diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 0804985cc5..25512de4c7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1712,17 +1712,16 @@ void APIConnection::on_home_assistant_state_response(const HomeAssistantStateRes
     }
 
     // Create null-terminated state for callback (parse_number needs null-termination)
-    // HA state max length is 255, so 256 byte buffer covers all cases
-    char state_buf[256];
-    size_t copy_len = msg.state.size();
-    if (copy_len >= sizeof(state_buf)) {
-      copy_len = sizeof(state_buf) - 1;  // Truncate to leave space for null terminator
+    // HA state max length is 255 characters, but attributes can be much longer
+    // Use stack buffer for common case (states), heap fallback for large attributes
+    size_t state_len = msg.state.size();
+    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<256> state_buf_alloc(state_len + 1);
+    char *state_buf = reinterpret_cast<char *>(state_buf_alloc.get());
+    if (state_len > 0) {
+      memcpy(state_buf, msg.state.c_str(), state_len);
     }
-    if (copy_len > 0) {
-      memcpy(state_buf, msg.state.c_str(), copy_len);
-    }
-    state_buf[copy_len] = '\0';
-    it.callback(StringRef(state_buf, copy_len));
+    state_buf[state_len] = '\0';
+    it.callback(StringRef(state_buf, state_len));
   }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/ccs811/ccs811.cpp b/esphome/components/ccs811/ccs811.cpp
index 84355f2793..9ff01b32b2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ccs811/ccs811.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ccs811/ccs811.cpp
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ void CCS811Component::setup() {
            bootloader_version, application_version);
   if (this->version_ != nullptr) {
     char version[20];  // "15.15.15 (0xffff)" is 17 chars, plus NUL, plus wiggle room
-    sprintf(version, "%d.%d.%d (0x%02x)", (application_version >> 12 & 15), (application_version >> 8 & 15),
-            (application_version >> 4 & 15), application_version);
+    buf_append_printf(version, sizeof(version), 0, "%d.%d.%d (0x%02x)", (application_version >> 12 & 15),
+                      (application_version >> 8 & 15), (application_version >> 4 & 15), application_version);
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "publishing version state: %s", version);
     this->version_->publish_state(version);
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/ch422g/ch422g.cpp b/esphome/components/ch422g/ch422g.cpp
index d031c31294..eef95b9ba2 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ch422g/ch422g.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ch422g/ch422g.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ bool CH422GGPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pi
 
 void CH422GGPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value ^ this->inverted_); }
 size_t CH422GGPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "EXIO%u via CH422G", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "EXIO%u via CH422G", this->pin_);
 }
 void CH422GGPIOPin::set_flags(gpio::Flags flags) {
   flags_ = flags;
diff --git a/esphome/components/cse7766/cse7766.cpp b/esphome/components/cse7766/cse7766.cpp
index 71fe15f0ae..4432195365 100644
--- a/esphome/components/cse7766/cse7766.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/cse7766/cse7766.cpp
@@ -207,20 +207,24 @@ void CSE7766Component::parse_data_() {
 
 #if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERY_VERBOSE
   {
-    std::string buf = "Parsed:";
+    // Buffer: 7 + 15 + 33 + 15 + 25 = 95 chars max + null, rounded to 128 for safety margin.
+    // Float sizes with %.4f can be up to 11 chars for large values (e.g., 999999.9999).
+    char buf[128];
+    size_t pos = buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "Parsed:");
     if (have_voltage) {
-      buf += str_sprintf(" V=%fV", voltage);
+      pos = buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), pos, " V=%.4fV", voltage);
     }
     if (have_current) {
-      buf += str_sprintf(" I=%fmA (~%fmA)", current * 1000.0f, calculated_current * 1000.0f);
+      pos = buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), pos, " I=%.4fmA (~%.4fmA)", current * 1000.0f,
+                              calculated_current * 1000.0f);
     }
     if (have_power) {
-      buf += str_sprintf(" P=%fW", power);
+      pos = buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), pos, " P=%.4fW", power);
     }
     if (energy != 0.0f) {
-      buf += str_sprintf(" E=%fkWh (%u)", energy, cf_pulses);
+      buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), pos, " E=%.4fkWh (%u)", energy, cf_pulses);
     }
-    ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "%s", buf.c_str());
+    ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "%s", buf);
   }
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/daikin_arc/daikin_arc.cpp b/esphome/components/daikin_arc/daikin_arc.cpp
index f05342f482..4726310806 100644
--- a/esphome/components/daikin_arc/daikin_arc.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/daikin_arc/daikin_arc.cpp
@@ -258,8 +258,9 @@ bool DaikinArcClimate::parse_state_frame_(const uint8_t frame[]) {
   }
 
