diff --git a/compiler/geometry.py b/compiler/geometry.py
index 14eedade..9dc96401 100644
--- a/compiler/geometry.py
+++ b/compiler/geometry.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 """
 This provides a set of useful generic types for the gdsMill interface. 
 """
-
 import tech
 import debug
-from utils import snap_to_grid
 from vector import vector
 
 class geometry:
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@ class instance(geometry):
         self.mod = mod
         self.gds = mod.gds
         self.rotate = rotate
-        self.offset = vector(snap_to_grid(offset))
+        self.offset = vector(offset).snap_to_grid()
         self.mirror = mirror
 
 
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ class path(geometry):
         self.name = "path"
         self.layerNumber = layerNumber
         self.coordinates = map(lambda x: [x[0], x[1]], coordinates)
-        self.coordinates = snap_to_grid(self.coordinates)
+        self.coordinates = vector(self.coordinates).snap_to_grid()
         self.path_width = path_width
 
         # FIXME figure out the width/height. This type of path is not
@@ -105,7 +103,7 @@ class label(geometry):
         self.name = "label"
         self.text = text
         self.layerNumber = layerNumber
-        self.offset = vector(snap_to_grid(offset))
+        self.offset = vector(offset).snap_to_grid()
         self.zoom = zoom
         self.size = 0
 
@@ -135,19 +133,18 @@ class rectangle(geometry):
         geometry.__init__(self)
         self.name = "rect"
         self.layerNumber = layerNumber
-        self.offset = vector(snap_to_grid(offset))
-        self.size = snap_to_grid([width, height])
-        self.width = self.size[0]
-        self.height = self.size[1]
+        self.offset = vector(offset).snap_to_grid()
+        self.size = vector(width, height).snap_to_grid()
+        self.width = self.size.x
+        self.height = self.size.y
 
     def gds_write_file(self, newLayout):
         """Writes the rectangular shape to GDS"""
-        snapped_offset=snap_to_grid(self.offset)
         debug.info(3, "writing rectangle (" + str(self.layerNumber) + "):" 
-                   + str(self.width) + "x" + str(self.height) + " @ " + str(snapped_offset))
+                   + str(self.width) + "x" + str(self.height) + " @ " + str(self.offset))
         newLayout.addBox(layerNumber=self.layerNumber,
                          purposeNumber=0,
-                         offsetInMicrons=snapped_offset,
+                         offsetInMicrons=self.offset,
                          width=self.width,
                          height=self.height,
                          center=False)
diff --git a/compiler/hierarchy_layout.py b/compiler/hierarchy_layout.py
index a9ea8aab..f08cb016 100644
--- a/compiler/hierarchy_layout.py
+++ b/compiler/hierarchy_layout.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import debug
 from tech import drc, GDS
 from tech import layer as techlayer
 import os
-from utils import snap_to_grid
 from vector import vector
 
 class layout:
@@ -96,9 +95,9 @@ class layout:
         """Translates all 2d cartesian coordinates in a layout given
         the (x,y) offset"""
         for obj in self.objs:
-            obj.offset = vector(snap_to_grid(obj.offset - coordinate)) 
+            obj.offset = vector(obj.offset - coordinate)
         for inst in self.insts:
-            inst.offset = vector(snap_to_grid(inst.offset - coordinate))
+            inst.offset = vector(inst.offset - coordinate)
 
     # FIXME: Make name optional and pick a random one if not specified
     def add_inst(self, name, mod, offset=[0,0], mirror="R0",rotate=0):
diff --git a/compiler/path.py b/compiler/path.py
index fb08fd36..75d6df96 100644
--- a/compiler/path.py
+++ b/compiler/path.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from tech import layer as techlayer
 import debug
 import design
 from vector import vector
-from utils import snap_to_grid
 
 class path(design.design):
     """
diff --git a/compiler/utils.py b/compiler/utils.py
index 5034cb53..8916f24f 100644
--- a/compiler/utils.py
+++ b/compiler/utils.py
@@ -5,27 +5,10 @@ import globals
 
 OPTS = globals.OPTS
 
-def snap_to_grid(offset):
-    """
-    Changes the coodrinate to match the grid settings
-    """
-    grid = tech.drc["grid"]  
-    x = offset[0]
-    y = offset[1]
-    # this gets the nearest integer value
-    xgrid = int(round(round((x / grid), 2), 0))
-    ygrid = int(round(round((y / grid), 2), 0))
-    xoff = xgrid * grid
-    yoff = ygrid * grid
-    out_offset = [xoff, yoff]
-    return out_offset
-
-
 def gdsPinToOffset(gdsPin):
     boundary = gdsPin[2]
     return [0.5 * (boundary[0] + boundary[2]), 0.5 * (boundary[1] + boundary[3])]
 
-
 def auto_measure_libcell(pin_list, name, units, layer):
     cell_gds = OPTS.openram_tech + "gds_lib/" + str(name) + ".gds"
     cell_vlsi = gdsMill.VlsiLayout(units=units)
diff --git a/compiler/vector.py b/compiler/vector.py
index e0ba9bb7..3df9af35 100644
--- a/compiler/vector.py
+++ b/compiler/vector.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import debug
+import tech
 
 
 class vector():
@@ -82,6 +83,21 @@ class vector():
         """
         return vector(other[0]- self.x, other[1] - self.y)
 
+    def snap_to_grid(self):
+        self.x = self.snap_offset_to_grid(self.x)
+        self.y = self.snap_offset_to_grid(self.y)
+        return self
+
+    def snap_offset_to_grid(self, offset):
+        """
+        Changes the coodrinate to match the grid settings
+        """
+        grid = tech.drc["grid"]  
+        # this gets the nearest integer value
+        off_in_grid = int(round(round((offset / grid), 2), 0))
+        offset = off_in_grid * grid
+        return offset
+
     def rotate(self):
         """ pass a copy of rotated vector, without altering the vector! """
         return vector(self.y,self.x)