diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/api/routes/preferences.py b/server/src/ledgrab/api/routes/preferences.py
index c781ea1..198ab80 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/api/routes/preferences.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/api/routes/preferences.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ router = APIRouter()
 
 _DASHBOARD_LAYOUT_KEY = "dashboard_layout"
 _NOTIFICATION_PREFS_KEY = "notification_preferences"
+_CARD_MODES_KEY = "card_modes"
 
 
 class DaylightTimezonePreference(BaseModel):
@@ -163,6 +164,90 @@ async def put_notification_preferences(
     return body
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Card presentation modes (per-surface comfortable/compact/dense)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+_VALID_CARD_MODES = {"comfortable", "compact", "dense", "row"}
+
+
+@router.get(
+    "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+    tags=["Preferences"],
+)
+async def get_card_modes(
+    _: AuthRequired,
+    db: Database = Depends(get_database),
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Read the saved card-mode preferences. Returns an empty object when
+    nothing has been saved yet — the frontend falls back to the default
+    mode ("compact") for every surface in that case."""
+    value = db.get_setting(_CARD_MODES_KEY)
+    return value if value is not None else {}
+
+
+@router.put(
+    "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+    tags=["Preferences"],
+)
+async def put_card_modes(
+    _: AuthRequired,
+    body: dict[str, Any] = Body(...),
+    db: Database = Depends(get_database),
+) -> dict[str, bool]:
+    """Save card-mode preferences. The body must be a JSON object shaped
+    like ``{"version": 1, "surfaces": {"<surface>": "<mode>", …}}``.
+
+    The surface registry is intentionally open (any string accepted) so
+    new card surfaces can adopt the toggle without a server migration.
+    Invalid mode values are rejected to prevent a bad client from
+    poisoning the stored value."""
+    if not isinstance(body, dict):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=422, detail="Body must be a JSON object")
+    if not isinstance(body.get("version"), int):
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=422,
+            detail="Body must include a numeric 'version' field",
+        )
+    surfaces = body.get("surfaces", {})
+    if not isinstance(surfaces, dict):
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=422,
+            detail="'surfaces' must be an object mapping surface keys to modes",
+        )
+    for key, mode in surfaces.items():
+        if not isinstance(key, str) or not key:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=422,
+                detail=f"Surface keys must be non-empty strings (got {key!r})",
+            )
+        if mode not in _VALID_CARD_MODES:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=422,
+                detail=(
+                    f"Surface {key!r} has invalid mode {mode!r}; "
+                    f"expected one of {sorted(_VALID_CARD_MODES)}"
+                ),
+            )
+    db.set_setting(_CARD_MODES_KEY, body)
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
+@router.delete(
+    "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+    tags=["Preferences"],
+)
+async def delete_card_modes(
+    _: AuthRequired,
+    db: Database = Depends(get_database),
+) -> dict[str, bool]:
+    """Delete saved card-mode preferences — every surface reverts to the
+    frontend default on next load."""
+    db.set_setting(_CARD_MODES_KEY, {})
+    return {"ok": True}
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Daylight timezone (global)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/all.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/all.css
index 91f0b9d..0e01d61 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/all.css
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/all.css
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 @import './advanced-calibration.css';
 @import './dashboard.css';
 @import './dashboard-customize.css';
+@import './card-modes.css';
 @import './streams.css';
 @import './patterns.css';
 @import './automations.css';
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/base.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/base.css
index f6b1592..694c1f6 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/base.css
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/base.css
@@ -43,6 +43,28 @@
     --space-lg: 20px;
     --space-xl: 40px;
 
