diff --git a/src/lib/item-size.test.ts b/src/lib/item-size.test.ts
index 857375b..a0ec698 100644
--- a/src/lib/item-size.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/item-size.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   compareSizes,
   describeSize,
   parseItemSize,
+  sizeRank,
   SIZE_RANK_EXACT,
   SIZE_RANK_KIND,
   SIZE_RANK_NEAR_BASE,
@@ -330,3 +331,34 @@ describe("describeSize", () => {
     expect(describeSize(parseItemSize("Widget"))).toBe("");
   });
 });
+
+describe("sizeRank — seen on the live POS 2026-10-24", () => {
+  it("ranks an item that doesn't name its type above a wrong length", () => {
+    const line = parseItemSize("M12 x 40 cap screw 12.9");
+    const allen = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("M12 X 40 ALLEN CAP"));
+    const shorter = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("M12 x 30 cap screw"));
+    expect(allen).toBeLessThan(shorter);
+  });
+
+  it("ranks a same-thread item with no length behind shorter same-kind items", () => {
+    const line = parseItemSize("M12 x 40 cap screw 12.9");
+    expect(parseItemSize("M12 WSHR 4.8 ZP").kind).toBe("washer");
+    const washer = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("M12 WSHR 4.8 ZP"));
+    const shorter = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("M12 x 30 cap screw"));
+    expect(shorter).toBeLessThan(washer);
+  });
+
+  it("reads allen cap / socket cap as a cap screw", () => {
+    expect(parseItemSize("M12 X 40 ALLEN CAP").kind).toBe("cap_screw");
+    expect(parseItemSize("M10x25 socket cap").kind).toBe("cap_screw");
+  });
+
+  it("ranks a matching dimension above a conflicting one for non-fasteners", () => {
+    const line = parseItemSize('Funnel 150mm PVC round 2 piece Flexible ("6") Round');
+    const brush = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("PAINT BRUSH, 150mm BLONDIE"));
+    const trimmer = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("HUSQVARNA TRIMMER LINE 2.0MM X 15M"));
+    const plain = sizeRank(line, parseItemSize("PVC FUNNEL"));
+    expect(brush).toBeLessThan(plain);
+    expect(plain).toBeLessThan(trimmer);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/item-size.ts b/src/lib/item-size.ts
index fec8333..5568d01 100644
--- a/src/lib/item-size.ts
+++ b/src/lib/item-size.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ export const SIZE_RANK_THREAD = 1000;
 export const SIZE_RANK_KIND = 2000;
 /** Nothing comparable. */
 export const SIZE_RANK_OTHER = 3000;
+/** Length gap used for a same-thread candidate that states no length. */
+const NO_LENGTH_GAP = 500;
+/** Added to SIZE_RANK_OTHER when a stated dimension conflicts. */
+export const SIZE_RANK_CONFLICT = 500;
 
 // ─── Word lists ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -112,10 +116,12 @@ const KIND_PHRASES: Array<{ re: RegExp; kind: ItemSizeKind }> = [
   { re: /\bhex\s*head\s*bolts?\b/, kind: "bolt" },
   { re: /\bhex\s*bolts?\b/, kind: "bolt" },
   { re: /\bbolts?\b/, kind: "bolt" },
-  { re: /\bwashers?\b/, kind: "washer" },
+  { re: /\b(?:washers?|wshrs?|wash)\b/, kind: "washer" },
   { re: /\bset\s*screws?\b/, kind: "setscrew" },
   { re: /\bset\s*scr\b/, kind: "setscrew" },
   { re: /\bgrub\s*screws?\b/, kind: "setscrew" },
+  { re: /\b(?:allen|socket)\s*caps?\b/, kind: "cap_screw" },
+  { re: /\bcap\s*heads?\b/, kind: "cap_screw" },
   { re: /\bcap\s*screws?\b/, kind: "cap_screw" },
   { re: /\bsocket\s*head\s*cap\s*screws?\b/, kind: "cap_screw" },
   { re: /\bstuds?\b/, kind: "stud" },
@@ -406,22 +412,52 @@ export function compareSizes(line: ItemSize, cand: ItemSize): SizeCompare {
 export function sizeRank(line: ItemSize, cand: ItemSize): number {
   if (!hasSizeInfo(line)) return SIZE_RANK_OTHER;
 
