diff --git a/components/canvas/canvas-command-palette.tsx b/components/canvas/canvas-command-palette.tsx
index f36a915..1f3dfcd 100644
--- a/components/canvas/canvas-command-palette.tsx
+++ b/components/canvas/canvas-command-palette.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 
 import { useCanvasPlacement } from "@/components/canvas/canvas-placement-context";
+import { useCenteredFlowNodePosition } from "@/hooks/use-centered-flow-node-position";
 import {
   Command,
   CommandDialog,
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ const NODE_SEARCH_KEYWORDS: Partial<
 export function CanvasCommandPalette() {
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
   const { createNodeWithIntersection } = useCanvasPlacement();
+  const getCenteredPosition = useCenteredFlowNodePosition();
   const { setTheme } = useTheme();
   const nodeCountRef = useRef(0);
 
@@ -73,12 +75,12 @@ export function CanvasCommandPalette() {
     width: number,
     height: number,
   ) => {
-    const offset = (nodeCountRef.current % 8) * 24;
+    const stagger = (nodeCountRef.current % 8) * 24;
     nodeCountRef.current += 1;
     setOpen(false);
     void createNodeWithIntersection({
       type,
-      position: { x: 100 + offset, y: 100 + offset },
+      position: getCenteredPosition(width, height, stagger),
       width,
       height,
       data,
diff --git a/components/canvas/canvas-toolbar.tsx b/components/canvas/canvas-toolbar.tsx
index 8e58838..f8b5626 100644
--- a/components/canvas/canvas-toolbar.tsx
+++ b/components/canvas/canvas-toolbar.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useRef } from "react";
 import { CreditDisplay } from "@/components/canvas/credit-display";
 import { ExportButton } from "@/components/canvas/export-button";
 import { useCanvasPlacement } from "@/components/canvas/canvas-placement-context";
+import { useCenteredFlowNodePosition } from "@/hooks/use-centered-flow-node-position";
 import {
   CANVAS_NODE_TEMPLATES,
   type CanvasNodeTemplate,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ export default function CanvasToolbar({
   canvasName,
 }: CanvasToolbarProps) {
   const { createNodeWithIntersection } = useCanvasPlacement();
+  const getCenteredPosition = useCenteredFlowNodePosition();
   const nodeCountRef = useRef(0);
 
   const handleAddNode = async (
@@ -26,11 +28,11 @@ export default function CanvasToolbar({
     width: number,
     height: number,
   ) => {
-    const offset = (nodeCountRef.current % 8) * 24;
+    const stagger = (nodeCountRef.current % 8) * 24;
     nodeCountRef.current += 1;
     await createNodeWithIntersection({
       type,
-      position: { x: 100 + offset, y: 100 + offset },
+      position: getCenteredPosition(width, height, stagger),
       width,
       height,
       data,
diff --git a/hooks/use-centered-flow-node-position.ts b/hooks/use-centered-flow-node-position.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..698a79d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hooks/use-centered-flow-node-position.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useCallback } from "react";
+import { useReactFlow } from "@xyflow/react";
+
+const SNAP = 16;
+
+function snapToGrid(x: number, y: number): { x: number; y: number } {
+  return {
+    x: Math.round(x / SNAP) * SNAP,
+    y: Math.round(y / SNAP) * SNAP,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Top-left flow position for a node centered in the visible React Flow pane
+ * (viewport), with optional stagger and 16px grid snap to match the canvas.
+ */
+export function useCenteredFlowNodePosition() {
+  const { screenToFlowPosition } = useReactFlow();
+
+  return useCallback(
+    (width: number, height: number, stagger: number) => {
+      const pane = document.querySelector(".react-flow__pane");
+      const rect =
+        pane?.getBoundingClientRect() ??
+        document.querySelector(".react-flow")?.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+      if (!rect || rect.width === 0 || rect.height === 0) {
+        return snapToGrid(100 + stagger, 100 + stagger);
+      }
+
+      const center = screenToFlowPosition({
+        x: rect.left + rect.width / 2,
+        y: rect.top + rect.height / 2,
+      });
+
+      const x = center.x - width / 2 + stagger;
+      const y = center.y - height / 2 + stagger;
+      return snapToGrid(x, y);
+    },
+    [screenToFlowPosition],
+  );
+}