diff --git a/docs/bgm-format.md b/docs/bgm-format.md
index fe23ca5..52c8aff 100644
--- a/docs/bgm-format.md
+++ b/docs/bgm-format.md
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ layout:
 - `align` — `start`, `end`, or `center` of the curve.
 - `steps` — the maximum number of parts per curve length unit. Defaults to
   `1`. See the positioning process below.
-- `tilt` — rotation in radians per shown part about the card's local Y (long)
+- `tilt` — rotation in degrees per shown part about the card's local Y (long)
   axis. Each part tilts `tilt` more than the previous, fanning the stack so
   its edges stay visible. It applies even without a `curve`, so a bare `tilt`
   fans a straight pile.
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/types.ts b/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
index f0a0fe4..832b40c 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ export interface Stacking {
   /** Maximum parts per curve length unit; defaults to `1`. */
   steps?: number;
   /**
-   * Rotation in radians per shown part about the card's local Y (long) axis.
+   * Rotation in degrees per shown part about the card's local Y (long) axis.
    * Each part tilts `tilt` more than the previous, fanning the stack so its
    * edges stay visible. Works with or without a `curve`.
    */
diff --git a/packages/tabletop/src/part.ts b/packages/tabletop/src/part.ts
index 8d44b89..70ed452 100644
--- a/packages/tabletop/src/part.ts
+++ b/packages/tabletop/src/part.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ import {
 /** Scale from mm (the format's `size` unit) to world units. */
 export const MM_TO_WORLD = 1 / 30;
 
+/** Degrees → radians. Angles in the bgm format are authored in degrees. */
+export const DEG_TO_RAD = Math.PI / 180;
+
 /** Default part size `[w, h, d]` in mm when a part has no `size`. */
 const DEFAULT_SIZE: [number, number, number] = [60, 60, 3];
 
diff --git a/packages/tabletop/src/placement.tsx b/packages/tabletop/src/placement.tsx
index ff6090b..0a5d1d9 100644
--- a/packages/tabletop/src/placement.tsx
+++ b/packages/tabletop/src/placement.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import type { Package } from '@tts/bgm';
 import { useStacking } from './stacking.js';
 import type { Placement } from './state.js';
 import { PartView } from './partView.js';
-import { MM_TO_WORLD } from './part.js';
+import { MM_TO_WORLD, DEG_TO_RAD } from './part.js';
 
 export function PartPlacement({ pkg, placement }: { pkg: Package; placement: Placement }) {
   const { route, candidate, piece, index, stackSize } = placement;
@@ -22,15 +22,16 @@ export function PartPlacement({ pkg, placement }: { pkg: Package; placement: Pla
   // Route anchors and stacking offsets are in mm; convert to world units so
   // parts land on the (world-scaled) surface. `z` raises the part along the
   // surface normal (world +Y); `tilt` fans it about its local Y (long) axis.
+  // Angles are authored in degrees; three.js expects radians.
   const anchorX = ((candidate?.x ?? route.x ?? 0) + x) * MM_TO_WORLD;
   const anchorY = ((candidate?.y ?? route.y ?? 0) + y) * MM_TO_WORLD;
   const anchorZ = z * MM_TO_WORLD;
-  const anchorRotation = (candidate?.rotation ?? route.rotation ?? 0) + rotation;
+  const anchorRotation = ((candidate?.rotation ?? route.rotation ?? 0) + rotation) * DEG_TO_RAD;
 
   return (
     <group position={[anchorX, anchorZ, anchorY]} rotation={[0, anchorRotation, 0]}>
       {/* The part mesh extrudes along +Z; lay it flat so its face points up. */}
-      <group rotation={[-Math.PI / 2, 0, tilt]}>
+      <group rotation={[-Math.PI / 2, 0, tilt * DEG_TO_RAD]}>
         <PartView part={part} baseUrl={part.baseUrl} />
       </group>
     </group>
diff --git a/packages/tabletop/src/stacking.ts b/packages/tabletop/src/stacking.ts
index 3c86292..13b8ce2 100644
--- a/packages/tabletop/src/stacking.ts
+++ b/packages/tabletop/src/stacking.ts
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ export interface StackOffset {
   x: number;
   /** y offset from the anchor. */
   y: number;
-  /** Rotation in radians. */
+  /** Rotation in degrees. */
   rotation: number;
   /** Vertical (surface-normal) offset from the anchor, in mm. */
   z: number;
-  /** Rotation in radians about the card's local Y (long) axis. */
+  /** Rotation in degrees about the card's local Y (long) axis. */
   tilt: number;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/tabletop/src/surfaces/WorldSurfaceView.tsx b/packages/tabletop/src/surfaces/WorldSurfaceView.tsx
index 492b1f1..3add4bb 100644
--- a/packages/tabletop/src/surfaces/WorldSurfaceView.tsx
+++ b/packages/tabletop/src/surfaces/WorldSurfaceView.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type { Package } from '@tts/bgm';
 import { useRenderState, placementKey } from '../state.js';
 import { PartPlacement } from '../placement.js';
 import type { MountNode } from '../mount.js';
-import { MM_TO_WORLD } from '../part.js';
+import { MM_TO_WORLD, DEG_TO_RAD } from '../part.js';
 import { SurfaceBounds } from './SurfaceBounds.js';
 import { SurfacePlane } from './SurfacePlane.js';
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export function SurfaceNode({
   return (
     <group
       position={[node.x * MM_TO_WORLD, 0, node.y * MM_TO_WORLD]}
-      rotation={[0, node.rotation, 0]}
+      rotation={[0, node.rotation * DEG_TO_RAD, 0]}
     >
       {showSurface && (
         <>