    constraints_file = dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+        version="3.99", tmp_dir=tmp_path
     )
-    assert dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version("3.9").samefile(
-        resources_dir / "constraints-python39.txt"
+    assert constraints_file
+    assert constraints_file.samefile(resources_dir / "constraints.txt")
+
+    constraints_file = dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+        version="3.9", tmp_dir=tmp_path
     )
-    assert dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version("3.13").samefile(
-        resources_dir / "constraints-python313.txt"
+    assert constraints_file
+    assert constraints_file.samefile(resources_dir / "constraints-python39.txt")
+
+    constraints_file = dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(
+        version="3.13", tmp_dir=tmp_path
     )
+    assert constraints_file
+    assert constraints_file.samefile(resources_dir / "constraints-python313.txt")
+
+
+def test_inline_packages(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints(
+        base_file_path=None,
+        packages=["foo==1.2.3", "bar==4.5.6"],
+    )
+
+    constraint_file = dependency_constraints.get_for_python_version(version="x.x", tmp_dir=tmp_path)
+    assert constraint_file
+    constraints_file_contents = constraint_file.read_text()
+
+    assert constraints_file_contents == "foo==1.2.3\nbar==4.5.6"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("config_string", ["", "latest", "packages:"])
+def test_empty_constraints(config_string: str) -> None:
+    dependency_constraints = DependencyConstraints.from_config_string(config_string)
+
+    assert not dependency_constraints.packages
+    assert not dependency_constraints.base_file_path
+    assert dependency_constraints == DependencyConstraints.latest()
diff --git a/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py b/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
index c020a7ce..2aaebda4 100644
--- a/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
+++ b/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from cibuildwheel.frontend import _split_config_settings
 from cibuildwheel.options import BuildOptions, _get_pinned_container_images
 from cibuildwheel.selector import BuildSelector, EnableGroup
 from cibuildwheel.util import resources
+from cibuildwheel.util.packaging import DependencyConstraints
 
 # CIBW_PLATFORM is tested in main_platform_test.py
 
@@ -342,6 +343,43 @@ def test_before_all(before_all, platform_specific, platform, intercepted_build_a
     assert build_options.before_all == (before_all or "")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "dependency_versions",
+    [None, "pinned", "latest", "FILE", "packages: pip==21.0.0"],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("platform_specific", [False, True])
+def test_dependency_versions(
+    dependency_versions, platform_specific, platform, intercepted_build_args, monkeypatch, tmp_path
+):
+    option_value = dependency_versions
+
+    if dependency_versions == "FILE":
+        constraints_file = tmp_path / "constraints.txt"
+        constraints_file.write_text("foo==1.2.3\nbar==4.5.6")
+        option_value = str(constraints_file)
+
+    if option_value is not None:
+        if platform_specific:
+            monkeypatch.setenv("CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS_" + platform.upper(), option_value)
+            monkeypatch.setenv("CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS", "overwritten")
+        else:
+            monkeypatch.setenv("CIBW_DEPENDENCY_VERSIONS", option_value)
+
+    main()
+
+    build_options: BuildOptions = intercepted_build_args.args[0].build_options(identifier=None)
+    dependency_constraints = build_options.dependency_constraints
+    if dependency_versions is None or dependency_versions == "pinned":
+        assert dependency_constraints == DependencyConstraints.pinned()
+    elif dependency_versions == "latest":
+        assert dependency_constraints == DependencyConstraints.latest()
+    elif dependency_versions == "FILE":
+        assert dependency_constraints.base_file_path
+        assert dependency_constraints.base_file_path.samefile(Path(option_value))
+    elif dependency_versions.startswith("packages:"):
+        assert dependency_constraints.packages == ["pip==21.0.0"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("method", ["unset", "command_line", "env_var"])
 def test_debug_traceback(monkeypatch, method, capfd):
     if method == "command_line":
diff --git a/unit_test/options_test.py b/unit_test/options_test.py
index fe6f9c34..1bd67aa7 100644
--- a/unit_test/options_test.py
+++ b/unit_test/options_test.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ from cibuildwheel.options import (
     _get_pinned_container_images,
 )
 from cibuildwheel.selector import EnableGroup
+from cibuildwheel.util import resources
+from cibuildwheel.util.packaging import DependencyConstraints
 
 PYPROJECT_1 = """
 [tool.cibuildwheel]
@@ -468,3 +470,62 @@ def test_free_threaded_support(
         assert EnableGroup.CPythonFreeThreading in options.globals.build_selector.enable
     else:
         assert EnableGroup.CPythonFreeThreading not in options.globals.build_selector.enable
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("toml_assignment", "base_file_path", "packages"),
+    [
+        ("", resources.CONSTRAINTS, []),
+        ("dependency-versions = 'pinned'", resources.CONSTRAINTS, []),
+        ("dependency-versions = 'latest'", None, []),
+        ("dependency-versions = 'constraints file.txt'", Path("constraints file.txt"), []),
+        (
+            "dependency-versions = \"file:'constraints file.txt'\"",
+            Path("constraints file.txt"),
+            [],
+        ),
+        (
+            "dependency-versions = {file = 'constraints file.txt'}",
+            Path("constraints file.txt"),
+            [],
+        ),
+        (
+            "dependency-versions = 'packages: foo==1.2.3 bar==4.5.6'",
+            None,
+            ["foo==1.2.3", "bar==4.5.6"],
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_dependency_versions_toml(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    toml_assignment: str,
+    base_file_path: Path | None,
+    packages: list[str] | None,
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    args = CommandLineArguments.defaults()
+    args.package_dir = tmp_path
+
+    (tmp_path / "constraints file.txt").write_text("")
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+
+    pyproject_toml: Path = tmp_path / "pyproject.toml"
+    pyproject_toml.write_text(
+        textwrap.dedent(
+            f"""\
+            [tool.cibuildwheel]
+            {toml_assignment}
+            """
+        )
+    )
+
+    options = Options(platform="linux", command_line_arguments=args, env={})
+    parsed_dependency_constraints = options.build_options(None).dependency_constraints
+    if base_file_path is None and packages is None:
+        assert parsed_dependency_constraints == DependencyConstraints.latest()
+    else:
+        if parsed_dependency_constraints.base_file_path and base_file_path:
+            assert parsed_dependency_constraints.base_file_path.samefile(base_file_path)
+        else:
+            assert parsed_dependency_constraints.base_file_path == base_file_path
+        assert parsed_dependency_constraints.packages == packages