diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py b/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
index 5eea8060ff9..d1ac806b5fd 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ def validate_raw_data(value):
     )
 
 
+# Lengths are stored as uint16_t; reject longer payloads at validation.
+validate_raw_payload = cv.All(validate_raw_data, cv.Length(max=65535))
+
+
 def validate_rx_pin(value):
     value = pins.internal_gpio_input_pin_schema(value)
     if CORE.is_esp8266 and value[CONF_NUMBER] >= 16:
@@ -596,7 +600,7 @@ async def register_uart_device(var, config):
     cv.maybe_simple_value(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.use_id(UARTComponent),
-            cv.Required(CONF_DATA): cv.templatable(validate_raw_data),
+            cv.Required(CONF_DATA): cv.templatable(validate_raw_payload),
         },
         key=CONF_DATA,
     ),
@@ -605,18 +609,9 @@ async def register_uart_device(var, config):
 async def uart_write_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg)
     await cg.register_parented(var, config[CONF_ID])
-    data = config[CONF_DATA]
-    if isinstance(data, bytes):
-        data = list(data)
-
-    if cg.is_template(data):
-        templ = await cg.templatable(data, args, cg.std_vector.template(cg.uint8))
-        cg.add(var.set_data_template(templ))
-    else:
-        # Generate static array in flash to avoid RAM copy
-        arr_id = ID(f"{action_id}_data", is_declaration=True, type=cg.uint8)
-        arr = cg.static_const_array(arr_id, cg.ArrayInitializer(*data))
-        cg.add(var.set_data_static(arr, len(data)))
+    await automation.templatable_bytes(
+        config[CONF_DATA], args, var.set_data_template, var.set_data_static, "uart_data"
+    )
     return var
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/automation.h b/esphome/components/uart/automation.h
index e5a9fa7c7bc..b134c8af9f6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/automation.h
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/automation.h
@@ -8,36 +8,15 @@
 namespace esphome::uart {
 
 template<typename... Ts> class UARTWriteAction final : public Action<Ts...>, public Parented<UARTComponent> {
- public:
-  void set_data_template(std::vector<uint8_t> (*func)(Ts...)) {
-    // Stateless lambdas (generated by ESPHome) implicitly convert to function pointers
-    this->code_.func = func;
-    this->len_ = -1;  // Sentinel value indicates template mode
-  }
-
-  // Store pointer to static data in flash (no RAM copy)
-  void set_data_static(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
-    this->code_.data = data;
-    this->len_ = len;  // Length >= 0 indicates static mode
-  }
+  TEMPLATABLE_BYTES(data)
 
   void play(const Ts &...x) override {
-    if (this->len_ >= 0) {
-      // Static mode: use pointer and length
-      this->parent_->write_array(this->code_.data, static_cast<size_t>(this->len_));
+    if (this->data_.is_static()) {
+      this->parent_->write_array_progmem(this->data_.data(), this->data_.size());
     } else {
-      // Template mode: call function
-      auto val = this->code_.func(x...);
-      this->parent_->write_array(val);
+      this->parent_->write_array(this->data_.value(x...));
     }
   }
-
- protected:
-  ssize_t len_{-1};  // -1 = template mode, >=0 = static mode with length
-  union Code {
-    std::vector<uint8_t> (*func)(Ts...);  // Function pointer (stateless lambdas)
-    const uint8_t *data;                  // Pointer to static data in flash
-  } code_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace esphome::uart
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/button/__init__.py b/esphome/components/uart/button/__init__.py
index 95fe21271db..821d8264dc4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/button/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/button/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
+from esphome import automation
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from esphome.components import button, uart
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import CONF_DATA
-from esphome.core import HexInt
 
-from .. import uart_ns, validate_raw_data
+from .. import uart_ns, validate_raw_payload
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@ssieb"]
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
     button.button_schema(UARTButton)
     .extend(
         {
-            cv.Required(CONF_DATA): validate_raw_data,
+            cv.Required(CONF_DATA): validate_raw_payload,
         }
     )
     .extend(uart.UART_DEVICE_SCHEMA)
@@ -31,6 +31,4 @@ async def to_code(config):
     await uart.register_uart_device(var, config)
 
     data = config[CONF_DATA]
-    if isinstance(data, bytes):
-        data = [HexInt(x) for x in data]
-    cg.add(var.set_data(cg.ArrayInitializer(*data)))
+    cg.add(var.set_data(automation.progmem_bytes("uart_data", data), len(data)))
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.cpp b/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.cpp
index b55207cb46e..99b5ee548d0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ESPHOME_LOG_TAG(TAG, "uart.button");
 
 void UARTButton::press_action() {
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Sending data", this->get_name().c_str());
-  this->write_array(this->data_.data(), this->data_.size());
+  this->write_array_progmem(this->data_, this->data_len_);
 }
 
 void UARTButton::dump_config() { LOG_BUTTON("", "UART Button", this); }
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.h b/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.h
index 47f45d4899c..903f945fd30 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.h
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/button/uart_button.h
@@ -4,20 +4,21 @@
 #include "esphome/components/uart/uart.h"
 #include "esphome/components/button/button.h"
 