+    /* ── Card grid sizing ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+       Tokens for the auto-fill card grids (devices, displays, dashboard
+       targets, integrations, autostart). Defaults reproduce the values
+       that were inline before tokenization, so this layer is a no-op
+       until the card-mode toggle wires `[data-card-mode=…]` overrides.
+
+         · `*-min`        — minmax() column width for the main module
+           cards (devices, displays, dashboard targets/scenes).
+         · `*-min-narrow` — column width for slimmer dashboard-module
+           rows (integrations, autostart).
+         · `*-gap` / `*-gap-narrow` — corresponding row/column gap. */
+    --card-grid-min:        380px;
+    --card-grid-gap:        14px;
+    --card-grid-min-narrow: 320px;
+    --card-grid-gap-narrow: 12px;
+
+    /* Capture-template / source-card grids (sources, streams, templates,
+       color strips) have their own column proportions so they stay
+       distinct from device/target cards. */
+    --templates-grid-min:   350px;
+    --templates-grid-gap:   20px;
+
     /* Border radius */
     --radius: 8px;
     --radius-sm: 4px;
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/card-modes.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/card-modes.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d78ff3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/card-modes.css
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+/* ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+ * Card presentation modes — `[data-card-mode="comfortable|compact|dense"]`
+ *
+ * Sister to the dashboard `[data-density]` system (which governs section
+ * header/gap only). This file targets the **card grids and the cards
+ * themselves**: column min-width, gap, internal padding, and which
+ * mod-* blocks render visibly.
+ *
+ * Apply the attribute to the grid container OR any ancestor (the page
+ * tab, the section). All tokens cascade.
+ *
+ *   <section data-card-mode="dense">
+ *     <div class="devices-grid">…</div>
+ *   </section>
+ *
+ *   <div class="dashboard-section" data-density="dense" data-card-mode="dense">
+ *     …
+ *   </div>
+ *
+ * Defaults (= `compact`) live in base.css :root; this file only overrides
+ * for `comfortable` and `dense`. Default mode is implicit; the attribute
+ * may be omitted on grids that haven't migrated yet.
+ * ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+/* ── Comfortable: roomier columns, expanded card padding ─────────── */
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] {
+    --card-grid-min:        440px;
+    --card-grid-gap:        18px;
+    --card-grid-min-narrow: 360px;
+    --card-grid-gap-narrow: 16px;
+    --templates-grid-min:   400px;
+    --templates-grid-gap:   22px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] .card,
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] .template-card {
+    padding: 22px 24px 20px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] .dashboard-target:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 20px 22px 18px 26px;
+    gap: 16px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] .dashboard-autostart:has(.mod-head),
+[data-card-mode="comfortable"] .dashboard-integration:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 18px 20px 16px;
+}
+
+/* ── Dense: tight columns, slim padding, hide auxiliary mod-* blocks ── */
+[data-card-mode="dense"] {
+    --card-grid-min:        260px;
+    --card-grid-gap:        8px;
+    --card-grid-min-narrow: 220px;
+    --card-grid-gap-narrow: 6px;
+    --templates-grid-min:   240px;
+    --templates-grid-gap:   10px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .card,
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .template-card {
+    padding: 12px 14px 10px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .dashboard-target:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 10px 14px 10px 18px;
+    gap: 8px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .dashboard-autostart:has(.mod-head),
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .dashboard-integration:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 10px 12px 8px;
+    gap: 6px;
+}
+
+/* Auxiliary content drops out in dense — keeps identity (icon, name,
+   badge, dot) and primary control surfaces, sheds preview + secondary
+   text. The actual data-bearing metric row is preserved. */
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-leds {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-head {
+    gap: 6px;
+    margin-bottom: 6px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-foot {
+    padding-top: 6px;
+    gap: 4px;
+}
+
+/* Secondary text-button labels collapse to icon-only in dense; icon-only
+   buttons and the kebab menu are unaffected. Primary action keeps its
+   label so the "what does this card do" affordance survives. */
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-btn:not(.mod-btn-icon):not(.mod-btn-primary) .mod-btn-label {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-metrics {
+    gap: 4px 8px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-metric .k {
+    font-size: 0.62rem;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="dense"] .mod-metric .v {
+    font-size: 0.92rem;
+}
+
+/* Dashed corner bracket and channel stripe stay — they are the card's
+   identity even at small sizes. No display:none on ::before / ::after. */
+
+/* ── Row: single column, full-width stacked list ─────────────────────
+ * Differs from `dense` in layout, not just padding: the grid collapses
+ * to one column so every card spans the available width. Cards keep
+ * their column-flex internals (mod-head → metrics → foot) — a true
+ * horizontal row layout would require rewriting the mod-card vocabulary
+ * and is a separate future mode.
+ * ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+[data-card-mode="row"] {
+    --card-grid-min:        100%;
+    --card-grid-gap:        6px;
+    --card-grid-min-narrow: 100%;
+    --card-grid-gap-narrow: 6px;
+    --templates-grid-min:   100%;
+    --templates-grid-gap:   6px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .card,
+[data-card-mode="row"] .template-card {
+    padding: 10px 14px 10px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .dashboard-target:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 10px 14px 10px 18px;
+    gap: 8px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .dashboard-autostart:has(.mod-head),
+[data-card-mode="row"] .dashboard-integration:has(.mod-head) {
+    padding: 10px 12px 8px;
+    gap: 6px;
+}
+
+/* Same auxiliary trims as `dense` — the row layout is information-dense
+   by nature, so secondary visuals drop out for the same reasons. */
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-leds {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-head {
+    gap: 6px;
+    margin-bottom: 6px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-foot {
+    padding-top: 6px;
+    gap: 4px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-btn:not(.mod-btn-icon):not(.mod-btn-primary) .mod-btn-label {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-metrics {
+    gap: 4px 8px;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-metric .k {
+    font-size: 0.62rem;
+}
+
+[data-card-mode="row"] .mod-metric .v {
+    font-size: 0.92rem;
+}
+
+
+
+/* ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+ * Segmented `C / M / D` toggle — sibling of dash-cust-density but
+ * standalone so any section header / page toolbar can host one without
+ * pulling in the dashboard-customize stylesheet.
+ * ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+.card-mode-toggle {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    gap: 2px;
+    padding: 2px;
+    border: var(--lux-hairline, 1px) solid var(--lux-line, var(--border-color));
+    border-radius: var(--lux-r-sm, var(--radius-sm));
+    background: var(--lux-bg-1, var(--card-bg));
+}
+
+.card-mode-toggle__btn {
+    appearance: none;
+    border: 0;
+    background: transparent;
+    color: var(--lux-ink-dim, var(--text-secondary));
+    font: 600 0.7rem/1 var(--font-mono, monospace);
+    letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+    padding: 4px 8px;
+    min-width: 22px;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    border-radius: calc(var(--lux-r-sm, var(--radius-sm)) - 1px);
+    transition: background 0.15s ease, color 0.15s ease;
+}
+
+.card-mode-toggle__btn:hover {
+    color: var(--lux-ink, var(--text-color));
+    background: var(--hover-bg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04));
+}
+
+.card-mode-toggle__btn.is-active {
+    color: var(--primary-contrast, #fff);
+    background: var(--primary-color);
+}
+
+.card-mode-toggle__btn:focus-visible {
+    outline: 2px solid var(--primary-color);
+    outline-offset: 1px;
+}
+
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/cards.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/cards.css
index 7d8eef5..99158f8 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/cards.css
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/cards.css
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ section {
 .displays-grid,
 .devices-grid {
     display: grid;
-    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(380px, 100%), 1fr));
-    gap: 14px;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(var(--card-grid-min, 380px), 100%), 1fr));
+    gap: var(--card-grid-gap, 14px);
 }
 