-  const kindSame = line.kind !== null && cand.kind !== null && cand.kind === line.kind;
+  // A type the candidate doesn't state ("M12 X 40 ALLEN CAP" before the
+  // parser knew the word) is compatible, just behind a stated match; a
+  // stated different type is not.
+  const kindKnownSame = line.kind !== null && cand.kind === line.kind;
+  const kindOk = line.kind === null || cand.kind === null || cand.kind === line.kind;
+  const kindPenalty = kindKnownSame || line.kind === null ? 0 : 1;
   const threadSame =
     line.thread !== null && cand.thread !== null && cand.thread === line.thread;
   const lengthSame =
     line.length !== null && cand.length !== null && cand.length === line.length;
 
-  if (kindSame && threadSame && lengthSame) return SIZE_RANK_EXACT;
-  if (kindSame && threadSame) {
-    const gap =
-      line.length !== null && cand.length !== null
-        ? Math.min(999, Math.abs(line.length - cand.length))
-        : 0;
-    return SIZE_RANK_NEAR_BASE + gap;
+  if (line.thread !== null) {
+    if (kindOk && threadSame && lengthSame) return SIZE_RANK_EXACT + kindPenalty;
+    if (kindOk && threadSame) {
+      // A candidate with no length at all (a washer, a nut) sits behind
+      // every same-thread item that has one.
+      const gap =
+        line.length === null
+          ? 0
+          : cand.length === null
+            ? NO_LENGTH_GAP
+            : Math.min(999, Math.abs(line.length - cand.length));
+      return SIZE_RANK_NEAR_BASE + kindPenalty + gap;
+    }
+    if (threadSame) return SIZE_RANK_THREAD;
+    if (kindKnownSame) return SIZE_RANK_KIND;
+    return SIZE_RANK_OTHER;
   }
-  if (threadSame) return SIZE_RANK_THREAD;
-  if (kindSame) return SIZE_RANK_KIND;
+
+  // No thread: rank on the other dimensions (150mm, 20L, 6in). Every
+  // stated dimension matching is best; a conflicting one (2mm vs 150mm)
+  // is worse than the candidate not stating it at all.
+  if (line.dims.length > 0) {
+    let matched = 0;
+    let conflicts = 0;
+    for (const dim of line.dims) {
+      const same = cand.dims.find((d) => d.unit === dim.unit);
+      if (!same) continue;
+      if (same.value === dim.value) matched++;
+      else conflicts++;
+    }
+    if (conflicts === 0 && matched === line.dims.length) return SIZE_RANK_EXACT + kindPenalty;
+    if (conflicts === 0 && matched > 0) return SIZE_RANK_NEAR_BASE + kindPenalty;
+    if (conflicts > 0) return SIZE_RANK_OTHER + SIZE_RANK_CONFLICT;
+  }
+  if (kindKnownSame) return SIZE_RANK_KIND;
   return SIZE_RANK_OTHER;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/server/pos-match.ts b/src/lib/server/pos-match.ts
index 9effce1..fbdf264 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/pos-match.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/pos-match.ts
@@ -384,6 +384,27 @@ export interface PickPosDeps {
 type DecideInput = import("./quote-assistant-ai").DecideInput;
 type DecideResult = import("./quote-assistant-ai").DecideResult;
 
