diff --git a/esphome/config.py b/esphome/config.py
index 13ec744ce4..bc69661d8f 100644
--- a/esphome/config.py
+++ b/esphome/config.py
@@ -1226,6 +1226,7 @@ class CoreFinalValidateStep(ConfigValidationStep):
         with result.catch_error([CONF_ESPHOME]):
             if CONF_ESPHOME in result:
                 core_config.validate_ids_and_references(result[CONF_ESPHOME])
+                core_config.validate_loop_interval(result[CONF_ESPHOME])
         fv.full_config.reset(token)
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index 8ed4c09096..2f399cbdcd 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ class Application {
    * Each component can request a high frequency loop execution by using the HighFrequencyLoopRequester
    * helper in helpers.h
    *
-   * Note: This method is not called by ESPHome core code. It is only used by lambda functions
-   * in YAML configurations or by external components.
+   * Sleep per wake is capped at 2 * WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS (except host and ESP8266);
+   * raise the platform watchdog timeout to sleep longer.
    *
    * @param loop_interval The interval in milliseconds to run the core loop at. Defaults to 16 milliseconds.
    */
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ class Application {
   ///   - ESP8266 soft WDT (~1.6 s):           ~16x  <-- 100 ms feed (see USE_ESP8266 below)
   ///   - ESP8266 HW WDT (~6 s):               ~60x
   ///   - BK72xx HW WDT (10 s):                ~5x   <-- platform override below
+  /// Important: if these are modified align validate_loop_interval in config.py
 #ifdef USE_BK72XX
   // BDK busy-waits 200us per WDT reload (sctrl_dpll_delay200us). LibreTiny
   // sets HW WDT to 10s; 2000ms keeps ~5x margin. See wdt_ctrl WCMD_RELOAD_PERIOD:
@@ -775,8 +776,8 @@ inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE Application::loop() {
   }
 #endif
 
-  // Compute sleep: bounded by time-until-next-component-phase and the
-  // scheduler's next deadline. When a scheduler timer fires it re-enters
+  // Compute sleep: bounded by time-until-next-component-phase if there are
+  // components with loop enabled and the scheduler's next deadline. When a scheduler timer fires it re-enters
   // loop(), Phase A services it, and the component phase stays gated by
   // loop_interval_. When a background producer calls wake_loop_threadsafe()
   // it sets the wake_request flag and wakes select() / the task notification;
@@ -795,16 +796,47 @@ inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE Application::loop() {
   uint32_t delay_time = 0;
   if (!HighFrequencyLoopRequester::is_high_frequency()) {
     const uint32_t elapsed_since_phase = now - this->last_loop_;
-    const uint32_t until_phase =
+#ifdef ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP
+    const bool has_loop_work =
+        this->looping_components_active_end_ > 0 || this->dump_config_at_ < this->components_.size();
+    uint32_t until_phase = std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max();
+    if (has_loop_work) {
+      until_phase = (elapsed_since_phase >= this->loop_interval_) ? 0 : (this->loop_interval_ - elapsed_since_phase);
+    }
+#else
+    uint32_t until_phase =
         (elapsed_since_phase >= this->loop_interval_) ? 0 : (this->loop_interval_ - elapsed_since_phase);
+#endif
     const uint32_t until_sched = this->scheduler.next_schedule_in(now).value_or(until_phase);
     delay_time = std::min(until_phase, until_sched);
   }
   // All platforms route loop yields through the platform wake primitive.
   // On host this drains the loopback wake socket via select(); on FreeRTOS
   // targets it uses task notifications; on ESP8266/RP2040 it uses esp_delay/WFE.
-  esphome::internal::wakeable_delay(delay_time);
+  // Cap the sleep so the WDT feed and status-LED dispatch rate limits still get
+  // exercised even when loop_interval is raised or the scheduler and component
+  // phases are gated out for a long sleep. Waking every 2*WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS
+  // clears the feed rate limit on every wake, so the WDT is fed at least that
+  // often -- well inside every platform's timeout.
+#if defined(USE_ESP8266)
+  // SDK os_timer_arm() accepts at most 0x68D7A3 ms without system_timer_reinit();
+  // the SDK feeds both watchdogs while the cont task is suspended, so no WDT cap needed.
+  static constexpr uint32_t MAX_SLEEP_BASE = 0x68D7A3;
+#elif defined(USE_HOST)
+  // arch_feed_wdt() is a no-op on host and ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP is rejected by
+  // the config validator, so delay_time is already bounded by loop_interval_.
+  static constexpr uint32_t MAX_SLEEP_BASE = std::numeric_limits<uint32_t>::max();
+#else
+  static constexpr uint32_t MAX_SLEEP_BASE = WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS * 2;
+#endif
+  uint32_t max_sleep = MAX_SLEEP_BASE;
+#ifdef USE_STATUS_LED
+  if ((this->app_state_ & STATUS_LED_MASK) != 0) {
+    max_sleep = std::min(max_sleep, STATUS_LED_DISPATCH_INTERVAL_MS);
+  }
+#endif
 
