diff --git a/iohub/convert.py b/iohub/convert.py
index 2528a15d..3d10c28f 100644
--- a/iohub/convert.py
+++ b/iohub/convert.py
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ def _create_zeros_array(
 
     def _convert_image_plane_metadata(self, fov, zarr_name: str):
         position_image_plane_metadata = {}
+        sorted_keys = []
         for t_idx, c_idx in product(
             range(self.t),
             range(self.c),
@@ -344,9 +345,16 @@ def _convert_image_plane_metadata(self, fov, zarr_name: str):
                         "incomplete."
                     )
                     continue
+                if not sorted_keys:
+                    # Sort keys, ordering keys without dashes first
+                    sorted_keys = sorted(
+                        metadata.keys(), key=lambda x: ('-' in x, x)
+                    )
+
+                sorted_metadata = {key: metadata[key] for key in sorted_keys}
                 # T/C/Z
                 frame_key = "/".join([str(i) for i in (t_idx, c_idx, z_idx)])
-                position_image_plane_metadata[frame_key] = metadata
+                position_image_plane_metadata[frame_key] = sorted_metadata
         with open(
             self.output_dir / zarr_name / "image_plane_metadata.json",
             mode="x",