   char buf[DAIKIN_STATE_FRAME_SIZE * 3 + 1] = {0};
+  size_t pos = 0;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < DAIKIN_STATE_FRAME_SIZE; i++) {
-    sprintf(buf, "%s%02x ", buf, frame[i]);
+    pos = buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), pos, "%02x ", frame[i]);
   }
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "FRAME %s", buf);
 
@@ -349,8 +350,9 @@ bool DaikinArcClimate::on_receive(remote_base::RemoteReceiveData data) {
   if (data.expect_item(DAIKIN_HEADER_MARK, DAIKIN_HEADER_SPACE)) {
     valid_daikin_frame = true;
     size_t bytes_count = data.size() / 2 / 8;
-    std::unique_ptr<char[]> buf(new char[bytes_count * 3 + 1]);
-    buf[0] = '\0';
+    size_t buf_size = bytes_count * 3 + 1;
+    std::unique_ptr<char[]> buf(new char[buf_size]());  // value-initialize (zero-fill)
+    size_t buf_pos = 0;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < bytes_count; i++) {
       uint8_t byte = 0;
       for (int8_t bit = 0; bit < 8; bit++) {
@@ -361,19 +363,19 @@ bool DaikinArcClimate::on_receive(remote_base::RemoteReceiveData data) {
           break;
         }
       }
-      sprintf(buf.get(), "%s%02x ", buf.get(), byte);
+      buf_pos = buf_append_printf(buf.get(), buf_size, buf_pos, "%02x ", byte);
     }
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "WHOLE FRAME %s  size: %d", buf.get(), data.size());
   }
   if (!valid_daikin_frame) {
-    char sbuf[16 * 10 + 1];
-    sbuf[0] = '\0';
+    char sbuf[16 * 10 + 1] = {0};
+    size_t sbuf_pos = 0;
     for (size_t j = 0; j < static_cast<size_t>(data.size()); j++) {
       if ((j - 2) % 16 == 0) {
         if (j > 0) {
           ESP_LOGD(TAG, "DATA %04x: %s", (j - 16 > 0xffff ? 0 : j - 16), sbuf);
         }
-        sbuf[0] = '\0';
+        sbuf_pos = 0;
       }
       char type_ch = ' ';
       // debug_tolerance = 25%
@@ -401,9 +403,10 @@ bool DaikinArcClimate::on_receive(remote_base::RemoteReceiveData data) {
         type_ch = '0';
 
       if (abs(data[j]) > 100000) {
-        sprintf(sbuf, "%s%-5d[%c] ", sbuf, data[j] > 0 ? 99999 : -99999, type_ch);
+        sbuf_pos = buf_append_printf(sbuf, sizeof(sbuf), sbuf_pos, "%-5d[%c] ", data[j] > 0 ? 99999 : -99999, type_ch);
       } else {
-        sprintf(sbuf, "%s%-5d[%c] ", sbuf, (int) (round(data[j] / 10.) * 10), type_ch);
+        sbuf_pos =
+            buf_append_printf(sbuf, sizeof(sbuf), sbuf_pos, "%-5d[%c] ", (int) (round(data[j] / 10.) * 10), type_ch);
       }
       if (j + 1 == static_cast<size_t>(data.size())) {
         ESP_LOGD(TAG, "DATA %04x: %s", (j - 8 > 0xffff ? 0 : j - 8), sbuf);
diff --git a/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/commands.cpp b/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/commands.cpp
index 8bb6ddf942..2c44c6fba9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/commands.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/dfrobot_sen0395/commands.cpp
@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ DetRangeCfgCommand::DetRangeCfgCommand(float min1, float max1, float min2, float
     this->min2_ = min2 = this->max2_ = max2 = this->min3_ = min3 = this->max3_ = max3 = this->min4_ = min4 =
         this->max4_ = max4 = -1;
 