-#include <vector>
-
 namespace esphome::uart {
 
 class UARTButton final : public button::Button, public UARTDevice, public Component {
  public:
-  void set_data(std::vector<uint8_t> &&data) { this->data_ = std::move(data); }
-  void set_data(std::initializer_list<uint8_t> data) { this->data_ = std::vector<uint8_t>(data); }
+  void set_data(const uint8_t *data, uint16_t len) {
+    this->data_ = data;
+    this->data_len_ = len;
+  }
 
   void dump_config() override;
 
  protected:
   void press_action() override;
-  std::vector<uint8_t> data_;
+  const uint8_t *data_{nullptr};
+  uint16_t data_len_{0};
 };
 
 }  // namespace esphome::uart
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/switch/__init__.py b/esphome/components/uart/switch/__init__.py
index 290bbed5d30..3288ceeee20 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/switch/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/switch/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
+from esphome import automation
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from esphome.components import switch, uart
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import CONF_DATA, CONF_SEND_EVERY
-from esphome.core import HexInt
 
-from .. import uart_ns, validate_raw_data
+from .. import uart_ns, validate_raw_payload
 
 DEPENDENCIES = ["uart"]
 
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
     .extend(
         {
             cv.Required(CONF_DATA): cv.Any(
-                validate_raw_data,
+                validate_raw_payload,
                 cv.Schema(
                     {
-                        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_OFF): validate_raw_data,
-                        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_ON): validate_raw_data,
+                        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_OFF): validate_raw_payload,
+                        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_ON): validate_raw_payload,
                     }
                 ),
             ),
@@ -40,20 +40,16 @@ async def to_code(config):
     await uart.register_uart_device(var, config)
 
     data = config[CONF_DATA]
-    if isinstance(data, dict):
-        if data_on := data.get(CONF_TURN_ON):
-            if isinstance(data_on, bytes):
-                data_on = [HexInt(x) for x in data_on]
-            cg.add(var.set_data_on(cg.ArrayInitializer(*data_on)))
-        if data_off := data.get(CONF_TURN_OFF):
-            if isinstance(data_off, bytes):
-                data_off = [HexInt(x) for x in data_off]
-            cg.add(var.set_data_off(cg.ArrayInitializer(*data_off)))
-    else:
-        data = config[CONF_DATA]
-        if isinstance(data, bytes):
-            data = [HexInt(x) for x in data]
-        cg.add(var.set_data_on(cg.ArrayInitializer(*data)))
+    single_state = not isinstance(data, dict)
+    if single_state:
+        data = {CONF_TURN_ON: data}
+    for key, setter in (
+        (CONF_TURN_ON, var.set_data_on),
+        (CONF_TURN_OFF, var.set_data_off),
+    ):
+        if payload := data.get(key):
+            cg.add(setter(automation.progmem_bytes("uart_data", payload), len(payload)))
+    if single_state:
         cg.add(var.set_single_state(True))
     if CONF_SEND_EVERY in config:
         cg.add(var.set_send_every(config[CONF_SEND_EVERY]))
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.cpp b/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.cpp
index 6b6aa273f7a..1af497ffcfd 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.cpp
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ void UARTSwitch::loop() {
 }
 
 void UARTSwitch::write_command_(bool state) {
-  if (state && !this->data_on_.empty()) {
+  if (state && this->data_on_len_ != 0) {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Sending on data", this->get_name().c_str());
-    this->write_array(this->data_on_.data(), this->data_on_.size());
+    this->write_array_progmem(this->data_on_, this->data_on_len_);
   }
-  if (!state && !this->data_off_.empty()) {
+  if (!state && this->data_off_len_ != 0) {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Sending off data", this->get_name().c_str());
-    this->write_array(this->data_off_.data(), this->data_off_.size());
+    this->write_array_progmem(this->data_off_, this->data_off_len_);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.h b/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.h
index c924c7d4e54..96d8833d7a8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.h
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/switch/uart_switch.h
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include "esphome/components/switch/switch.h"
 
 #include <cinttypes>
-#include <vector>
 
 namespace esphome::uart {
 
@@ -13,10 +12,14 @@ class UARTSwitch final : public switch_::Switch, public UARTDevice, public Compo
  public:
   void loop() override;
 
-  void set_data_on(std::vector<uint8_t> &&data) { this->data_on_ = std::move(data); }
-  void set_data_on(std::initializer_list<uint8_t> data) { this->data_on_ = std::vector<uint8_t>(data); }
-  void set_data_off(std::vector<uint8_t> &&data) { this->data_off_ = std::move(data); }
-  void set_data_off(std::initializer_list<uint8_t> data) { this->data_off_ = std::vector<uint8_t>(data); }
+  void set_data_on(const uint8_t *data, uint16_t len) {
+    this->data_on_ = data;
+    this->data_on_len_ = len;
+  }
+  void set_data_off(const uint8_t *data, uint16_t len) {
+    this->data_off_ = data;
+    this->data_off_len_ = len;
+  }
   void set_send_every(uint32_t send_every) { this->send_every_ = send_every; }
   void set_single_state(bool single) { this->single_state_ = single; }
 