 .devices-grid > .loading,
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/dashboard.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/dashboard.css
index dfcc091..fb8a925 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/dashboard.css
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/dashboard.css
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@
 
 .dashboard-subsection .dashboard-section-content {
     display: grid;
-    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(380px, 100%), 1fr));
-    gap: 14px;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(var(--card-grid-min, 380px), 100%), 1fr));
+    gap: var(--card-grid-gap, 14px);
 }
 
 .dashboard-subsection .dashboard-section-content .dashboard-target {
@@ -958,8 +958,8 @@ button.mod-icon.is-empty:hover svg { transform: none; opacity: 1; }
 .dashboard-integrations-grid,
 .dashboard-autostart-grid {
     display: grid;
-    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(320px, 100%), 1fr));
-    gap: 12px;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(min(var(--card-grid-min-narrow, 320px), 100%), 1fr));
+    gap: var(--card-grid-gap-narrow, 12px);
 }
 
 /* Legacy row-style overrides kept for any card that still lacks .mod-head */
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/streams.css b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/streams.css
index 0fe7f66..a0e48f3 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/streams.css
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/css/streams.css
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 .templates-grid {
     display: grid;
-    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(350px, 1fr));
-    gap: 20px;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(var(--templates-grid-min, 350px), 1fr));
+    gap: var(--templates-grid-gap, 20px);
 }
 
 .template-card {
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/app.ts b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/app.ts
index bae8dcb..02d4442 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/app.ts
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/app.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ import {
 import {
     hydrateDashboardLayoutFromCache, syncDashboardLayoutFromServer,
 } from './features/dashboard-layout.ts';
+import {
+    hydrateCardModesFromCache, syncCardModesFromServer,
+} from './features/card-modes.ts';
 import {
     openDashboardCustomize, closeDashboardCustomize,
 } from './features/dashboard-customize.ts';
@@ -728,6 +731,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
     // already reflects the user's saved customizations (no flash of
     // default-then-custom). Server sync runs after auth.
     hydrateDashboardLayoutFromCache();
+    hydrateCardModesFromCache();
 
     // Initialize locale (dispatches languageChanged which may trigger API calls)
     await initLocale();
@@ -828,6 +832,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async () => {
     // across browsers). Fire-and-forget — the cached layout is already
     // active; this overwrites it if the server has a newer copy.
     syncDashboardLayoutFromServer();
+    syncCardModesFromServer();
 
     // Trigger the active tab's loader — initTabs() ran before authRequired
     // was known, so its conditional loader call may have been skipped.
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/core/card-sections.ts b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/core/card-sections.ts
index 421c514..26c5e74 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/core/card-sections.ts
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/core/card-sections.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import { t } from './i18n.ts';
 import { showBulkToolbar, hideBulkToolbar, updateBulkToolbar } from './bulk-toolbar.ts';
 import { ICON_LIST_CHECKS, ICON_EYE, ICON_EYE_OFF, ICON_CHECK } from './icons.ts';
+import { mountCardModeToggle } from '../features/card-modes.ts';
 
 export interface BulkAction {
     key: string;
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ export class CardSection {
     _pendingReconcile: CardItem[] | null;
     _animated: boolean;
     _showHidden: boolean;
+    _cardModeUnsubscribe: (() => void) | null;
 
     constructor(sectionKey: string, { titleKey, gridClass, addCardOnclick, keyAttr, headerExtra, collapsible, emptyKey, bulkActions }: CardSectionOpts) {
         this.sectionKey = sectionKey;
@@ -167,6 +169,7 @@ export class CardSection {
         this._pendingReconcile = null;
         this._animated = false;
         this._showHidden = false;
+        this._cardModeUnsubscribe = null;
         _sectionRegistry.set(sectionKey, this);
     }
 