-    this->cmd_ = str_sprintf("detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15);
+    char buf[72];  // max 72: "detRangeCfg -1 "(15) + 8 * (float(5) + space(1)) + null
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15);
+    this->cmd_ = buf;
   } else if (min3 < 0 || max3 < 0) {
     this->min1_ = min1 = round(min1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->max1_ = max1 = round(max1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
@@ -135,7 +137,10 @@ DetRangeCfgCommand::DetRangeCfgCommand(float min1, float max1, float min2, float
     this->max2_ = max2 = round(max2 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->min3_ = min3 = this->max3_ = max3 = this->min4_ = min4 = this->max4_ = max4 = -1;
 
-    this->cmd_ = str_sprintf("detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15, min2 / 0.15, max2 / 0.15);
+    char buf[72];  // max 72: "detRangeCfg -1 "(15) + 8 * (float(5) + space(1)) + null
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15, min2 / 0.15,
+             max2 / 0.15);
+    this->cmd_ = buf;
   } else if (min4 < 0 || max4 < 0) {
     this->min1_ = min1 = round(min1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->max1_ = max1 = round(max1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
@@ -145,9 +150,10 @@ DetRangeCfgCommand::DetRangeCfgCommand(float min1, float max1, float min2, float
     this->max3_ = max3 = round(max3 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->min4_ = min4 = this->max4_ = max4 = -1;
 
-    this->cmd_ = str_sprintf("detRangeCfg -1 "
-                             "%.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f",
-                             min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15, min2 / 0.15, max2 / 0.15, min3 / 0.15, max3 / 0.15);
+    char buf[72];  // max 72: "detRangeCfg -1 "(15) + 8 * (float(5) + space(1)) + null
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15, min2 / 0.15,
+             max2 / 0.15, min3 / 0.15, max3 / 0.15);
+    this->cmd_ = buf;
   } else {
     this->min1_ = min1 = round(min1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->max1_ = max1 = round(max1 / 0.15) * 0.15;
@@ -158,10 +164,10 @@ DetRangeCfgCommand::DetRangeCfgCommand(float min1, float max1, float min2, float
     this->min4_ = min4 = round(min4 / 0.15) * 0.15;
     this->max4_ = max4 = round(max4 / 0.15) * 0.15;
 
-    this->cmd_ = str_sprintf("detRangeCfg -1 "
-                             "%.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f",
-                             min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15, min2 / 0.15, max2 / 0.15, min3 / 0.15, max3 / 0.15, min4 / 0.15,
-                             max4 / 0.15);
+    char buf[72];  // max 72: "detRangeCfg -1 "(15) + 8 * (float(5) + space(1)) + null
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "detRangeCfg -1 %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f %.0f", min1 / 0.15, max1 / 0.15,
+             min2 / 0.15, max2 / 0.15, min3 / 0.15, max3 / 0.15, min4 / 0.15, max4 / 0.15);
+    this->cmd_ = buf;
   }
 
   this->min1_ = min1;
@@ -203,7 +209,10 @@ SetLatencyCommand::SetLatencyCommand(float delay_after_detection, float delay_af
   delay_after_disappear = std::round(delay_after_disappear / 0.025f) * 0.025f;
   this->delay_after_detection_ = clamp(delay_after_detection, 0.0f, 1638.375f);
   this->delay_after_disappear_ = clamp(delay_after_disappear, 0.0f, 1638.375f);
-  this->cmd_ = str_sprintf("setLatency %.03f %.03f", this->delay_after_detection_, this->delay_after_disappear_);
+  // max 32: "setLatency "(11) + float(8) + " "(1) + float(8) + null, rounded to 32
+  char buf[32];
+  snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "setLatency %.03f %.03f", this->delay_after_detection_, this->delay_after_disappear_);
+  this->cmd_ = buf;
 };
 
