diff --git a/crates/tools/src/place.rs b/crates/tools/src/place.rs
index a885b0ca3..af67b38c0 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/place.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/place.rs
@@ -124,7 +124,12 @@ impl Tool for PlaceTool {
 
     fn overlays(&self, cx: &ToolContext) -> Vec<Overlay> {
         let Some((a, b)) = self.drag else { return vec![] };
-        self.target(a, b, cx.tol(3.0)).map(Overlay::Marquee).into_iter().collect()
+        let Some(r) = self.target(a, b, cx.tol(3.0)) else { return vec![] };
+        let mut o = vec![Overlay::Marquee(r)];
+        if cx.measurement_labels {
+            o.push(Overlay::Measure { p: b, text: cx.size_label(r.width(), r.height()) });
+        }
+        o
     }
 
     fn cursor(&self, _cx: &ToolContext, _p: Point, _mods: Mods) -> Cursor {
@@ -215,7 +220,8 @@ mod tests {
         // A drag up and to the left grows the box from the press point, aspect kept.
         t.pointer(&c, &ev(PointerKind::Down, 100.0, 100.0));
         t.pointer(&c, &ev(PointerKind::Drag, 20.0, 90.0));
-        assert_eq!(t.overlays(&c), vec![Overlay::Marquee(Rect::new(20.0, 60.0, 100.0, 100.0))]);
+        let c_marquee_only = ToolContext { measurement_labels: false, ..c };
+        assert_eq!(t.overlays(&c_marquee_only), vec![Overlay::Marquee(Rect::new(20.0, 60.0, 100.0, 100.0))]);
         let acts = t.pointer(&c, &ev(PointerKind::Up, 20.0, 90.0));
         assert_eq!(acts[0], Action::Exec("file.place".into(), json!({"path": "f1.png", "rect": [20.0, 60.0, 80.0, 40.0]})));
         assert_eq!(t.options()["count"], 1);
@@ -226,6 +232,29 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!t.claims_key(&c, ToolKey::Escape), "an empty cursor takes no keys");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn measurement_labels_gate_the_place_size_readout() {
+        let (d, _) = doc_with_rect();
+        let (s, p) = (Default::default(), paint());
+        let base = cx(&d, &s, &p);
+        let mut t = loaded(1);
+        t.pointer(&base, &ev(PointerKind::Down, 100.0, 100.0));
+        t.pointer(&base, &ev(PointerKind::Drag, 20.0, 90.0));
+        let r = Rect::new(20.0, 60.0, 100.0, 100.0);
+        for on in [false, true] {
+            let c = ToolContext { measurement_labels: on, ..base };
+            let o = t.overlays(&c);
+            assert!(o.iter().any(|x| matches!(x, Overlay::Marquee(_))));
+            let measures = o.iter().filter(|x| matches!(x, Overlay::Measure { .. })).count();
+            assert_eq!(measures, usize::from(on), "measurement labels {on}");
+            if on {
+                assert!(o.iter().any(
+                    |x| matches!(x, Overlay::Measure { p, text, .. } if *p == Point::new(20.0, 90.0) && text == &c.size_label(r.width(), r.height()))
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn arrows_cycle_and_escape_discards() {
         let (d, _) = doc_with_rect();