+/**
+ * The AI's "exact" only stands when our own size check agrees. If the
+ * parsed sizes of the line and the chosen item really conflict (length
+ * 65 vs 60, thread M22 vs M16 — both sides known), the pick is downgraded
+ * to "closest" so no price is written for it, and the conflicts are added
+ * to `differs`. A field the item simply doesn't state ("?") is not a
+ * conflict: the AI may know better than the parser there.
+ */
+export function confirmPosMatch(
+  lineDescription: string,
+  chosen: Pick<StockCandidate, "name" | "description" | "sku"> | undefined,
+  match: PosMatchKind,
+  differs: string[],
+): { match: PosMatchKind; differs: string[] } {
+  if (match !== "exact" || !chosen) return { match, differs };
+  const conflicts = compareSizes(parseItemSize(lineDescription), parseCandidateSize(chosen))
+    .differs.filter((d) => !d.includes(" ? ") && !d.includes("? vs"));
+  if (conflicts.length === 0) return { match, differs };
+  return { match: "closest", differs: [...new Set([...differs, ...conflicts])] };
+}
+
 /**
  * Let the AI pick a POS item for each line.
  *
@@ -433,12 +454,20 @@ export async function pickPosItems(
     });
     model = out.model || model;
     for (const [lineId, decision] of out.decisions) {
+      const sent = decideLines.find((l) => l.quote_item_id === lineId);
+      const chosen = sent?.candidates.find((c) => c.id === decision.stock_item_id);
+      const confirmed = confirmPosMatch(
+        sent?.description ?? "",
+        chosen,
+        // An old response with no `match` meant "exact".
+        decision.match ?? (decision.stock_item_id ? "exact" : "none"),
+        decision.differs ?? [],
+      );
       picks.set(lineId, {
         line_id: lineId,
         stock_item_id: decision.stock_item_id,
-        // An old response with no `match` meant "exact".
-        match: decision.match ?? (decision.stock_item_id ? "exact" : "none"),
-        differs: decision.differs ?? [],
+        match: confirmed.match,
+        differs: confirmed.differs,
         confidence: decision.confidence,
         reason: decision.reason,
       });
diff --git a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.test.ts b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.test.ts
index 1b20352..4d94f15 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.test.ts
@@ -297,6 +297,31 @@ describe("buildLinePatch", () => {
     expect(fill.closest).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  it("writes no price when the AI says exact but the sizes really conflict", () => {
+    const patch = buildLinePatch({
+      ...base,
+      item: line({ description: "BOLT HEX M16X60 GR8.8 ZP" }),
+      decision: decision({ match: "exact", confidence: "high", differs: [] }),
+      candidates: [cand({ name: "M22x65 BOLT 8.8 ZP", description: "M22x65 BOLT 8.8 ZP" })],
+    });
+    expect(patch).not.toHaveProperty("cost_price");
+    const fill = patch.ai_fill as QuoteItemAiFill;
+    expect(fill.status).toBe("no_match");
+    expect(fill.closest?.differs).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining(["thread M22 vs M16", "length 65 vs 60"]),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("keeps an exact pick when the item just doesn't state a size", () => {
+    const patch = buildLinePatch({
+      ...base,
+      item: line({ description: "BOLT HEX M16X60 GR8.8 ZP" }),
+      decision: decision({ match: "exact", confidence: "high" }),
+      candidates: [cand({ name: "HB1660ZP", description: "", sku: "HB1660ZP" })],
+    });
+    expect(patch).toHaveProperty("cost_price");
+  });
+
   it("writes the price for an exact match", () => {
     const patch = buildLinePatch({
       ...base,
diff --git a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.ts b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.ts
index 6c78cdb..cc71c9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/quote-assistant-core.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import type {
   QuoteItem,
   QuoteItemAiFill,
 } from "@/lib/types";
-import type { StockCandidate } from "@/lib/server/pos-match";
+import { confirmPosMatch, type StockCandidate } from "@/lib/server/pos-match";
 import {
   DEFAULT_MARKUP_MULTIPLIER,
   DEFAULT_MARKUP_PERCENT,
@@ -211,8 +211,15 @@ export function buildLinePatch(args: {
   const cost = chosen ? round2(Number(chosen.cost_price) || 0) : 0;
 
   // Only an EXACT match may write a price. A missing `match` on an old
-  // response reads as "exact" (see `asMatchKind`).
-  const isExact = (decision?.match ?? "exact") === "exact";
+  // response reads as "exact" (see `asMatchKind`), and an "exact" whose
+  // parsed sizes really conflict is downgraded to "closest".
+  const confirmed = confirmPosMatch(
+    item.description || "",
+    chosen,
+    decision?.match ?? "exact",
+    decision?.differs ?? [],
+  );
+  const isExact = confirmed.match === "exact";
 
   if (chosen && isExact && cost > 0 && meetsConfidence(decision?.confidence ?? null, minConfidence)) {
     const posSelling = round2(Number(chosen.selling_price) || 0);
@@ -255,14 +262,14 @@ export function buildLinePatch(args: {
 
   // The closest item — recorded, but never priced onto the line.
   const closest =
-    !status && chosen && decision?.match === "closest"
+    !status && chosen && confirmed.match === "closest"
       ? {
           stock_item_id: chosen.id,
           name: chosen.name,
           sku: chosen.sku,
           cost_price: cost,
           selling_price: round2(Number(chosen.selling_price) || 0),
-          differs: decision.differs ?? [],
+          differs: confirmed.differs,
         }
       : undefined;