 uint8_t SetLatencyCommand::on_message(std::string &message) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_hosted/update/esp32_hosted_update.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_hosted/update/esp32_hosted_update.cpp
index d69a438578..a82ee48718 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_hosted/update/esp32_hosted_update.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_hosted/update/esp32_hosted_update.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ void Esp32HostedUpdate::setup() {
   // Get coprocessor version
   esp_hosted_coprocessor_fwver_t ver_info;
   if (esp_hosted_get_coprocessor_fwversion(&ver_info) == ESP_OK) {
-    this->update_info_.current_version = str_sprintf("%d.%d.%d", ver_info.major1, ver_info.minor1, ver_info.patch1);
+    // 16 bytes: "255.255.255" (11 chars) + null + safety margin
+    char buf[16];
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d.%d.%d", ver_info.major1, ver_info.minor1, ver_info.patch1);
+    this->update_info_.current_version = buf;
   } else {
     this->update_info_.current_version = "unknown";
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp b/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
index 200ca567c2..784b87916b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/core.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "preferences.h"
 #include <Arduino.h>
-#include <Esp.h>
+#include <core_esp8266_features.h>
+
+extern "C" {
+#include <user_interface.h>
+}
 
 namespace esphome {
 
@@ -16,23 +20,19 @@ void IRAM_ATTR HOT delay(uint32_t ms) { ::delay(ms); }
 uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT micros() { return ::micros(); }
 void IRAM_ATTR HOT delayMicroseconds(uint32_t us) { delay_microseconds_safe(us); }
 void arch_restart() {
-  ESP.restart();  // NOLINT(readability-static-accessed-through-instance)
+  system_restart();
   // restart() doesn't always end execution
   while (true) {  // NOLINT(clang-diagnostic-unreachable-code)
     yield();
   }
 }
 void arch_init() {}
-void IRAM_ATTR HOT arch_feed_wdt() {
-  ESP.wdtFeed();  // NOLINT(readability-static-accessed-through-instance)
-}
+void IRAM_ATTR HOT arch_feed_wdt() { system_soft_wdt_feed(); }
 
 uint8_t progmem_read_byte(const uint8_t *addr) {
   return pgm_read_byte(addr);  // NOLINT
 }
-uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT arch_get_cpu_cycle_count() {
-  return ESP.getCycleCount();  // NOLINT(readability-static-accessed-through-instance)
-}
+uint32_t IRAM_ATTR HOT arch_get_cpu_cycle_count() { return esp_get_cycle_count(); }
 uint32_t arch_get_cpu_freq_hz() { return F_CPU; }
 
 void force_link_symbols() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/gpio.cpp b/esphome/components/esp8266/gpio.cpp
index 7a5ee08984..659233443e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/gpio.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/gpio.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void ESP8266GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) {
 }
 
 size_t ESP8266GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "GPIO%u", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "GPIO%u", this->pin_);
 }
 
 bool ESP8266GPIOPin::digital_read() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
index 2e92c58e29..e4036021df 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void EZOSensor::loop() {
   this->commands_.pop_front();
 }
 
-void EZOSensor::add_command_(const std::string &command, EzoCommandType command_type, uint16_t delay_ms) {
+void EZOSensor::add_command_(const char *command, EzoCommandType command_type, uint16_t delay_ms) {
   std::unique_ptr<EzoCommand> ezo_command(new EzoCommand);
   ezo_command->command = command;
   ezo_command->command_type = command_type;
@@ -169,13 +169,17 @@ void EZOSensor::add_command_(const std::string &command, EzoCommandType command_
 }
 
 void EZOSensor::set_calibration_point_(EzoCalibrationType type, float value) {
-  std::string payload = str_sprintf("Cal,%s,%0.2f", EZO_CALIBRATION_TYPE_STRINGS[type], value);
+  // max 21: "Cal,"(4) + type(4) + ","(1) + float(11) + null; use 24 for safety
+  char payload[24];
+  snprintf(payload, sizeof(payload), "Cal,%s,%0.2f", EZO_CALIBRATION_TYPE_STRINGS[type], value);
   this->add_command_(payload, EzoCommandType::EZO_CALIBRATION, 900);
 }
 