+  esphome::internal::wakeable_delay(std::min(delay_time, max_sleep));
   if (this->dump_config_at_ < this->components_.size()) {
     this->process_dump_config_();
   }
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index 532ca7c36d..531a027647 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -43,7 +43,11 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_PROJECT,
     CONF_TRIGGER_ID,
     CONF_VERSION,
+    CONF_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT,
     KEY_CORE,
+    PLATFORM_ESP32,
+    PLATFORM_HOST,
+    PLATFORM_RP2,
     PlatformFramework,
     __version__ as ESPHOME_VERSION,
 )
@@ -53,6 +57,7 @@ from esphome.core import (
     CoroPriority,
     coroutine_with_priority,
 )
+import esphome.final_validate as fv
 from esphome.helpers import (
     copy_file_if_changed,
     cpp_string_escape,
@@ -63,6 +68,9 @@ from esphome.helpers import (
 )
 from esphome.types import ConfigType
 
+CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL = "loop_interval"
+CONF_SUSPEND_LOOP = "suspend_loop"
+
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # C++ variable names and separators for app name buffers (used with MAC suffix)
@@ -186,6 +194,35 @@ def validate_ids_and_references(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
     return config
 
 
+def validate_loop_interval(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    if CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL in config and not (CORE.is_host or CORE.is_esp8266):
+        # max_loop interval is calculated from WDT_FEED_INTERVAL_MS. Make sure to align with application.h
+        max_loop = 600  # 2 * 300ms default for other platforms
+        if CORE.is_esp32:
+            max_loop = (
+                2
+                * fv.full_config.get()[PLATFORM_ESP32][
+                    CONF_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT
+                ].total_milliseconds
+                // 5
+            )
+        elif CORE.is_bk72xx:
+            max_loop = 4000  # 10000ms / 5 * 2 default value
+        if config[CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL].total_milliseconds > max_loop:
+            _LOGGER.warning(
+                "%s of %s exceeds the %sms maximum sleep on this platform; the loop will still "
+                "wake every %sms.%s",
+                CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL,
+                config[CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL],
+                max_loop,
+                max_loop,
+                " Raise esp32.watchdog_timeout to sleep longer."
+                if CORE.is_esp32
+                else "",
+            )
+    return config
+
+
 def valid_include(value: str) -> str:
     # Look for "<...>" includes
     if value.startswith("<") and value.endswith(">"):
@@ -266,6 +303,15 @@ def validate_area_config(config: dict | str) -> dict[str, str | core.ID]:
     return cv.maybe_simple_value(AREA_SCHEMA, key=CONF_NAME)(config)
 
 
+def _validate_suspend_loop(value: bool) -> bool:
+    # host and RP2 platforms have unwakeable delay fallbacks, so suspending the main loop is unsafe
+    if value and CORE.target_platform in [PLATFORM_HOST, PLATFORM_RP2]:
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            f"Suspend loop is not available on {CORE.target_platform} platform"
+        )
+    return value
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -331,6 +377,19 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(
                 CONF_DEBUG_SCHEDULER, default=False, visibility=cv.Visibility.YAML_ONLY
             ): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL, visibility=cv.Visibility.YAML_ONLY): cv.All(
+                cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+                cv.Range(
+                    min=cv.TimePeriod(milliseconds=1),
+                    max=cv.TimePeriod(milliseconds=65535),
+                ),
+            ),
+            cv.Optional(
+                CONF_SUSPEND_LOOP, default=False, visibility=cv.Visibility.YAML_ONLY
+            ): cv.All(
+                cv.boolean,
+                _validate_suspend_loop,
+            ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_PROJECT): cv.Schema(
                 {
                     cv.Required(CONF_NAME): cv.All(
@@ -806,6 +865,10 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
         cg.add_cxx_build_flag("-Wno-volatile")
     if config[CONF_DEBUG_SCHEDULER]:
         cg.add_define("ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER")
+    if config[CONF_SUSPEND_LOOP]:
+        cg.add_define("ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP")
+    if CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL in config:
+        cg.add(cg.App.set_loop_interval(config[CONF_LOOP_INTERVAL]))
 
