diff --git a/Source/inv.cpp b/Source/inv.cpp
index 649f29a4a..c26be968c 100644
--- a/Source/inv.cpp
+++ b/Source/inv.cpp
@@ -580,6 +580,21 @@ void DrawInvBelt()
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Gets the size, in inventory cells, of the given item.
+ * @param item The item whose size is to be determined.
+ * @return The size, in inventory cells, of the item.
+ */
+InvXY GetInventorySize(const ItemStruct &item)
+{
+	int itemSizeIndex = item._iCurs + CURSOR_FIRSTITEM;
+
+	return {
+		InvItemWidth[itemSizeIndex] / INV_SLOT_SIZE_PX,
+		InvItemHeight[itemSizeIndex] / INV_SLOT_SIZE_PX,
+	};
+}
+
 BOOL AutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy, BOOL saveflag)
 {
 	int i, j, xx, yy;
@@ -635,7 +650,7 @@ BOOL AutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy, BOOL saveflag)
 	return done;
 }
 
-BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy)
+BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, const ItemStruct &item)
 {
 	int i, j, xx, yy;
 	BOOL done;
@@ -645,7 +660,9 @@ BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy)
 	if (yy < 0) {
 		yy = 0;
 	}
-	for (j = 0; j < sy && done; j++) {
+
+	InvXY itemSize = GetInventorySize(item); 
+	for (j = 0; j < itemSize.Y && done; j++) {
 		if (yy >= NUM_INV_GRID_ELEM) {
 			done = FALSE;
 		}
@@ -653,7 +670,7 @@ BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy)
 		if (xx < 0) {
 			xx = 0;
 		}
-		for (i = 0; i < sx && done; i++) {
+		for (i = 0; i < itemSize.X && done; i++) {
 			if (xx >= 10) {
 				done = FALSE;
 			} else {
@@ -664,7 +681,7 @@ BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy)
 		yy += 10;
 	}
 	if (!done) {
-		if (sx > 1 || sy > 1) {
+		if (itemSize.X > 1 || itemSize.Y > 1) {
 			done = FALSE;
 		} else {
 			for (i = 0; i < MAXBELTITEMS; i++) {
diff --git a/Source/inv.h b/Source/inv.h
index 7ea96d254..3b5a25cb6 100644
--- a/Source/inv.h
+++ b/Source/inv.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ void InitInv();
 void DrawInv();
 void DrawInvBelt();
 BOOL AutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy, BOOL saveflag);
-BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, int sx, int sy);
+BOOL SpecialAutoPlace(int pnum, int ii, const ItemStruct &item);
 BOOL GoldAutoPlace(int pnum);
 void CheckInvSwap(int pnum, BYTE bLoc, int idx, WORD wCI, int seed, BOOL bId);
 void inv_update_rem_item(int pnum, BYTE iv);
diff --git a/Source/stores.cpp b/Source/stores.cpp
index afb9a1389..55ee3aceb 100644
--- a/Source/stores.cpp
+++ b/Source/stores.cpp
@@ -2270,7 +2270,7 @@ void S_WBuyEnter()
 			done = FALSE;
 
 			for (i = 0; i < NUM_INV_GRID_ELEM && !done; i++) {
-				done = SpecialAutoPlace(myplr, i, cursW / 28, cursH / 28);
+				done = SpecialAutoPlace(myplr, i, plr[myplr].HoldItem);
 			}
 
 			if (done)
@@ -2571,7 +2571,7 @@ void S_HBuyEnter()
 			done = FALSE;
 
 			for (i = 0; i < NUM_INV_GRID_ELEM && !done; i++) {
-				done = SpecialAutoPlace(myplr, i, cursW / 28, cursH / 28);
+				done = SpecialAutoPlace(myplr, i, plr[myplr].HoldItem);
 			}
 
 			if (done)