@@ -214,6 +217,7 @@ export class CardSection {
                 ${this.headerExtra ? `<span class="cs-header-extra">${this.headerExtra}</span>` : ''}
                 ${hiddenToggle}
                 ${this.bulkActions ? `<button type="button" class="cs-bulk-toggle" data-cs-bulk="${this.sectionKey}" title="${t('bulk.select')}">${ICON_LIST_CHECKS}</button>` : ''}
+                <span class="cs-mode-slot" data-cs-mode-slot="${this.sectionKey}"></span>
                 <div class="cs-filter-wrap">
                     <input type="text" class="cs-filter" data-cs-filter="${this.sectionKey}"
                            data-i18n-placeholder="section.filter.placeholder" placeholder="${t('section.filter.placeholder')}" autocomplete="off">
@@ -236,11 +240,30 @@ export class CardSection {
 
         if (this.collapsible) {
             header.addEventListener('mousedown', (e) => {
-                if ((e.target as HTMLElement).closest('.cs-filter-wrap') || (e.target as HTMLElement).closest('.cs-header-extra')) return;
+                const tgt = e.target as HTMLElement;
+                if (tgt.closest('.cs-filter-wrap') || tgt.closest('.cs-header-extra') || tgt.closest('.cs-mode-slot')) return;
                 this._toggleCollapse(header, content);
             });
         }
 
