diff --git a/d2layouts/d2grid/layout.go b/d2layouts/d2grid/layout.go
index 7e106eb0a..14df29c5d 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2grid/layout.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2grid/layout.go
@@ -124,8 +124,7 @@ func Layout(ctx context.Context, g *d2graph.Graph) error {
 		innerTL := s.GetInsidePlacement(totalWidth, totalHeight, 0, 0)
 		// depending on the shape innerBox may be larger than totalWidth, totalHeight
 		// if this is the case, we want to center the cells within the larger innerBox
-		innerBox := s.GetInnerBox()
-
+		innerBox := s.GetInnerBoxForContent(totalWidth, totalHeight)
 		var resizeDx, resizeDy float64
 		if innerBox.Width > totalWidth {
 			resizeDx = (innerBox.Width - totalWidth) / 2
diff --git a/lib/shape/shape.go b/lib/shape/shape.go
index 29bbdc36e..a7f5ad594 100644
--- a/lib/shape/shape.go
+++ b/lib/shape/shape.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ type Shape interface {
 
 	GetBox() *geo.Box
 	GetInnerBox() *geo.Box
+	GetInnerBoxForContent(width, height float64) *geo.Box
 
 	// placing a rectangle of the given size and padding inside the shape, return the position relative to the shape's TopLeft
 	GetInsidePlacement(width, height, paddingX, paddingY float64) geo.Point
@@ -88,6 +89,11 @@ func (s baseShape) GetInnerBox() *geo.Box {
 	return s.Box
 }
 
+// only cloud shape needs this right now
+func (s baseShape) GetInnerBoxForContent(width, height float64) *geo.Box {
+	return (*s.FullShape).GetInnerBox()
+}
+
 func (s baseShape) GetInsidePlacement(_, _, paddingX, paddingY float64) geo.Point {
 	innerTL := (*s.FullShape).GetInnerBox().TopLeft
 	return *geo.NewPoint(innerTL.X+paddingX/2, innerTL.Y+paddingY/2)
diff --git a/lib/shape/shape_cloud.go b/lib/shape/shape_cloud.go
index 11a34e6bc..0f224bf8b 100644
--- a/lib/shape/shape_cloud.go
+++ b/lib/shape/shape_cloud.go
@@ -43,12 +43,16 @@ func NewCloud(box *geo.Box) Shape {
 	return shape
 }
 
-// TODO this isn't always accurate since the content aspect ratio might be different from the final shape's https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/issues/1735
 func (s shapeCloud) GetInnerBox() *geo.Box {
-	width := s.Box.Width
-	height := s.Box.Height
+	return s.GetInnerBoxForContent(s.Box.Width, s.Box.Height)
+}
+
+// we need this since the content's aspect ratio determines which placement is used
+func (s shapeCloud) GetInnerBoxForContent(width, height float64) *geo.Box {
 	insideTL := s.GetInsidePlacement(width, height, 0, 0)
 	aspectRatio := width / height
+	// aspect ratio and position are computed with given dimensions, but final box size is determined by shape size
+	width, height = s.Box.Width, s.Box.Height
 	if aspectRatio > CLOUD_WIDE_ASPECT_BOUNDARY {
 		width *= CLOUD_WIDE_INNER_WIDTH
 		height *= CLOUD_WIDE_INNER_HEIGHT