diff --git a/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.test.tsx b/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.test.tsx
index e2cdad44c7..4be6d49580 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.test.tsx
@@ -289,4 +289,9 @@ describe('normalizeTooltipOptions', () => {
     const actual = normalizeTooltipOptions(options);
     expect(actual).toEqual(expected);
   });
+
+  it('should allow overriding default placement', () => {
+    const actual = normalizeTooltipOptions(true, 'top');
+    expect(actual).toEqual({ placement: 'top' });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.ts b/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.ts
index b00db9af65..eb7065b94b 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/components/src/spectrum/utils/itemUtils.ts
@@ -288,18 +288,21 @@ export function normalizeItemList<TItemOrSection extends ItemOrSection>(
 
 /**
  * Returns a TooltipOptions object or null if options is false or null.
- * @param options
+ * @param options Tooltip options
+ * @param placement Default placement for the tooltip if `options` is set
+ * explicitly to `true`
  * @returns TooltipOptions or null
  */
 export function normalizeTooltipOptions(
-  options?: boolean | TooltipOptions | null
+  options?: boolean | TooltipOptions | null,
+  placement: TooltipOptions['placement'] = 'right'
 ): TooltipOptions | null {
   if (options == null || options === false) {
     return null;
   }
 
   if (options === true) {
-    return { placement: 'right' };
+    return { placement };
   }
 
   return options;