+        // Card-mode segmented toggle — mounts into the placeholder slot
+        // in the header. Re-mounted on every bind() because the DOM has
+        // been recreated; old subscriptions are torn down first to keep
+        // the listener Set bounded.
+        if (this._cardModeUnsubscribe) {
+            this._cardModeUnsubscribe();
+            this._cardModeUnsubscribe = null;
+        }
+        const wrapper = document.querySelector(`[data-card-section="${this.sectionKey}"]`) as HTMLElement | null;
+        const modeSlot = document.querySelector(`[data-cs-mode-slot="${this.sectionKey}"]`) as HTMLElement | null;
+        if (wrapper && modeSlot) {
+            this._cardModeUnsubscribe = mountCardModeToggle({
+                container: modeSlot,
+                surface: this.sectionKey,
+                host: wrapper,
+            });
+        }
+
         if (filterInput) {
             const resetBtn = document.querySelector(`[data-cs-filter-reset="${this.sectionKey}"]`) as HTMLElement | null;
             const updateResetVisibility = () => {
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/card-modes.ts b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/card-modes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..889cb97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/card-modes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+/**
+ * Card presentation modes — per-surface size toggle (comfortable / compact / dense).
+ *
+ * Sibling to `dashboard-layout.ts` but slimmer: a single open registry of
+ * surface keys ('devices', 'displays', 'dashboard-targets', …) each mapped
+ * to one of three modes. CSS does the heavy lifting via the
+ * `[data-card-mode="…"]` attribute (see card-modes.css).
+ *
+ * Boot sequence (matches dashboard-layout):
+ *   1. hydrateCardModesFromCache()  — synchronous, called before first paint
+ *   2. syncCardModesFromServer()    — async, runs after auth completes
+ *
+ * Persistence:
+ *   - localStorage `card_modes_v1` cache for instant first paint
+ *   - server `GET/PUT /preferences/card-modes` for cross-browser truth
+ *   - PUT is debounced 300 ms; subscribers fire synchronously on save
+ *
+ * Surface keys are free-form strings — anything calling `setCardMode` is
+ * implicitly registering that key. Defaults are returned for unknown keys.
+ */
+import { fetchWithAuth } from '../core/api.ts';
+import { t } from '../core/i18n.ts';
+
+const LS_KEY = 'card_modes_v1';
+const SCHEMA_VERSION = 1;
+
+export type CardMode = 'comfortable' | 'compact' | 'dense' | 'row';
+
+export const CARD_MODES: readonly CardMode[] = ['comfortable', 'compact', 'dense', 'row'] as const;
+
+const DEFAULT_MODE: CardMode = 'compact';
+
+export interface CardModePrefsV1 {
+    version: 1;
+    surfaces: Record<string, CardMode>;
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_PREFS: CardModePrefsV1 = {
+    version: SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    surfaces: {},
+};
+
+let _current: CardModePrefsV1 = _clone(DEFAULT_PREFS);
+let _serverSyncedOnce = false;
+let _saveTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+const _listeners = new Set<() => void>();
+
+function _clone(prefs: CardModePrefsV1): CardModePrefsV1 {
+    return { version: prefs.version, surfaces: { ...prefs.surfaces } };
+}
+
+function _isCardMode(v: unknown): v is CardMode {
+    return v === 'comfortable' || v === 'compact' || v === 'dense' || v === 'row';
+}
+
+/** Normalise a parsed value back into a valid prefs object, dropping
+ *  garbage values. Tolerates older/forward versions by treating the
+ *  surfaces map as the only authoritative payload. */
+function _normalise(parsed: unknown): CardModePrefsV1 {
+    const out: CardModePrefsV1 = _clone(DEFAULT_PREFS);
+    if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== 'object') return out;
+    const obj = parsed as Record<string, unknown>;
+    const surfaces = obj.surfaces;
+    if (surfaces && typeof surfaces === 'object') {
+        for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(surfaces as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+            if (typeof k === 'string' && _isCardMode(v)) {
+                out.surfaces[k] = v;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return out;
+}
+
+function _notify(): void {
+    for (const fn of _listeners) {
+        try { fn(); } catch (e) { console.error('card-modes listener', e); }
+    }
+}
+
+/** Read the current prefs. Defensive copy. */
+export function getCardModePrefs(): CardModePrefsV1 {
+    return _clone(_current);
+}
+
+/** Effective mode for a surface — returns the configured value or the
+ *  default when the surface is unset. */
+export function getCardMode(surface: string): CardMode {
+    return _current.surfaces[surface] ?? DEFAULT_MODE;
+}
+
+/** Persist a surface's mode. Updates cache, fires subscribers,
+ *  schedules debounced server PUT. */
+export function setCardMode(surface: string, mode: CardMode): void {
+    if (!_isCardMode(mode)) return;
+    if (_current.surfaces[surface] === mode) return;
+    _current = {
+        version: _current.version,
+        surfaces: { ..._current.surfaces, [surface]: mode },
+    };
+    _persistLocal();
+    _notify();
+    _scheduleServerPush();
+}
+
+/** Subscribe to mode changes (any surface). Returns an unsubscribe fn. */
+export function subscribeCardModes(fn: () => void): () => void {
+    _listeners.add(fn);
+    return () => _listeners.delete(fn);
+}
+
+function _persistLocal(): void {
+    try { localStorage.setItem(LS_KEY, JSON.stringify(_current)); } catch { /* quota */ }
+}
+
+function _scheduleServerPush(): void {
+    if (_saveTimer) clearTimeout(_saveTimer);
+    _saveTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+        _saveTimer = null;
+        _pushToServer(_current).catch(e => console.warn('card-modes PUT failed', e));
+    }, 300);
+}
+
+async function _pushToServer(prefs: CardModePrefsV1): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+        await fetchWithAuth('/preferences/card-modes', {
+            method: 'PUT',
+            body: JSON.stringify(prefs),
+        });
+    } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('card-modes server PUT failed', e);
+    }
+}
+
+/** Hydrate from localStorage cache. Synchronous — safe to call before
+ *  auth so the first paint already uses the user's saved modes. */
+export function hydrateCardModesFromCache(): CardModePrefsV1 {
+    try {
+        const raw = localStorage.getItem(LS_KEY);
+        if (raw) {
+            _current = _normalise(JSON.parse(raw));
+        }
+    } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('card-modes cache parse failed', e);
+    }
+    return _clone(_current);
+}
+
+/** Pull prefs from server (post-auth). Replaces local cache when server
+ *  has a saved value; otherwise pushes local cache up so other browsers
+ *  inherit it. Safe to call repeatedly — only runs the round-trip once. */
+export async function syncCardModesFromServer(): Promise<void> {
+    if (_serverSyncedOnce) return;
+    try {
+        const resp = await fetchWithAuth('/preferences/card-modes');
+        if (!resp || !resp.ok) return;
+        const data = await resp.json();
+        if (data && typeof data === 'object' && (data as Record<string, unknown>).version) {
+            _current = _normalise(data);
+            _persistLocal();
+            _notify();
+        } else {
+            // Server has nothing — push what we have so the next browser
+            // picks up the same view.
+            if (Object.keys(_current.surfaces).length > 0) {
+                await _pushToServer(_current);
+            }
+        }
+        _serverSyncedOnce = true;
+    } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('card-modes server sync failed', e);
+    }
+}
+
+// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// DOM helpers
+// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Apply `data-card-mode` to a host element based on the current pref
+ *  for `surface`. Idempotent; safe to call on the same element after a
+ *  mode change to re-sync. */
+export function applyCardModeAttr(host: HTMLElement, surface: string): void {
+    host.setAttribute('data-card-mode', getCardMode(surface));
+}
+
+/** Bind a host element to a surface's mode. Re-applies the attribute
+ *  whenever the pref for that surface changes. Returns an unsubscribe
+ *  function for use in a cleanup hook. */
+export function bindCardModeAttr(host: HTMLElement, surface: string): () => void {
+    applyCardModeAttr(host, surface);
+    return subscribeCardModes(() => applyCardModeAttr(host, surface));
+}
+
+// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Toggle UI
+// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface MountCardModeToggleOpts {
+    /** Element to append the toggle to. */
+    container: HTMLElement;
+    /** Surface key whose mode this toggle controls. */
+    surface: string;
+    /** Optional host element to receive the `data-card-mode` attribute.
+     *  Defaults to `container.parentElement ?? container`. Pass the grid
+     *  container (or any common ancestor of the cards) so CSS overrides
+     *  cascade correctly. */
+    host?: HTMLElement;
+    /** Position hint for screen readers + analytics. */
+    label?: string;
+}
+
+const _MODE_BUTTONS: ReadonlyArray<{ v: CardMode; lbl: string; key: string }> = [
+    { v: 'comfortable', lbl: 'C', key: 'card_mode.comfortable' },
+    { v: 'compact',     lbl: 'M', key: 'card_mode.compact' },
+    { v: 'dense',       lbl: 'D', key: 'card_mode.dense' },
+    { v: 'row',         lbl: 'R', key: 'card_mode.row' },
+];
+
+/** Mount a segmented `C / M / D` toggle that drives the given surface.
+ *  Returns a teardown function that removes the toggle and unsubscribes. */
+export function mountCardModeToggle(opts: MountCardModeToggleOpts): () => void {
+    const host = opts.host ?? opts.container.parentElement ?? opts.container;
+    const surface = opts.surface;
+
+    const wrap = document.createElement('div');
+    wrap.className = 'card-mode-toggle';
+    wrap.setAttribute('role', 'radiogroup');
+    wrap.setAttribute('aria-label', opts.label || t('card_mode.tooltip') || 'Card size');
+
+    const buttons: HTMLButtonElement[] = _MODE_BUTTONS.map(b => {
+        const btn = document.createElement('button');
+        btn.type = 'button';
+        btn.className = 'card-mode-toggle__btn';
+        btn.dataset.cardMode = b.v;
+        btn.setAttribute('role', 'radio');
+        btn.textContent = b.lbl;
+        btn.title = t(b.key) || b.v;
+        btn.setAttribute('aria-label', t(b.key) || b.v);
+        btn.addEventListener('click', () => setCardMode(surface, b.v));
+        wrap.appendChild(btn);
+        return btn;
+    });
+
+    const refresh = () => {
+        const current = getCardMode(surface);
+        for (const btn of buttons) {
+            const isActive = btn.dataset.cardMode === current;
+            btn.classList.toggle('is-active', isActive);
+            btn.setAttribute('aria-checked', isActive ? 'true' : 'false');
+        }
+        applyCardModeAttr(host, surface);
+    };
+
+    refresh();
+    opts.container.appendChild(wrap);
+    const unsubscribe = subscribeCardModes(refresh);
+
+    return () => {
+        unsubscribe();
+        wrap.remove();
+    };
+}
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/dashboard.ts b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/dashboard.ts
index 3e611e8..973ca5c 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/dashboard.ts
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/js/features/dashboard.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { cardColorStyle } from '../core/card-colors.ts';
 import { renderDeviceIconSvg } from '../core/device-icons.ts';
 import { createFpsSparkline } from '../core/chart-utils.ts';
 import { getOrderedSections, isSectionVisible, getSection, subscribeDashboardLayout, getGlobalConfig } from './dashboard-layout.ts';
+import { mountCardModeToggle } from './card-modes.ts';
 
