diff --git a/lib/api/index.js b/lib/api/index.js
index 9135232..31fdfa6 100644
--- a/lib/api/index.js
+++ b/lib/api/index.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { router as searchRouter } from './routes/search.js';
 import { router as jobsRouter } from './routes/jobs.js';
 import { router as captureRouter } from './routes/capture.js';
 import { spacesScopedRouter as companionRouter } from './routes/companion.js';
+import { router as dashboardRouter } from './routes/dashboard.js';
 
 export function mountApi(app) {
   const api = Router();
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ export function mountApi(app) {
   api.use('/search', searchRouter);
   api.use('/jobs', jobsRouter);
   api.use('/capture', captureRouter);
+  api.use('/dashboard', dashboardRouter);
   api.use('/:entity_type/:entity_id/tags', tagsByEntityRouter);
 
   api.use((_req, _res, next) => next(new NotFoundError('route not found')));
diff --git a/lib/api/routes/dashboard.js b/lib/api/routes/dashboard.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..142b5bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/api/routes/dashboard.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { Router } from 'express';
+import { z } from 'zod';
+import { validate } from '../validate.js';
+import { asyncWrap } from '../errors.js';
+import { requireOwner } from '../cap.js';
+import * as repo from '../../db/repos/dashboard_layout.js';
+
+export const router = Router();
+router.use(requireOwner);
+
+const layoutSchema = z.object({
+  card_order: z.array(z.string()).default([]),
+  hidden: z.array(z.string()).default([]),
+  sizes: z.record(z.enum(['s', 'm', 'l'])).default({})
+});
+
+router.get('/layout', asyncWrap(async (_req, res) => {
+  res.json(await repo.get());
+}));
+
+router.put('/layout',
+  validate({ body: layoutSchema }),
+  asyncWrap(async (req, res) => {
+    res.json(await repo.put(req.body));
+  })
+);
diff --git a/tests/api/dashboard.test.js b/tests/api/dashboard.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cde5d07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/dashboard.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll } from 'vitest';
+import request from 'supertest';
+import { setup } from './helpers.js';
+
+let app, ownerHeaders;
+beforeAll(async () => { ({ app, ownerHeaders } = await setup()); });
+
+describe('dashboard layout api', () => {
+  it('401 without auth', async () => {
+    const res = await request(app).get('/api/dashboard/layout');
+    expect(res.status).toBe(401);
+  });
+
+  it('GET returns defaults', async () => {
+    const res = await request(app).get('/api/dashboard/layout').set(ownerHeaders);
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body).toEqual({ card_order: [], hidden: [], sizes: {} });
+  });
+
+  it('PUT persists and GET reflects it', async () => {
+    const body = { card_order: ['clock', 'weather'], hidden: [], sizes: { weather: 's' } };
+    const put = await request(app).put('/api/dashboard/layout').set(ownerHeaders).send(body);
+    expect(put.status).toBe(200);
+    const get = await request(app).get('/api/dashboard/layout').set(ownerHeaders);
+    expect(get.body.card_order).toEqual(['clock', 'weather']);
+    expect(get.body.sizes).toEqual({ weather: 's' });
+  });
+
+  it('PUT rejects a bad size value', async () => {
+    const res = await request(app).put('/api/dashboard/layout').set(ownerHeaders)
+      .send({ card_order: [], hidden: [], sizes: { weather: 'huge' } });
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+  });
+});