diff --git a/config.example.toml b/config.example.toml
index 4113a43..a89b2fd 100644
--- a/config.example.toml
+++ b/config.example.toml
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ allow_shared_memory = true
 max_panes = 32
 floating_width = 0.65
 floating_height = 0.65
+# Fractions of the workspace, capped at these many points on large displays.
+floating_max_width = 960
+floating_max_height = 640
 
 # Providing [keys] replaces the entire default map.
 [keys]
diff --git a/result b/result
index ebd0f67..6469c55 120000
--- a/result
+++ b/result
@@ -1 +1 @@
-/nix/store/cq7bwr3w31mdn9rp3sa0isv5i4c6awqg-slerm-0.1.0
\ No newline at end of file
+/nix/store/f3ssbg9n2ykvy4n6wslfgl25gr8pzkbl-slerm-0.1.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index f967def..a9c15db 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -432,25 +432,17 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
                 }
             });
         if tab.floats_visible && !tab.zoomed {
-            for id in tab.floats.clone() {
+            for (index, id) in tab.floats.clone().into_iter().enumerate() {
                 let pane = self.panes.get_mut(&id).unwrap();
                 let window_id = egui::Id::new(("float", tab.id, id));
                 let active = tab.active == id;
+                let (pos, size) = float_placement(workspace, index, &self.config.multiplexer);
                 let result = egui::Window::new(pane_title(id, pane))
                     .id(window_id)
                     .title_bar(false)
                     .constrain_to(workspace)
-                    .default_pos(
-                        workspace.min
-                            + vec2(40.0 + (id % 5) as f32 * 22.0, 40.0 + (id % 5) as f32 * 22.0),
-                    )
-                    .default_size(
-                        workspace.size()
-                            * vec2(
-                                self.config.multiplexer.floating_width,
-                                self.config.multiplexer.floating_height,
-                            ),
-                    )
+                    .default_pos(pos)
+                    .default_size(size)
                     .min_size(vec2(160.0, 100.0))
                     .frame(egui::Frame::NONE.fill(bg))
                     .show(ctx, |ui| {
@@ -569,6 +561,23 @@ fn show_pane(
     focused
 }
 
+/// Where a floating pane opens, from its place in the tab's float list rather than
+/// its pane id: the first one is centred and every later one steps down and right
+/// from it, so the same slot always lands in the same spot. The cascade wraps
+/// before it can walk a float off the far edge.
+fn float_placement(
+    workspace: Rect,
+    index: usize,
+    config: &config::Multiplexer,
+) -> (egui::Pos2, egui::Vec2) {
+    // The fractions are of the workspace, so on a large display they hand a scratch
+    // terminal far more room than it needs; the maximums keep it in hand.
+    let size = (workspace.size() * vec2(config.floating_width, config.floating_height))
+        .min(vec2(config.floating_max_width, config.floating_max_height));
+    let step = (index % 6) as f32 * 28.0;
+    (workspace.center() - size / 2.0 + vec2(step, step), size)
+}
+
 fn pane_title(id: PaneId, pane: &Pane) -> String {
     let title = pane.terminal.title().unwrap_or("");
     format!(
@@ -640,6 +649,41 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn floats_open_centered_then_cascade_and_stay_within_the_maximums() {
+        let config = config::Multiplexer::default();
+        let workspace = Rect::from_min_size(egui::pos2(0.0, 30.0), vec2(3000.0, 1800.0));
+        let (first, size) = float_placement(workspace, 0, &config);
+        assert_eq!(
+            size,
+            vec2(config.floating_max_width, config.floating_max_height),
+            "a large workspace must not hand out a proportionally large float"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            first + size / 2.0,
+            workspace.center(),
+            "the first is centered"
+        );
+
+        let (second, _) = float_placement(workspace, 1, &config);
+        assert!(
+            second.x > first.x && second.y > first.y,
+            "later floats step off it"
+        );
+        // Six slots later the cascade is back where it started, so it cannot walk away.
+        assert_eq!(float_placement(workspace, 6, &config).0, first);
+        assert_eq!(float_placement(workspace, 7, &config).0, second);
+
+        // A small workspace keeps the fractions instead of the maximums.
+        let small = Rect::from_min_size(egui::Pos2::ZERO, vec2(800.0, 600.0));
+        let (pos, size) = float_placement(small, 0, &config);
+        assert_eq!(
+            size,
+            small.size() * vec2(config.floating_width, config.floating_height)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(pos + size / 2.0, small.center());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn toggle_creates_first_float_then_reuses_it_and_close_removes_focus() {
         let ctx = egui::Context::default();
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 4d5c885..5cbcc6d 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ pub struct Multiplexer {
     pub max_panes: usize,
     pub floating_width: f32,
     pub floating_height: f32,
+    pub floating_max_width: f32,
+    pub floating_max_height: f32,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -83,6 +85,10 @@ impl Default for Multiplexer {
             max_panes: 32,
             floating_width: 0.65,
             floating_height: 0.65,
+            // The fractions alone make a float fill half of a large display, which is
+            // far more than a scratch terminal needs, so cap them in points too.
+            floating_max_width: 960.0,
+            floating_max_height: 640.0,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -181,6 +187,15 @@ impl Config {
                 "floating dimensions must be fractions in 0.2..0.95"
             );
         }
+        for points in [
+            config.multiplexer.floating_max_width,
+            config.multiplexer.floating_max_height,
+        ] {
+            ensure!(
+                (160.0..=16384.0).contains(&points),
+                "floating maximums must be 160..16384 points"
+            );
+        }
         for color in [&config.background, &config.foreground, &config.accent] {
             rgb(color)?;
         }