 function _applyGlobalLayoutAttrs(): void {
     const c = document.getElementById('dashboard-content');
@@ -27,6 +28,33 @@ function _applyGlobalLayoutAttrs(): void {
     c.dataset.layoutWidth = g.width;
     c.dataset.layoutAnim = g.animations;
 }
+
+/** Card-mode toggle teardown registry. Each render replaces the dashboard
+ *  inner HTML, so any previously-mounted toggle becomes detached. We tear
+ *  down old subscribers before mounting fresh so the module-level listener
+ *  Set in card-modes.ts stays bounded. Keyed by the surface name (matches
+ *  `data-dashboard-mode-slot`). */
+const _dashboardModeTeardowns = new Map<string, () => void>();
+
+function _mountDashboardCardModeToggles(): void {
+    const container = document.getElementById('dashboard-content');
+    if (!container) return;
+    for (const [, teardown] of _dashboardModeTeardowns) {
+        try { teardown(); } catch (e) { console.warn('card-mode teardown', e); }
+    }
+    _dashboardModeTeardowns.clear();
+    const slots = container.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-dashboard-mode-slot]');
+    for (const slot of slots) {
+        const surface = slot.dataset.dashboardModeSlot;
+        if (!surface) continue;
+        // Host = nearest [data-section] ancestor (either a .dashboard-section
+        // or a .dashboard-subsection — both carry the attribute now).
+        const host = slot.closest('[data-section]') as HTMLElement | null;
+        if (!host) continue;
+        const teardown = mountCardModeToggle({ container: slot, surface, host });
+        _dashboardModeTeardowns.set(surface, teardown);
+    }
+}
 import type { Device, OutputTarget, ColorStripSource, ScenePreset, SyncClock, Automation, HomeAssistantConnectionStatus, HomeAssistantStatusResponse, MQTTConnectionStatus, MQTTStatusResponse } from '../types.ts';
 
 const DASHBOARD_COLLAPSED_KEY = 'dashboard_collapsed';
@@ -552,7 +580,7 @@ export function toggleDashboardSection(sectionKey: string): void {
     }
 }
 
-function _sectionHeader(sectionKey: string, label: string, count: number | string, extraHtml: string = ''): string {
+function _sectionHeader(sectionKey: string, label: string, count: number | string, extraHtml: string = '', cardModeSurface: string = ''): string {
     const collapsed = _getCollapsedSections();
     const isCollapsed = !!collapsed[sectionKey];
     const chevronStyle = isCollapsed ? '' : ' style="transform:rotate(90deg)"';
@@ -562,12 +590,19 @@ function _sectionHeader(sectionKey: string, label: string, count: number | strin
     const countHtml = (count !== '' && count != null)
         ? `<span class="dashboard-section-count">${count}</span>`
         : '';
+    // Optional card-mode toggle slot — mounted post-render in
+    // _mountDashboardCardModeToggles(). Sections that don't display a
+    // card grid (e.g. 'perf') pass an empty string and get no slot.
+    const modeSlot = cardModeSurface
+        ? `<span class="dashboard-mode-slot" data-dashboard-mode-slot="${cardModeSurface}"></span>`
+        : '';
     return `<div class="dashboard-section-header" data-dashboard-section="${sectionKey}">
         <span class="dashboard-section-toggle" onclick="toggleDashboardSection('${sectionKey}')">
             <span class="dashboard-section-chevron"${chevronStyle}>&#9654;</span>
             ${label}
             ${countHtml}
         </span>
+        ${modeSlot}
         ${extraHtml}
     </div>`;
 }
@@ -824,7 +859,7 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                 const mqttCards = mqttStatus.connections.map(c => _renderMQTTIntegrationCard(c)).join('');
                 const intGrid = `<div class="dashboard-integrations-grid">${haCards}${mqttCards}</div>`;
                 sectionFragments['integrations'] = `<div class="dashboard-section" data-section="integrations">
-                    ${_sectionHeader('integrations', t('dashboard.section.integrations'), `${totalIntConnected}/${totalIntSources}`)}
+                    ${_sectionHeader('integrations', t('dashboard.section.integrations'), `${totalIntConnected}/${totalIntSources}`, '', 'dashboard-integrations')}
                     ${_sectionContent('integrations', intGrid)}
                 </div>`;
             }
@@ -838,7 +873,7 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                 const automationGrid = `<div class="dashboard-autostart-grid">${automationItems}</div>`;
 
