Systems and techniques are described for interaction plane rotation for manipulation of three-dimensional objects. A three-dimensional object can be displayed as a two-dimensional representation of the object, represented on an interaction plane and intersected by an object view vector that represents a point of view of the object through a viewing plane. An angle between the object view vector and the interaction plane is calculated and compared to a threshold value. A determination is made that the calculated angle is less than the threshold value, and a rotation magnitude that defines an amount of rotation of the interaction plane relative to a constant vector is calculated. The interaction plane is rotated relative to the constant vector in a rotation direction by the rotation magnitude. The rotated interaction plane can then be used to determine an intended relative movement between the object view vector and the three-dimensional object.