diff --git a/src/pymmcore_widgets/hcs/_plate_calibration_widget.py b/src/pymmcore_widgets/hcs/_plate_calibration_widget.py
index 920683d10..008e80498 100644
--- a/src/pymmcore_widgets/hcs/_plate_calibration_widget.py
+++ b/src/pymmcore_widgets/hcs/_plate_calibration_widget.py
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ def setValue(
         self._current_plate = plate
         self._plate_view.drawPlate(plate)
 
+        # Set minimum wells required based on plate size
+        if plate:
+            self._min_wells_required = min(3, plate.rows * plate.columns)
+        else:
+            self._min_wells_required = 3
+
         # clear existing calibration widgets
         while self._calibration_widgets:
             wdg = self._calibration_widgets.popitem()[1]
@@ -274,18 +280,46 @@ def _origin_spacing_rotation(
             # not enough wells calibrated
             return None
 
-        try:
-            params = well_coords_affine(self._calibrated_wells)
-        except ValueError:
-            # collinear points
+        if self._current_plate is None:
             return None
 
-        a, b, ty, c, d, tx = params
-        unit_y = np.hypot(a, c) / 1000  # convert to mm
-        unit_x = np.hypot(b, d) / 1000  # convert to mm
-        rotation = round(np.rad2deg(np.arctan2(c, a)), 2)
-
-        return (round(tx, 4), round(ty, 4)), (unit_x, unit_y), rotation
+        num_calibrated = len(self._calibrated_wells)
+        if num_calibrated == 1:
+            # For single well, assume it's A1, use plate spacing, no rotation
+            center = next(iter(self._calibrated_wells.values()))
+            return center, self._current_plate.well_spacing, 0.0
+        elif num_calibrated == 2:
+            # For two wells, calculate spacing assuming they are adjacent, no rotation
+            indices = list(self._calibrated_wells.keys())
+            centers = list(self._calibrated_wells.values())
+            idx1, idx2 = indices
+            c1, c2 = centers
+            dr = abs(idx2[0] - idx1[0])
+            dc = abs(idx2[1] - idx1[1])
+            if dr == 0 and dc == 0:
+                return None  # same well
+            dist = np.hypot(c2[0] - c1[0], c2[1] - c1[1])
+            spacing_val = dist / max(dr, dc) / 1000  # to mm
+            spacing = (spacing_val, spacing_val)
+            # Set A1 center to the calibrated well with smallest index
+            sorted_indices = sorted(self._calibrated_wells.keys())
+            a1_idx = sorted_indices[0]
+            a1_center = self._calibrated_wells[a1_idx]
+            return a1_center, spacing, 0.0
+        else:
+            # For 3 or more wells, use full affine transformation
+            try:
+                params = well_coords_affine(self._calibrated_wells)
+            except ValueError:
+                # collinear points
+                return None
+
+            a, b, ty, c, d, tx = params
+            unit_y = np.hypot(a, c) / 1000  # convert to mm
+            unit_x = np.hypot(b, d) / 1000  # convert to mm
+            rotation = round(np.rad2deg(np.arctan2(c, a)), 2)
+
+            return (round(tx, 4), round(ty, 4)), (unit_x, unit_y), rotation
 
     def _get_or_create_well_calibration_widget(
         self, idx: tuple[int, int]
diff --git a/tests/hcs/test_well_calibration_widget.py b/tests/hcs/test_well_calibration_widget.py
index c01418dd1..8c1a12eba 100644
--- a/tests/hcs/test_well_calibration_widget.py
+++ b/tests/hcs/test_well_calibration_widget.py
@@ -59,13 +59,15 @@ def test_well_calibration_widget_modes(
     combo = wdg._calibration_mode_wdg
     modes = [Mode(*combo.itemData(i, COMBO_ROLE)) for i in range(combo.count())]
     # make sure the modes are correct
-    assert modes == MODES[circular]
+    expected = [(mode.text, mode.points) for mode in MODES[circular]]
+    actual = [(m[0], m[1]) for m in modes]
+    assert actual == expected
     # make sure that the correct number of rows are displayed when the mode is changed
     for idx, mode in enumerate(modes):
         # set the mode
         combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
         # get the number of rows
-        assert wdg._table.rowCount() == mode.points
+        assert wdg._table.rowCount() == mode[1]
 
 
 def test_well_calibration_widget_positions(
diff --git a/tests/hcs/test_well_plate_calibration_widget.py b/tests/hcs/test_well_plate_calibration_widget.py
index bc198fad6..4f407af42 100644
--- a/tests/hcs/test_well_plate_calibration_widget.py
+++ b/tests/hcs/test_well_plate_calibration_widget.py
@@ -204,3 +204,34 @@ def test_plate_calibration_test_positions(global_mmcore: CMMCorePlus, qtbot) ->
         data.append((hover_item_data.x, hover_item_data.y, hover_item_data.name))
 
     assert data == expected_data
+
+
+def test_small_plate_calibration(qtbot) -> None:
+    """Test calibration for plates with fewer than 3 wells."""
+    wdg = PlateCalibrationWidget()
+    qtbot.addWidget(wdg)
+
+    # Test 1x1 plate
+    plate_1x1 = useq.WellPlate(
+        rows=1, columns=1, well_size=(5, 5), well_spacing=(10, 10)
+    )
+    wdg.setValue(plate_1x1)
+    assert wdg._min_wells_required == 1
+
+    # Simulate calibrating the single well
+    wdg._calibrated_wells = {(0, 0): (100.0, 200.0)}
+    result = wdg._origin_spacing_rotation()
+    assert result == ((100.0, 200.0), (10, 10), 0.0)
+
+    # Test 1x2 plate
+    plate_1x2 = useq.WellPlate(
+        rows=1, columns=2, well_size=(5, 5), well_spacing=(10, 10)
+    )
+    wdg.setValue(plate_1x2)
+    assert wdg._min_wells_required == 2
+
+    # Simulate calibrating two wells
+    wdg._calibrated_wells = {(0, 0): (100.0, 200.0), (0, 1): (10100.0, 200.0)}
+    result = wdg._origin_spacing_rotation()
+    # Spacing should be calculated as distance / dc = 10000 / 1 / 1000 = 10 mm
+    assert result == ((100.0, 200.0), (10.0, 10.0), 0.0)