                 sectionFragments['automations'] = `<div class="dashboard-section" data-section="automations">
-                    ${_sectionHeader('automations', t('dashboard.section.automations'), automations.length)}
+                    ${_sectionHeader('automations', t('dashboard.section.automations'), automations.length, '', 'dashboard-automations')}
                     ${_sectionContent('automations', automationGrid)}
                 </div>`;
             }
@@ -848,7 +883,7 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                 const sceneSec = renderScenePresetsSection(scenePresets);
                 if (sceneSec && typeof sceneSec === 'object') {
                     sectionFragments['scenes'] = `<div class="dashboard-section" data-section="scenes">
-                        ${_sectionHeader('scenes', t('dashboard.section.scenes'), scenePresets.length, sceneSec.headerExtra)}
+                        ${_sectionHeader('scenes', t('dashboard.section.scenes'), scenePresets.length, sceneSec.headerExtra, 'dashboard-scenes')}
                         ${_sectionContent('scenes', sceneSec.content)}
                     </div>`;
                 }
@@ -859,7 +894,7 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                 const clockCards = syncClocks.map(c => renderDashboardSyncClock(c)).join('');
                 const clockGrid = `<div class="dashboard-autostart-grid">${clockCards}</div>`;
                 sectionFragments['sync-clocks'] = `<div class="dashboard-section" data-section="sync-clocks">
-                    ${_sectionHeader('sync-clocks', t('dashboard.section.sync_clocks'), syncClocks.length)}
+                    ${_sectionHeader('sync-clocks', t('dashboard.section.sync_clocks'), syncClocks.length, '', 'dashboard-sync-clocks')}
                     ${_sectionContent('sync-clocks', clockGrid)}
                 </div>`;
             }
@@ -872,8 +907,8 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                     const stopAllBtn = `<button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary dashboard-stop-all" onclick="event.stopPropagation(); dashboardStopAll()" title="${t('dashboard.stop_all')}">${ICON_STOP} ${t('dashboard.stop_all')}</button>`;
                     const runningItems = running.map(target => renderDashboardTarget(target, true, devicesMap, cssSourceMap)).join('');
 
-                    targetsInner += `<div class="dashboard-subsection">
-                        ${_sectionHeader('running', t('dashboard.section.running'), running.length, stopAllBtn)}
+                    targetsInner += `<div class="dashboard-subsection" data-section="running">
+                        ${_sectionHeader('running', t('dashboard.section.running'), running.length, stopAllBtn, 'dashboard-running')}
                         ${_sectionContent('running', runningItems)}
                     </div>`;
                 }
@@ -881,8 +916,8 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
                 if (stopped.length > 0) {
                     const stoppedItems = stopped.map(target => renderDashboardTarget(target, false, devicesMap, cssSourceMap)).join('');
 
