diff --git a/src/store/tools/__tests__/placementOrder.spec.ts b/src/store/tools/__tests__/placementOrder.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a2d849e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/store/tools/__tests__/placementOrder.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { setActivePinia, createPinia } from 'pinia';
+import vtkImageData from '@kitware/vtk.js/Common/DataModel/ImageData';
+
+import { useImageCacheStore } from '@/src/store/image-cache';
+import { useRulerStore } from '@/src/store/tools/rulers';
+import { useRectangleStore } from '@/src/store/tools/rectangles';
+import { usePolygonStore } from '@/src/store/tools/polygons';
+import { useViewStore } from '@/src/store/views';
+
+const IMAGE_ID = 'img-1';
+
+describe.each([
+  ['ruler', useRulerStore],
+  ['rectangle', useRectangleStore],
+  ['polygon', usePolygonStore],
+] as const)('%s placement order', (_name, useStore) => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    setActivePinia(createPinia());
+    useImageCacheStore().addVTKImageData(vtkImageData.newInstance(), 'CT', {
+      id: IMAGE_ID,
+    });
+    useViewStore().setDataForAllViews(IMAGE_ID);
+  });
+
+  it('lists and saves finished tools in placement order, excluding unfinished tools', () => {
+    const store = useStore();
+    const existing = store.addTool({ imageID: IMAGE_ID });
+    // each view creates its placing tool up front
+    const lowerLeft = store.addTool({ imageID: IMAGE_ID, placing: true });
+    const upperLeft = store.addTool({ imageID: IMAGE_ID, placing: true });
+
+    store.addTool({ imageID: IMAGE_ID, placing: true });
+
+    store.placeTool(upperLeft);
+    store.placeTool(lowerLeft);
+
+    const expected = [existing, upperLeft, lowerLeft];
+    expect(store.finishedTools.map((tool) => tool.id)).toEqual(expected);
+    expect(store.serializeTools().tools.map((tool) => tool.id)).toEqual(
+      expected
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/store/tools/useAnnotationTool.ts b/src/store/tools/useAnnotationTool.ts
index 0ee6b50b4..ed31f040d 100644
--- a/src/store/tools/useAnnotationTool.ts
+++ b/src/store/tools/useAnnotationTool.ts
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ export const useAnnotationTool = <
   function placeTool(id: ToolID) {
     resolveToolSegment(id);
     updateTool(id, { placing: false } as ToolPatch);
+    // Placing tools are created ahead of time per view, so their IDs are not in
+    // the order they get placed. Move the placed tool last so lists follow it.
+    if (id in toolByID.value) {
+      removeFromArray(toolIDs.value, id);
+      toolIDs.value.push(id);
+    }
   }
 
   // Delete-base cleanup: a removed image's tools