diff --git a/cmd-split-window.c b/cmd-split-window.c
index 335fe420..c5840fec 100644
--- a/cmd-split-window.c
+++ b/cmd-split-window.c
@@ -40,10 +40,11 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_new_pane_entry = {
 
 	.args = { "bc:de:fF:hIkl:Lm:p:PR:s:S:t:vx:X:y:Y:Z", 0, -1, NULL },
 	.usage = "[-bdefhIklPvZ] [-c start-directory] [-e environment] "
-		 "[-F format] [-l size] [-m message] [-p percentage] [-s style] "
-		 "[-S active-border-style] [-R inactive-border-style] "
-		 "[-x width] [-y height] [-X x-position] [-Y y-position] "
-		 CMD_TARGET_PANE_USAGE " [shell-command [argument ...]]",
+		 "[-F format] [-l size] [-m message] [-p percentage] "
+	         "[-s style] [-S active-border-style] "
+	         "[-R inactive-border-style] [-x width] [-y height] "
+	         "[-X x-position] [-Y y-position] " CMD_TARGET_PANE_USAGE " "
+	         "[shell-command [argument ...]]",
 
 	.target = { 't', CMD_FIND_PANE, 0 },
 
@@ -68,21 +69,22 @@ const struct cmd_entry cmd_split_window_entry = {
 };
 
 static struct layout_cell *
-cmd_split_window_get_floating_layout_cell(struct cmdq_item *item,
-    struct args *args, struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp)
+cmd_split_window_get_floating_cell(struct cmdq_item *item, struct args *args,
+    struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp)
 {
 	struct layout_cell	*lc = NULL;
 	char			*cause = NULL;
 	u_int			 x, y, sx, sy;
 
-	if (window_pane_float_geometry(w, wp, &x, &y, &sx, &sy, item, args, &cause)
-	    != 0) {
-		cmdq_error(item, "invalid float geometry %s", cause);
+	if (window_pane_floating_geometry(w, wp, &x, &y, &sx, &sy, item, args,
+	    &cause) != 0) {
+		cmdq_error(item, "invalid floating pane geometry %s", cause);
 		free(cause);
 		return (NULL);
 	}
 
-	/* Floating panes sit in layout cells which are not in the layout_root
+	/*
+	 * Floating panes sit in layout cells which are not in the layout_root
 	 * tree so we call it with parent == NULL.
 	 */
 	lc = layout_create_cell(NULL);
@@ -95,8 +97,8 @@ cmd_split_window_get_floating_layout_cell(struct cmdq_item *item,
 }
 
 static struct layout_cell *
-cmd_split_window_get_tiled_layout_cell(struct cmdq_item *item,
-    struct args *args, struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp, int flags)
+cmd_split_window_get_tiled_cell(struct cmdq_item *item, struct args *args,
+    struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp, int flags)
 {
 	enum layout_type	 type;
 	struct layout_cell	*lc = NULL;
@@ -108,7 +110,7 @@ cmd_split_window_get_tiled_layout_cell(struct cmdq_item *item,
 		return (NULL);
 	}
 
-	if (window_pane_tile_geometry(w, wp, &size, &flags, &type, item, args,
+	if (window_pane_tiled_geometry(w, wp, &size, &flags, &type, item, args,
 	    &cause) != 0) {
 		cmdq_error(item, "invalid tiled geometry %s", cause);
 		free(cause);
@@ -119,6 +121,7 @@ cmd_split_window_get_tiled_layout_cell(struct cmdq_item *item,
 	lc = layout_split_pane(wp, type, size, flags);
 	if (lc == NULL)
 		cmdq_error(item, "no space for new pane");
+
 	return (lc);
 }
 
@@ -146,7 +149,6 @@ cmd_split_window_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		is_floating = !args_has(args, 'L');
 	else
 		is_floating = 0;
-
 	input = (args_has(args, 'I') && count == 0);
 
 	flags = is_floating ? SPAWN_FLOATING : 0;
@@ -158,11 +160,9 @@ cmd_split_window_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		flags |= SPAWN_EMPTY;
 
 	if (is_floating)
-		lc = cmd_split_window_get_floating_layout_cell(item, args, w,
-			wp);
+		lc = cmd_split_window_get_floating_cell(item, args, w, wp);
 	else
-		lc = cmd_split_window_get_tiled_layout_cell(item, args, w, wp,
-			flags);
+		lc = cmd_split_window_get_tiled_cell(item, args, w, wp, flags);
 	if (lc == NULL)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 
diff --git a/layout-custom.c b/layout-custom.c
index 33027738..a52c46be 100644
--- a/layout-custom.c
+++ b/layout-custom.c
@@ -289,9 +289,9 @@ layout_parse(struct window *w, const char *layout, char **cause)
 	if (floating_lc != NULL)
 		layout_assign(&wp, floating_lc, PANE_FLOATING);
 