-                    targetsInner += `<div class="dashboard-subsection">
-                        ${_sectionHeader('stopped', t('dashboard.section.stopped'), stopped.length)}
+                    targetsInner += `<div class="dashboard-subsection" data-section="stopped">
+                        ${_sectionHeader('stopped', t('dashboard.section.stopped'), stopped.length, '', 'dashboard-stopped')}
                         ${_sectionContent('stopped', stoppedItems)}
                     </div>`;
                 }
@@ -944,6 +979,7 @@ export async function loadDashboard(forceFullRender: boolean = false): Promise<v
             const el = container.querySelector(`.dashboard-section[data-section="${CSS.escape(s.key)}"]`) as HTMLElement | null;
             if (el) el.dataset.density = s.density;
         }
+        _mountDashboardCardModeToggles();
         _lastRunningIds = runningIds;
         _lastSyncClockIds = syncClocks.map(c => `${c.id}:${c.is_running}`).sort().join(',');
         _cacheUptimeElements();
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/en.json b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/en.json
index 6a631bb..e354ddc 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/en.json
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/en.json
@@ -969,6 +969,11 @@
   "dashboard.customize.density.comfortable": "Comfortable",
   "dashboard.customize.density.compact": "Compact",
   "dashboard.customize.density.dense": "Dense",
+  "card_mode.tooltip": "Card size",
+  "card_mode.comfortable": "Comfortable",
+  "card_mode.compact": "Compact",
+  "card_mode.dense": "Dense",
+  "card_mode.row": "List",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.on": "Start collapsed",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.off": "Start expanded",
   "dashboard.customize.show": "Show",
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/ru.json b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/ru.json
index f6be444..26f6fda 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/ru.json
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/ru.json
@@ -964,6 +964,11 @@
   "dashboard.customize.density.comfortable": "Просторно",
   "dashboard.customize.density.compact": "Компактно",
   "dashboard.customize.density.dense": "Плотно",
+  "card_mode.tooltip": "Размер карточек",
+  "card_mode.comfortable": "Просторно",
+  "card_mode.compact": "Компактно",
+  "card_mode.dense": "Плотно",
+  "card_mode.row": "Список",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.on": "Свёрнуто по умолчанию",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.off": "Развёрнуто по умолчанию",
   "dashboard.customize.show": "Показать",
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/zh.json b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/zh.json
index f289303..c5da76c 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/zh.json
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/static/locales/zh.json
@@ -964,6 +964,11 @@
   "dashboard.customize.density.comfortable": "宽松",
   "dashboard.customize.density.compact": "紧凑",
   "dashboard.customize.density.dense": "密集",
+  "card_mode.tooltip": "卡片大小",
+  "card_mode.comfortable": "宽松",
+  "card_mode.compact": "紧凑",
+  "card_mode.dense": "密集",
+  "card_mode.row": "列表",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.on": "默认折叠",
   "dashboard.customize.collapse_default.off": "默认展开",
   "dashboard.customize.show": "显示",
diff --git a/server/tests/test_preferences_card_modes_api.py b/server/tests/test_preferences_card_modes_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40d7798
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/tests/test_preferences_card_modes_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+"""Tests for /api/v1/preferences/card-modes endpoints."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from ledgrab.config import get_config
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def client():
+    """TestClient with auth header read at fixture-build time.
+
+    Mirrors test_preferences_api.py — the auth key is resolved here so
+    any singleton mutation during pytest collection cannot leave us with
+    a stale Bearer header.
+    """
+    from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+    from ledgrab.main import app
+
+    api_key = next(iter(get_config().auth.api_keys.values()), "")
+    with TestClient(app, raise_server_exceptions=False) as c:
+        if api_key:
+            c.headers["Authorization"] = f"Bearer {api_key}"
+        yield c
+
+
+def _prefs(surfaces: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> dict:
+    return {"version": 1, "surfaces": surfaces or {}}
+
+
+def test_get_default_empty(client):
+    """When nothing is saved, GET returns {}."""
+    client.delete("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes")
+    resp = client.get("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    assert resp.json() == {}
+
+
+def test_put_then_get_round_trip(client):
+    """PUT a prefs object, GET it back verbatim."""
+    body = _prefs({"led-devices": "dense", "led-targets": "comfortable"})
+    put = client.put("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes", json=body)
+    assert put.status_code == 200
+    assert put.json() == {"ok": True}
+
+    got = client.get("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes")
+    assert got.status_code == 200
+    assert got.json() == body
+
+
+def test_put_rejects_missing_version(client):
+    """Body without numeric version is rejected with 422."""
+    resp = client.put(
+        "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+        json={"surfaces": {"led-devices": "dense"}},
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
+
+
+def test_put_rejects_invalid_mode(client):
+    """A mode value outside the allowed set is rejected with 422."""
+    resp = client.put(
+        "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+        json=_prefs({"led-devices": "extreme"}),
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
+
+
+def test_put_rejects_non_dict_surfaces(client):
+    """`surfaces` must be an object, not an array or string."""
+    resp = client.put(
+        "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+        json={"version": 1, "surfaces": ["led-devices", "dense"]},
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
+
+
+def test_put_accepts_empty_surfaces(client):
+    """An empty surfaces map is a valid (no-override) state."""
+    resp = client.put("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes", json=_prefs({}))
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+
+def test_put_accepts_unknown_surface_keys(client):
+    """Surface keys are an open registry — any non-empty string is OK."""
+    body = _prefs(
+        {
+            "led-devices": "compact",
+            "automations": "dense",
+            "weather-sources": "comfortable",
+            "future-surface-v2": "compact",
+        }
+    )
+    resp = client.put("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes", json=body)
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    got = client.get("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes").json()
+    assert got["surfaces"]["future-surface-v2"] == "compact"
+
+
+def test_put_accepts_row_mode(client):
+    """`row` is a valid mode (added alongside the original three)."""
+    body = _prefs({"led-devices": "row"})
+    resp = client.put("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes", json=body)
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    got = client.get("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes").json()
+    assert got["surfaces"]["led-devices"] == "row"
+
+
+def test_delete_clears(client):
+    """DELETE wipes saved prefs so the next GET returns empty."""
+    client.put(
+        "/api/v1/preferences/card-modes",
+        json=_prefs({"led-devices": "dense"}),
+    )
+    deleted = client.delete("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes")
+    assert deleted.status_code == 200
+    after = client.get("/api/v1/preferences/card-modes")
+    assert after.status_code == 200
+    assert after.json() == {}