     if CORE.using_arduino:
         CORE.add_job(add_arduino_global_workaround)
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 558bbd54cd..21c4e3d996 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@
 #define ESPHOME_ESP32_BLE_BLE_STATUS_EVENT_HANDLER_COUNT 2
 #define ESPHOME_ESP32_BLE_EXTENDED_AUTH_PARAMS
 #define ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE 8192
+#define ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP
 #define USE_ESP32_CAMERA_JPEG_ENCODER
 #define USE_HTTP_REQUEST_RESPONSE
 #define USE_I2C
@@ -520,6 +521,7 @@
 
 // ESP8266-specific feature flags
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#define ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP
 #define USE_ADC_SENSOR_VCC
 #define USE_ESP8266_CRASH_HANDLER
 #define USE_ARDUINO_VERSION_CODE VERSION_CODE(3, 1, 2)
@@ -597,6 +599,7 @@
 #define USE_BK72XX_BLE_TRACKER
 #endif
 #define ESPHOME_BLE_DEVICE_BASE_LISTENER_COUNT 1
+#define ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP
 #define USE_BLE_SCAN_RESPONSE_MERGER
 #define USE_CAPTIVE_PORTAL
 #define USE_WIFI_SCAN_RESULTS_LOCK
@@ -622,6 +625,7 @@
 #ifdef USE_NRF52
 #define ESPHOME_BLE_NUS_TX_RING_BUFFER_SIZE 512
 #define ESPHOME_BLE_NUS_RX_RING_BUFFER_SIZE 512
+#define ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP
 #define USE_ESPHOME_TASK_LOG_BUFFER
 #define ESPHOME_TASK_LOG_BUFFER_SIZE 768
 #define USE_LOGGER_EARLY_MESSAGE
diff --git a/tests/components/esphome/common.yaml b/tests/components/esphome/common.yaml
index 93f82824e6..fd3d6a0efe 100644
--- a/tests/components/esphome/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/esphome/common.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 esphome:
   debug_scheduler: true
+  loop_interval: 50ms
+  suspend_loop: false
   platformio_options:
     board_build.flash_mode: dio
   build_flags:
diff --git a/tests/components/esphome/test.esp32-idf.yaml b/tests/components/esphome/test.esp32-idf.yaml
index dade44d145..7c571c7f51 100644
--- a/tests/components/esphome/test.esp32-idf.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/esphome/test.esp32-idf.yaml
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
-<<: !include common.yaml
+packages:
+  base: !include common.yaml
+
+esphome:
+  suspend_loop: true
diff --git a/tests/components/esphome/test.esp8266-ard.yaml b/tests/components/esphome/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
index dade44d145..7c571c7f51 100644
--- a/tests/components/esphome/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/esphome/test.esp8266-ard.yaml
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
-<<: !include common.yaml
+packages:
+  base: !include common.yaml
+
+esphome:
+  suspend_loop: true
diff --git a/tests/components/esphome/test.nrf52-adafruit.yaml b/tests/components/esphome/test.nrf52-adafruit.yaml
index dade44d145..7c571c7f51 100644
--- a/tests/components/esphome/test.nrf52-adafruit.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/esphome/test.nrf52-adafruit.yaml
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
-<<: !include common.yaml
+packages:
+  base: !include common.yaml
+
+esphome:
+  suspend_loop: true
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
index 7fbc2d1b39..1a36fdc967 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_config.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, KEY_CONTROLLER_REGISTRY_CONTROLLERS, config
 from esphome.core.config import (
+    CONF_SUSPEND_LOOP,
     Area,
     make_app_name_cpp,
     preload_core_config,
@@ -248,6 +249,97 @@ def test_area_id_collision(
     assert "ID duplicate_id redefined! Check esphome->area->id." in captured.out
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("fixture", "expected_platform"),
+    [
+        ("suspend_loop_host.yaml", "host"),
+        ("suspend_loop_rp2.yaml", "rp2"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_suspend_loop_fail(
+    yaml_file: Callable[[str], str],
+    capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
+    fixture: str,
+    expected_platform: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Test that suspend_loop fails."""
+    result = load_config_from_fixture(yaml_file, fixture, FIXTURES_DIR)
+    assert result is None
+
+    # Check for the specific error message in stdout
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert (
+        f"Suspend loop is not available on {expected_platform} platform" in captured.out
+    )
+
+
+def test_loop_interval_warn_esp32(
+    yaml_file: Callable[[str], str],
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+) -> None:
+    """Test that too high loop_interval prints warning."""