-	/* Fix z indexes. */
-	while (!TAILQ_EMPTY(&w->z_index)) {
-		wp = TAILQ_FIRST(&w->z_index);
+        /* Fix pane Z indexes. */
+        while (!TAILQ_EMPTY(&w->z_index)) {
+                wp = TAILQ_FIRST(&w->z_index);
 		TAILQ_REMOVE(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
 	}
 	if (floating_lc != NULL)
diff --git a/layout.c b/layout.c
index 7c687e51..dced35c1 100644
--- a/layout.c
+++ b/layout.c
@@ -245,15 +245,15 @@ layout_fix_zindexes(struct window *w, struct layout_cell *lc)
 	switch (lc->type) {
 	case LAYOUT_WINDOWPANE:
 		TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&w->z_index, lc->wp, zentry);
-		break;
+	        break;
 	case LAYOUT_LEFTRIGHT:
 	case LAYOUT_TOPBOTTOM:
 	case LAYOUT_FLOATING:
 		TAILQ_FOREACH(lcchild, &lc->cells, entry)
-			layout_fix_zindexes(w, lcchild);
-		return;
+	                layout_fix_zindexes(w, lcchild);
+	        return;
 	default:
-		fatalx("bad layout type");
+	        fatalx("bad layout type");
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 7683d8da..a39d2a5b 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1386,6 +1386,9 @@ struct window {
 	u_int			 new_xpixel;
 	u_int			 new_ypixel;
 
+	u_int			 last_new_pane_x;
+	u_int			 last_new_pane_y;
+
 	struct utf8_data	*fill_character;
 	int			 flags;
 #define WINDOW_BELL 0x1
@@ -3485,12 +3488,12 @@ enum client_theme window_pane_get_theme(struct window_pane *);
 void		 window_pane_send_theme_update(struct window_pane *);
 struct style_range *window_pane_border_status_get_range(struct window_pane *,
 			u_int, u_int);
-int		 window_pane_tile_geometry(struct window *, struct window_pane *,
-		     int *, int *, enum layout_type *, struct cmdq_item *,
-		     struct args *, char **);
-int		 window_pane_float_geometry(struct window *, struct window_pane *,
-		     u_int *, u_int *, u_int *, u_int *, struct cmdq_item *,
-		     struct args *, char **);
+int              window_pane_tiled_geometry(struct window *,
+		     struct window_pane *, int *, int *, enum layout_type *,
+		     struct cmdq_item *, struct args *, char **);
+int              window_pane_floating_geometry(struct window *,
+		     struct window_pane *, u_int *, u_int *, u_int *, u_int *,
+		     struct cmdq_item *, struct args *, char **);
 
 /* layout.c */
 u_int		 layout_count_cells(struct layout_cell *);
diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index ca905238..8679de63 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -597,10 +597,7 @@ window_redraw_active_switch(struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp)
 		if (wp == w->active)
 			break;
 
-		/* If you want tiled planes to be able to bury
-		 * floating planes then do this regardless of
-		 * wp->flags & PANE_FLOATING or not.  A new option?
-		 */
+		/* If the pane is floating, move to the front. */
 		if (wp->flags & PANE_FLOATING) {
 			TAILQ_REMOVE(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
 			TAILQ_INSERT_HEAD(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
@@ -627,8 +624,7 @@ window_get_active_at(struct window *w, u_int x, u_int y)
 			continue;
 		window_pane_full_size_offset(wp, &xoff, &yoff, &sx, &sy);
 		if (~wp->flags & PANE_FLOATING) {
-			/* Tiled, select up to including bottom or
-			   right border. */
+			/* Tiled - to and including bottom or right border. */
 			if ((int)x < xoff || x > xoff + sx)
 				continue;
 			if (pane_status == PANE_STATUS_TOP) {
@@ -639,7 +635,7 @@ window_get_active_at(struct window *w, u_int x, u_int y)
 					continue;
 			}
 		} else {
-			/* Floating, include top or or left border. */
+			/* Floating - include top or or left border. */
 			if ((int)x < xoff - 1 || x > xoff + sx)
 				continue;
 			if (pane_status == PANE_STATUS_TOP) {
@@ -647,7 +643,7 @@ window_get_active_at(struct window *w, u_int x, u_int y)
 					continue;
 			} else {
 				if ((int)y < yoff - 1 || y > yoff + sy)
-				continue;
+					continue;
 			}
 		}
 		return (wp);
@@ -796,12 +792,12 @@ window_add_pane(struct window *w, struct window_pane *other, u_int hlimit,
 		else
 			TAILQ_INSERT_AFTER(&w->panes, other, wp, entry);
 	}
-	/* Floating panes are created above tiled planes. */
-	if (flags & SPAWN_FLOATING) {
+	if (~flags & SPAWN_FLOATING)
+		TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
+	else {
 		wp->flags |= PANE_FLOATING;
 		TAILQ_INSERT_HEAD(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
-	} else
-		TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
+	}
 	return (wp);
 }
 