 void EZOSensor::set_address(uint8_t address) {
   if (address > 0 && address < 128) {
-    std::string payload = str_sprintf("I2C,%u", address);
+    // max 8: "I2C,"(4) + uint8(3) + null
+    char payload[8];
+    snprintf(payload, sizeof(payload), "I2C,%u", address);
     this->new_address_ = address;
     this->add_command_(payload, EzoCommandType::EZO_I2C);
   } else {
@@ -194,7 +198,9 @@ void EZOSensor::get_slope() { this->add_command_("Slope,?", EzoCommandType::EZO_
 void EZOSensor::get_t() { this->add_command_("T,?", EzoCommandType::EZO_T); }
 
 void EZOSensor::set_t(float value) {
-  std::string payload = str_sprintf("T,%0.2f", value);
+  // max 14 bytes: "T,"(2) + float with "%0.2f" (up to 11 chars) + null(1); use 16 for alignment
+  char payload[16];
+  snprintf(payload, sizeof(payload), "T,%0.2f", value);
   this->add_command_(payload, EzoCommandType::EZO_T);
 }
 
@@ -215,7 +221,9 @@ void EZOSensor::set_calibration_point_high(float value) {
 }
 
 void EZOSensor::set_calibration_generic(float value) {
-  std::string payload = str_sprintf("Cal,%0.2f", value);
+  // exact 16 bytes: "Cal," (4) + float with "%0.2f" (up to 11 chars, e.g. "-9999999.99") + null (1) = 16
+  char payload[16];
+  snprintf(payload, sizeof(payload), "Cal,%0.2f", value);
   this->add_command_(payload, EzoCommandType::EZO_CALIBRATION, 900);
 }
 
@@ -223,13 +231,11 @@ void EZOSensor::clear_calibration() { this->add_command_("Cal,clear", EzoCommand
 
 void EZOSensor::get_led_state() { this->add_command_("L,?", EzoCommandType::EZO_LED); }
 
-void EZOSensor::set_led_state(bool on) {
-  std::string to_send = "L,";
-  to_send += on ? "1" : "0";
-  this->add_command_(to_send, EzoCommandType::EZO_LED);
-}
+void EZOSensor::set_led_state(bool on) { this->add_command_(on ? "L,1" : "L,0", EzoCommandType::EZO_LED); }
 
-void EZOSensor::send_custom(const std::string &to_send) { this->add_command_(to_send, EzoCommandType::EZO_CUSTOM); }
+void EZOSensor::send_custom(const std::string &to_send) {
+  this->add_command_(to_send.c_str(), EzoCommandType::EZO_CUSTOM);
+}
 
 }  // namespace ezo
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.h b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.h
index 00dd98fc80..f1a2802cbd 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ezo/ezo.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class EZOSensor : public sensor::Sensor, public PollingComponent, public i2c::I2
   std::deque<std::unique_ptr<EzoCommand>> commands_;
   int new_address_;
 
-  void add_command_(const std::string &command, EzoCommandType command_type, uint16_t delay_ms = 300);
+  void add_command_(const char *command, EzoCommandType command_type, uint16_t delay_ms = 300);
 
   void set_calibration_point_(EzoCalibrationType type, float value);
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/gdk101/gdk101.cpp b/esphome/components/gdk101/gdk101.cpp
index 617e2138fb..ddf38f2f55 100644
--- a/esphome/components/gdk101/gdk101.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/gdk101/gdk101.cpp
@@ -163,9 +163,10 @@ bool GDK101Component::read_fw_version_(uint8_t *data) {
       return false;
     }
 
