diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
index ed5843a3..fa07dd15 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/features.rs
@@ -141,6 +141,20 @@ fn extrude_base(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Option<(Vec3, Vec3)> {
     Some((ss.plane.to_world(q), ss.plane.normal()))
 }
 
+/// How far an extrude with these parameters goes from its profile along the profile's normal
+/// (negative: the other way). To an object, the target's height, on whichever side it is: the
+/// extrude goes there and its `direction` does not count (#1633). Otherwise its distance, turned
+/// round for the negative direction.
+pub fn extrude_reach(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Option<f64> {
+    if let Some(t) = p.get("to").and_then(vec3) {
+        let (base, n) = extrude_base(s, p)?;
+        return Some((t - base).dot(n)).filter(|h| h.is_finite());
+    }
+    let d = s.doc.eval(&expr(p, "distance")?, Kind::Length).ok()?;
+    let dir = str_(p, "direction").map(str::to_ascii_lowercase);
+    Some(if matches!(dir.as_deref(), Some("negative" | "reverse" | "flip")) { -d } else { d })
+}
+
 /// How far past the profile [`auto_operation`] looks for material it starts in.
 const START_PROBE_MM: f64 = 0.1;
 
@@ -152,10 +166,8 @@ const START_PROBE_MM: f64 = 0.1;
 /// direction it grows, or halfway along it. With the halfway point alone, a cut dragged far
 /// past a body's far side read as a Join (#1257).
 pub fn auto_operation(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Option<&'static str> {
-    let d = s.doc.eval(&expr(p, "distance")?, Kind::Length).ok()?;
-    let dir = str_(p, "direction").map(str::to_ascii_lowercase);
-    let symmetric = dir.as_deref() == Some("symmetric");
-    let d = if matches!(dir.as_deref(), Some("negative" | "reverse" | "flip")) { -d } else { d };
+    let d = extrude_reach(s, p)?;
+    let symmetric = p.get("to").is_none() && str_(p, "direction").is_some_and(|d| d.eq_ignore_ascii_case("symmetric"));
     let (base, n) = extrude_base(s, p)?;
     let st = s.model.state();
     if st.bodies.is_empty() || !d.is_finite() {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
index a37f226a..34883809 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ mod edit;
 mod face;
 mod features;
 mod features_more;
-pub use features::auto_operation;
+pub use features::{auto_operation, extrude_reach};
 mod component_link;
 mod config;
 mod file;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
index b5c2da8d..6b60a557 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use serde_json::Value;
 use solidcraft_doc::{Document, Model, ModelState};
 use solidcraft_geom::Vec3;
 
-pub use cmd::{CommandInfo, CommandSpec, auto_operation, command_specs, find_command};
+pub use cmd::{CommandInfo, CommandSpec, auto_operation, command_specs, extrude_reach, find_command};
 pub use solidcraft_doc as doc;
 pub use solidcraft_doc::Visibility;
 pub use solidcraft_geom as geom;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
index d0be87f3..c5c419f8 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
@@ -1196,6 +1196,27 @@ fn extrude_auto_operation() {
     assert!(rel(volume(&mut s), 40.0 * 30.0 * 15.0 - 100.0 * 8.0) < 1e-6);
 }
 
+/// #1633: to an object, the extrude goes to it on whichever side it is, whatever its
+/// `direction`: through the body to its far face is a Cut, out to something above is a Join.
+#[test]
+fn extrude_auto_operation_follows_the_to_object() {
+    let mut s = Session::default();
+    run(&mut s, "solid.box", json!({"length": 40, "width": 30, "height": 20}));
+    run(&mut s, "solid.box", json!({"length": 40, "width": 30, "height": 5, "corner": [0, 0, 50], "body_name": "Above"}));
+    for direction in ["positive", "negative"] {
+        // From the top face to the bottom face: through the body.
+        let down = json!({"face": [20, 15, 20], "to": [10, 10, 0], "distance": 19, "direction": direction});
+        assert!(extrude_reach(&s, &down).is_some_and(|h| (h + 20.0).abs() < 1e-6), "{down}");
+        assert_eq!(auto_operation(&s, &down), Some("cut"), "{down}");
+        // From the top face up to the box above: out of the body.
+        let up = json!({"face": [20, 15, 20], "to": [10, 10, 50], "distance": 19, "direction": direction});
+        assert!(extrude_reach(&s, &up).is_some_and(|h| (h - 30.0).abs() < 1e-6), "{up}");
+        assert_eq!(auto_operation(&s, &up), Some("join"), "{up}");
+    }
+    // Without a To object the direction still counts.
+    assert_eq!(extrude_reach(&s, &json!({"face": [20, 15, 20], "distance": 5, "direction": "negative"})), Some(-5.0));
+}
+
 /// Additive extrusions default to joining even when only a profile side touches material.
 #[test]
 fn auto_extrude_joins_side_contact_elbow_and_keeps_new_body_explicit() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
index dbe7edf6..10219146 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
@@ -2054,16 +2054,18 @@ fn auto_operation(app: &SolveApp, d: &mut Dialog) {
     }
     let Kind::Extrude { direction, distance, .. } = &d.kind else { return };
     let Ok(dist) = app.session.doc.eval(distance, solidcraft_engine::doc::expr::Kind::Length) else { return };
-    let side = crate::smart_extrude::side(dist, *direction);
+    let mut side = crate::smart_extrude::side(dist, *direction);
     if !matches!(d.kind, Kind::Extrude { auto_op: true, .. }) {
         return;
     }
-    let Some(fresh) = dialog_commands(app, d)
-        .ok()
-        .and_then(|c| c.into_iter().next())
-        .and_then(|(_, p)| solidcraft_engine::auto_operation(&app.session, &p))
-        .and_then(|op| OPS.iter().position(|o| *o == op))
-    else {
+    let Some(params) = dialog_commands(app, d).ok().and_then(|c| c.into_iter().next()).map(|(_, p)| p) else { return };
+    // To an object, the extrude goes to it on whichever side it is: that is the side (#1633).
+    if params.get("to").is_some()
+        && let Some(reach) = solidcraft_engine::extrude_reach(&app.session, &params)
+    {
+        side = crate::smart_extrude::side(reach, 0);
+    }
+    let Some(fresh) = solidcraft_engine::auto_operation(&app.session, &params).and_then(|op| OPS.iter().position(|o| *o == op)) else {
         return;
     };
     if let Kind::Extrude { operation, smart, .. } = &mut d.kind {