@@ -25,8 +28,10 @@ class UARTSwitch final : public switch_::Switch, public UARTDevice, public Compo
  protected:
   void write_command_(bool state);
   void write_state(bool state) override;
-  std::vector<uint8_t> data_on_;
-  std::vector<uint8_t> data_off_;
+  const uint8_t *data_on_{nullptr};
+  const uint8_t *data_off_{nullptr};
+  uint16_t data_on_len_{0};
+  uint16_t data_off_len_{0};
   bool single_state_{false};
   uint32_t send_every_;
   uint32_t last_transmission_;
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/uart.h b/esphome/components/uart/uart.h
index d1c67733634..7a34a20583e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/uart.h
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/uart.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class UARTDevice {
   size_t get_rx_timeout() { return this->parent_->get_rx_timeout(); }
 
   void write_array(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) { this->parent_->write_array(data, len); }
+  void write_array_progmem(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) { this->parent_->write_array_progmem(data, len); }
   void write_array(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) { this->parent_->write_array(data); }
   template<size_t N> void write_array(const std::array<uint8_t, N> &data) {
     this->parent_->write_array(data.data(), data.size());
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.cpp b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.cpp
index 82bc5927024..e77e37cd089 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.cpp
@@ -46,4 +46,17 @@ void UARTComponent::set_rx_full_threshold_ms(uint8_t time) {
   this->set_rx_full_threshold(val);
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+void UARTComponent::write_array_progmem(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
+  uint8_t buf[32];
+  while (len > 0) {
+    const size_t chunk = std::min(len, sizeof(buf));
+    progmem_memcpy(buf, data, chunk);
+    this->write_array(buf, chunk);
+    data += chunk;
+    len -= chunk;
+  }
+}
+#endif
+
 }  // namespace esphome::uart
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.h b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.h
index 6d446fd6a6f..14709d44906 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component.h
@@ -65,6 +65,13 @@ class UARTComponent {
   // @param len Length of the array.
   virtual void write_array(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) = 0;
 
+  // Writes bytes that may live in PROGMEM; ESP8266 cannot read flash bytewise, so it copies chunks.
+#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+  void write_array_progmem(const uint8_t *data, size_t len);
+#else
+  void write_array_progmem(const uint8_t *data, size_t len) { this->write_array(data, len); }
+#endif
+
   // Reads a single byte from the UART bus.
   // @param data Pointer to the byte where the read data will be stored.
   // @return True if a byte was successfully read, false otherwise.
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/uart/__init__.py b/tests/component_tests/uart/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/uart/config/payload_tables.yaml b/tests/component_tests/uart/config/payload_tables.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e93ab4754d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/component_tests/uart/config/payload_tables.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+---
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  on_boot:
+    then:
+      - uart.write: [0x01, 0x02, 0x03]
+      - uart.write: !lambda return {0x09};
+      - uart.write: ""
+
+esp32:
+  board: esp32dev
+
+uart:
+  tx_pin: 17
+  rx_pin: 16
+  baud_rate: 9600
+
+switch:
+  - platform: uart
+    id: shared_switch
+    name: Shared Switch
+    data: [0x01, 0x02, 0x03]
+  - platform: uart
+    id: on_off_switch
+    name: On Off Switch
+    data:
+      turn_on: "ON"
+      turn_off: [0x04]
+
+button:
+  - platform: uart
+    id: shared_button
+    name: Shared Button
+    data: [0x01, 0x02, 0x03]
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/uart/test_payload_tables.py b/tests/component_tests/uart/test_payload_tables.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2ba341136a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/component_tests/uart/test_payload_tables.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Tests for UART constant payloads in shared PROGMEM tables."""
+
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+
+
+def test_constant_payloads_share_progmem_tables(
+    generate_main: Callable[[str | Path], str],
+    component_config_path: Callable[[str], Path],
+) -> None:
+    """Equal payloads share one table across switch, button and write action."""
+    main_cpp = generate_main(component_config_path("payload_tables.yaml"))
+
+    tables = dict(
+        re.findall(
+            r"static constexpr uint8_t (\w+)\[\] PROGMEM = (\{[^}]*\});", main_cpp
+        )
+    )
+    shared = next(k for k, v in tables.items() if v == "{0x01, 0x02, 0x03}")
+    assert sorted(tables.values()) == sorted(
+        ["{0x01, 0x02, 0x03}", "{0x4F, 0x4E}", "{0x04}"]
+    )
+    assert f"shared_switch->set_data_on({shared}, 3);" in main_cpp
+    assert f"shared_button->set_data({shared}, 3);" in main_cpp
+    assert f"set_data_static({shared}, 3);" in main_cpp
+    assert "set_data_static(nullptr, 0);" in main_cpp
+    assert "set_data_template(" in main_cpp