diff --git a/flow/scripts/memories/gen_memories_test.py b/flow/scripts/memories/gen_memories_test.py
index ffd02593d9..8c7080bf89 100644
--- a/flow/scripts/memories/gen_memories_test.py
+++ b/flow/scripts/memories/gen_memories_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import json
+import re
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import unittest
@@ -134,6 +135,36 @@ def test_additional_memories_forces_conversion(self):
         self.assertTrue(tags["idiomatic"])
         self.assertIn("forced", tags["reason"])
 
+    def test_deep_memory_is_folded_square(self):
+        # 512x17 with one bit line per column is 2.3 x 166.6 um, 73:1, a
+        # sliver macro placement cannot fit; the column mux folds it. The
+        # fold squares the bit-cell counts, and a bit cell is not square,
+        # so the bound leaves room for that.
+        netlist = json.loads(json.dumps(SAMPLE_YOSYS_NETLIST))
+        mem = netlist["modules"].pop("\\mem_128x32")
+        mem["cells"]["\\$mem_0"]["parameters"].update(SIZE=512, WIDTH=17)
+        netlist["modules"] = {"\\mem_512x17": mem}
+        d = Path(self.tmp.name)
+        (d / "netlist.json").write_text(json.dumps(netlist))
+        code = gen_memories.main(
+            [
+                "--platform",
+                "asap7",
+                "--out-dir",
+                str(d / "memories"),
+                "--json",
+                str(d / "memories.json"),
+                "--yosys-json",
+                str(d / "netlist.json"),
+            ]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(code, 0)
+        lef = (d / "memories" / "mem_512x17.lef").read_text()
+        size = re.search(r"SIZE\s+(\S+)\s+BY\s+(\S+)", lef)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(size, "no SIZE in the generated LEF")
+        width, height = map(float, size.groups())
+        self.assertLessEqual(max(width, height) / min(width, height), 8.0)
+
     def test_unsupported_platform_fails_clearly(self):
         code, _d = self.run_generator(platform="nangate45")
         self.assertEqual(code, 1)
diff --git a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/orfs_asap7/generate.py b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/orfs_asap7/generate.py
index be30f8f927..66811e1f24 100644
--- a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/orfs_asap7/generate.py
+++ b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/orfs_asap7/generate.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
     "manufacturing_grid_nm": 1,
     "contacted_poly_pitch_nm": 54,
     "fin_pitch_nm": 27,
-    "column_mux_factor": 1,
     "snap_width_nm": 190,
     "snap_height_nm": 1400,
 }
diff --git a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/macro_dim_test.py b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/macro_dim_test.py
index 849fc04516..37820e936a 100755
--- a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/macro_dim_test.py
+++ b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/macro_dim_test.py
@@ -109,6 +109,39 @@ def test_macro_dim_bitcell_override(self):
         self.assertAlmostEqual(width, exp_width, delta=self._delta)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(height, exp_height, delta=self._delta)
 
+    def _dimensions(self, column_mux_factor, width, depth, banks):
+        """Macro dimensions, column_mux_factor None leaves the key out"""
+
+        process_data = TestUtils.get_base_process_data().copy()
+        del process_data["column_mux_factor"]
+        if column_mux_factor is not None:
+            process_data["column_mux_factor"] = column_mux_factor
+        return Process(process_data).get_macro_dimensions(width, depth, banks, 0)
+
+    def test_macro_dim_column_mux_picked(self):
+        """An absent column_mux_factor folds a deep memory square"""
+
+        # sqrt(512 / 17) = 5.5, the nearest power of two is 4
+        picked = self._dimensions(None, 17, 512, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(picked, self._dimensions(4, 17, 512, 1))
+        width, height = picked
+        self.assertLessEqual(max(width, height) / min(width, height), 8.0)
+
+    def test_macro_dim_column_mux_explicit(self):
+        """An explicit column_mux_factor is kept, even when it is a sliver"""
+
+        width, height = self._dimensions(1, 17, 512, 1)
+        self.assertGreater(height / width, 50.0)
+
+    def test_macro_dim_column_mux_after_banks(self):
+        """The factor is picked for the array banking leaves"""
+
+        # 4 banks make 2048x39 a 512x156 array: sqrt(512 / 156) = 1.8,
+        # so 2, where sqrt(2048 / 39) = 7.2 would have given 8
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self._dimensions(None, 39, 2048, 4), self._dimensions(2, 39, 2048, 4)
+        )
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/process_test.py b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/process_test.py
index e61757e564..779dc36516 100755
--- a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/process_test.py
+++ b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/test/process_test.py
@@ -114,6 +114,14 @@ def test_process_optional_snap(self):
             + (process.get_pin_width_um() / 2.0),
         )
 