@@ -834,7 +830,6 @@ void
 window_remove_pane(struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp)
 {
 	window_lost_pane(w, wp);
-
 	TAILQ_REMOVE(&w->panes, wp, entry);
 	TAILQ_REMOVE(&w->z_index, wp, zentry);
 	window_pane_destroy(wp);
@@ -902,7 +897,7 @@ window_count_panes(struct window *w, int with_floating)
 	u_int			 n = 0;
 
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(wp, &w->panes, entry) {
-                if (with_floating || ~wp->flags & PANE_FLOATING)
+		if (with_floating || ~wp->flags & PANE_FLOATING)
 			n++;
 	}
 	return (n);
@@ -1260,7 +1255,7 @@ window_pane_reset_mode_all(struct window_pane *wp)
 static void
 window_pane_copy_paste(struct window_pane *wp, char *buf, size_t len)
 {
- 	struct window_pane	*loop;
+	struct window_pane	*loop;
 
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(loop, &wp->window->panes, entry) {
 		if (loop != wp &&
@@ -1278,7 +1273,7 @@ window_pane_copy_paste(struct window_pane *wp, char *buf, size_t len)
 static void
 window_pane_copy_key(struct window_pane *wp, key_code key)
 {
- 	struct window_pane	*loop;
+	struct window_pane	*loop;
 
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(loop, &wp->window->panes, entry) {
 		if (loop != wp &&
@@ -2074,10 +2069,11 @@ window_pane_border_status_get_range(struct window_pane *wp, u_int x, u_int y)
 	return (style_ranges_get_range(srs, x - wp->xoff - 2));
 }
 
+/* Work out geometry for tiled panes. */
 int
-window_pane_tile_geometry(struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp, int *out_size,
-    int *out_flags, enum layout_type *out_type, struct cmdq_item *item,
-    struct args *args, char **cause)
+window_pane_tiled_geometry(struct window *w, struct window_pane *wp,
+    int *out_size, int *out_flags, enum layout_type *out_type,
+    struct cmdq_item *item, struct args *args, char **cause)
 {
 	int			size, flags = *out_flags;
 	enum layout_type	type;
@@ -2191,3 +2187,62 @@ out:
 	*out_sy = sy;
 	return (0);
 }
+
+/* Work out geometry for floating panes. */
+int
+window_pane_floating_geometry(struct window *w, __unused struct window_pane *wp,
+    u_int *out_x, u_int *out_y, u_int *out_sx, u_int *out_sy,
+    struct cmdq_item *item, struct args *args, char **cause)
+{
+	u_int	x, y, sx = w->sx / 2, sy = w->sy / 2;
+
+	if (args_has(args, 'x')) {
+		sx = args_percentage_and_expand(args, 'x', 0, USHRT_MAX, w->sx,
+		    item, cause);
+		if (*cause != NULL)
+			return (-1);
+	}
+	if (args_has(args, 'y')) {
+		sy = args_percentage_and_expand(args, 'y', 0, USHRT_MAX, w->sy,
+		    item, cause);
+		if (*cause != NULL)
+			return (-1);
+	}
+
+	if (args_has(args, 'X')) {
+		x = args_percentage_and_expand(args, 'X', 0, USHRT_MAX, w->sx,
+		    item, cause);
+		if (*cause != NULL)
+			return (-1);
+	} else {
+		if (w->last_new_pane_x == 0)
+			x = 4;
+		else {
+			x = w->last_new_pane_x + 4;
+			if (w->last_new_pane_x > w->sx)
+				x = 4;
+		}
+		w->last_new_pane_x = x;
+	}
+	if (args_has(args, 'Y')) {
+		y = args_percentage_and_expand(args, 'Y', 0, USHRT_MAX, w->sy,
+		    item, cause);
+		if (*cause != NULL)
+			return (-1);
+	} else {
+		if (w->last_new_pane_y == 0)
+			y = 2;
+		else {
+			y = w->last_new_pane_y + 2;
+			if (w->last_new_pane_y > w->sy)
+				y = 2;
+		}
+		w->last_new_pane_y = y;
+	}
+
+	*out_x = x;
+	*out_y = y;
+	*out_sx = sx;
+	*out_sy = sy;
+	return (0);
+}