diff --git a/backend/slabs.py b/backend/slabs.py
index 814c5b3..e3ca79e 100644
--- a/backend/slabs.py
+++ b/backend/slabs.py
@@ -95,9 +95,19 @@ def _check_taxonomy(conn, table: str, val: Any) -> bool:
     return conn.execute(f"SELECT 1 FROM {table} WHERE id=?", (val,)).fetchone() is not None
 
 
+# Capture-only fields required to create a slab. The Review screen fills the
+# taxonomy/content fields after create (CREATE.md §1: "every other field stays
+# editable until create"), so create must accept a capture-math payload.
+# client_rev is server-managed (set to 1 at create) — never required from the client.
+REQUIRED_CREATE_FIELDS = [
+    "id", "sku", "length_in", "thickness_in", "sqft", "bdft",
+    "width_min_in", "width_max_in", "width_avg_in",
+]
+
+
 @router.post("", status_code=201)
 async def create_slab(payload: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    missing = [f for f in ALLOWED_FIELDS if f not in payload]
+    missing = [f for f in REQUIRED_CREATE_FIELDS if f not in payload]
     if missing:
         return _err("validation", "missing fields", {"fields": missing}, status=400)
     conn = get_connection()
@@ -105,9 +115,14 @@ async def create_slab(payload: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         return _err("duplicate_sku", "SKU already exists", {"sku": payload["sku"]}, status=409)
     now = _now_iso()
     data = _encode(payload)
-    cols = [f for f in ALLOWED_FIELDS if f in data] + ["status", "client_rev", "server_rev", "deleted_at", "created_at", "updated_at"]
-    vals = [data[f] for f in cols if f in data] + ["calibrated", 1, 1, None, now, now]
+    allowed_cols = [f for f in ALLOWED_FIELDS if f in data]
+    server_cols = ["status", "client_rev", "server_rev", "deleted_at", "created_at", "updated_at"]
+    server_vals = ["calibrated", 1, 1, None, now, now]
+    cols = allowed_cols + server_cols
+    # One value per col, in cols order: data values for the allowed fields, then the 6 server values.
+    vals = [data[f] for f in allowed_cols] + server_vals
     ph = ",".join(["?"] * len(cols))
+    assert len(vals) == len(cols), f"create_slab binding mismatch: {len(vals)} vals vs {len(cols)} cols"
     conn.execute(f"INSERT INTO slabs ({', '.join(cols)}) VALUES ({ph})", vals)
     conn.commit()
     row = conn.execute("SELECT * FROM slabs WHERE id=?", (payload["id"],)).fetchone()