+    def test_process_optional_column_mux(self):
+        """Tests that column_mux_factor is left to be picked per memory"""
+
+        process_data = self._base_data.copy()
+        del process_data["column_mux_factor"]
+        process = Process(process_data)
+        self.assertIsNone(process.get_column_mux_factor())
+
     def test_process_misaligned_pin_mfg_grid_pitch(self):
         """
         Tests detection that pin pitch is not a multiple of the metal track
diff --git a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/utils/class_process.py b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/utils/class_process.py
index 487a853e6a..58fd503fb3 100644
--- a/tools/FakeRAM2.0/utils/class_process.py
+++ b/tools/FakeRAM2.0/utils/class_process.py
@@ -8,6 +8,32 @@
 ################################################################################
 
 
+import math
+
+
+def pick_column_mux_factor(rows, bits):
+    """Fold a tall array into a square one.
+
+    The array is rows/factor cells tall and bits*factor cells wide, so
+    the factor that squares it is sqrt(rows/bits). Rounded to a power of
+    two because a column mux selects one of 2^n bit lines, and clamped
+    at 1 so a wide, shallow memory is left alone.
+
+    Area does not change: this moves cells between the two dimensions
+    rather than adding or removing any.
+    """
+    if rows <= 0 or bits <= 0:
+        return 1
+    ideal = math.sqrt(float(rows) / float(bits))
+    if ideal <= 1.0:
+        return 1
+    lo = 2 ** math.floor(math.log2(ideal))
+    hi = lo * 2
+    # Nearest in log space, which is what "closest to square" means when
+    # the candidates are powers of two.
+    return lo if (ideal / lo) <= (hi / ideal) else hi
+
+
 class Process:
     def __init__(self, json_data):
         """Initialize from json_data imported from config file"""
@@ -23,9 +49,14 @@ def __init__(self, json_data):
         self.contacted_poly_pitch_nm = json_data.get("contacted_poly_pitch_nm", None)
         self.fin_pitch_nm = json_data.get("fin_pitch_nm", None)
         self.manufacturing_grid_nm = int(json_data["manufacturing_grid_nm"])
-        self.column_mux_factor = int(json_data["column_mux_factor"])
 
         # Optional keys
+        # Absent means get_macro_dimensions picks one per memory
+        self.column_mux_factor = (
+            int(json_data["column_mux_factor"])
+            if "column_mux_factor" in json_data
+            else None
+        )
         self.snap_width_nm = (
             int(json_data["snap_width_nm"]) if "snap_width_nm" in json_data else 1
         )
@@ -99,7 +130,6 @@ def get_macro_dimensions(self, width_in_bits, depth, num_banks, additional_heigh
         and process parameters
         """
 
-        column_mux_factor = self.column_mux_factor
         bitcell_width, bitcell_height = self.get_bitcell_dimensions()
 
         all_bitcell_height = bitcell_height * depth
@@ -111,6 +141,11 @@ def get_macro_dimensions(self, width_in_bits, depth, num_banks, additional_heigh
         elif num_banks != 1:
             raise Exception("Unsupported number of banks: {}".format(num_banks))
 
+        column_mux_factor = self.column_mux_factor
+        if column_mux_factor is None:
+            column_mux_factor = pick_column_mux_factor(
+                depth / num_banks, width_in_bits * num_banks
+            )
         all_bitcell_height = all_bitcell_height / column_mux_factor
         all_bitcell_width = all_bitcell_width * column_mux_factor
 
@@ -202,7 +237,7 @@ def get_y_step(self):
         return self.y_step
 
     def get_column_mux_factor(self):
-        """Returns the column mux factor"""
+        """Returns the column mux factor, None if picked per memory"""
         return self.column_mux_factor
 
     def set_calc_dimensions(self, val):