+    result = load_config_from_fixture(
+        yaml_file, "loop_interval_esp32.yaml", FIXTURES_DIR
+    )
+    assert result is not None
+
+    assert (
+        "loop_interval of 7s exceeds the 2400ms maximum sleep on this platform; the loop will still "
+        "wake every 2400ms. Raise esp32.watchdog_timeout to sleep longer."
+        in caplog.text
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("fixture", "interval", "max_loop"),
+    [
+        ("loop_interval_bk72xx.yaml", "5000ms", "4000"),
+        ("loop_interval_nrf52.yaml", "700ms", "600"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_loop_interval_warn(
+    yaml_file: Callable[[str], str],
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    fixture: str,
+    interval: str,
+    max_loop: str,
+) -> None:
+    """Test that too high loop_interval prints warning."""
+    result = load_config_from_fixture(yaml_file, fixture, FIXTURES_DIR)
+    assert result is not None
+
+    assert (
+        f"loop_interval of {interval} exceeds the {max_loop}ms maximum sleep on this platform; the loop will still "
+        f"wake every {max_loop}ms." in caplog.text
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings("ignore::RuntimeWarning")
+async def test_suspend_loop_and_loop_interval(
+    yaml_file: Callable[[str], Path],
+) -> None:
+    """Test suspend_loop and loop_interval on esp32"""
+    result = load_config_from_fixture(
+        yaml_file, "suspend_loop_esp32.yaml", FIXTURES_DIR
+    )
+    assert result is not None
+
+    esphome_config = result["esphome"]
+    assert esphome_config.get(CONF_SUSPEND_LOOP)
+
+    with patch("esphome.core.config.cg") as mock_cg:
+        mock_cg.RawStatement.side_effect = lambda *args, **kwargs: MagicMock()
+        mock_cg.RawExpression.side_effect = lambda *args, **kwargs: MagicMock()
+        await config.to_code(result[CONF_ESPHOME])
+
+    mock_cg.add_define.assert_any_call("ESPHOME_SUSPEND_LOOP")
+    mock_cg.add_define.assert_any_call("ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER")
+    mock_cg.App.set_loop_interval.assert_called_once_with(
+        cv.TimePeriodMilliseconds(milliseconds=50)
+    )
+
+
 def test_device_without_area(yaml_file: Callable[[str], str]) -> None:
     """Test that devices without area_id work correctly."""
     result = load_config_from_fixture(
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_bk72xx.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_bk72xx.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a29a8e4c93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_bk72xx.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  suspend_loop: true
+  loop_interval: 5000ms
+
+bk72xx:
+  board: generic-bk7252
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_esp32.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_esp32.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..491b14d464
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_esp32.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  loop_interval: 7s
+
+esp32:
+  board: esp32dev
+  watchdog_timeout: 6s
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_nrf52.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_nrf52.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9dd38bf4da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/loop_interval_nrf52.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  loop_interval: 700ms
+
+nrf52:
+  board: adafruit_feather_nrf52840
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_esp32.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_esp32.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec18aa74b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_esp32.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  debug_scheduler: true
+  suspend_loop: true
+  loop_interval: 50ms
+
+esp32:
+  board: esp32dev
+  watchdog_timeout: 6s
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_host.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_host.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c75f4f8b4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_host.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  suspend_loop: true
+
+host:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_rp2.yaml b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_rp2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8a2af21996
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/fixtures/core/config/suspend_loop_rp2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+esphome:
+  name: test
+  suspend_loop: true
+
+rp2:
+  board: rpipicow