-    const std::string fw_version_str = str_sprintf("%d.%d", data[0], data[1]);
-
-    this->fw_version_text_sensor_->publish_state(fw_version_str);
+    // max 8: "255.255" (7 chars) + null
+    char buf[8];
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d.%d", data[0], data[1]);
+    this->fw_version_text_sensor_->publish_state(buf);
   }
 #endif  // USE_TEXT_SENSOR
   return true;
diff --git a/esphome/components/homeassistant/number/homeassistant_number.cpp b/esphome/components/homeassistant/number/homeassistant_number.cpp
index 92ecd5ea39..00ea88ff16 100644
--- a/esphome/components/homeassistant/number/homeassistant_number.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/homeassistant/number/homeassistant_number.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ void HomeassistantNumber::control(float value) {
   entity_value.key = VALUE_KEY;
   // Stack buffer - no heap allocation; %g produces shortest representation
   char value_buf[16];
-  snprintf(value_buf, sizeof(value_buf), "%g", value);
+  buf_append_printf(value_buf, sizeof(value_buf), 0, "%g", value);
   entity_value.value = StringRef(value_buf);
 
   api::global_api_server->send_homeassistant_action(resp);
diff --git a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c.cpp b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c.cpp
index f8c7a1b40b..c1e7336ce4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c.cpp
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ ErrorCode I2CDevice::read_register16(uint16_t a_register, uint8_t *data, size_t
 }
 
 ErrorCode I2CDevice::write_register(uint8_t a_register, const uint8_t *data, size_t len) const {
-  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<17> buffer_alloc;  // Most I2C writes are <= 16 bytes
-  uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get(len + 1);
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<17> buffer_alloc(len + 1);  // Most I2C writes are <= 16 bytes
+  uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get();
 
   buffer[0] = a_register;
   std::copy(data, data + len, buffer + 1);
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ ErrorCode I2CDevice::write_register(uint8_t a_register, const uint8_t *data, siz
 }
 
 ErrorCode I2CDevice::write_register16(uint16_t a_register, const uint8_t *data, size_t len) const {
-  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<18> buffer_alloc;  // Most I2C writes are <= 16 bytes + 2 for register
-  uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get(len + 2);
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<18> buffer_alloc(len + 2);  // Most I2C writes are <= 16 bytes + 2 for register
+  uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get();
 
   buffer[0] = a_register >> 8;
   buffer[1] = a_register;
diff --git a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus.h b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus.h
index 1acbe506a3..3de5d5ca7b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus.h
+++ b/esphome/components/i2c/i2c_bus.h
@@ -11,22 +11,6 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace i2c {
 
-/// @brief Helper class for efficient buffer allocation - uses stack for small sizes, heap for large
-template<size_t STACK_SIZE> class SmallBufferWithHeapFallback {
- public:
-  uint8_t *get(size_t size) {
-    if (size <= STACK_SIZE) {
-      return this->stack_buffer_;
-    }
-    this->heap_buffer_ = std::unique_ptr<uint8_t[]>(new uint8_t[size]);
-    return this->heap_buffer_.get();
-  }
-
- private:
-  uint8_t stack_buffer_[STACK_SIZE];
-  std::unique_ptr<uint8_t[]> heap_buffer_;
-};
-
 /// @brief Error codes returned by I2CBus and I2CDevice methods
 enum ErrorCode {
   NO_ERROR = 0,                ///< No error found during execution of method
@@ -92,8 +76,8 @@ class I2CBus {
       total_len += read_buffers[i].len;
     }
 
-    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<128> buffer_alloc;  // Most I2C reads are small
-    uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get(total_len);
+    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<128> buffer_alloc(total_len);  // Most I2C reads are small
+    uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get();
 
     auto err = this->write_readv(address, nullptr, 0, buffer, total_len);
     if (err != ERROR_OK)
@@ -116,8 +100,8 @@ class I2CBus {
       total_len += write_buffers[i].len;
     }
 
-    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<128> buffer_alloc;  // Most I2C writes are small
-    uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get(total_len);
+    SmallBufferWithHeapFallback<128> buffer_alloc(total_len);  // Most I2C writes are small
+    uint8_t *buffer = buffer_alloc.get();
 
     size_t pos = 0;
     for (size_t i = 0; i != count; i++) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/max6956/max6956.cpp b/esphome/components/max6956/max6956.cpp
index 13fe5a5323..6ba17f11d1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/max6956/max6956.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/max6956/max6956.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void MAX6956GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this-
 bool MAX6956GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void MAX6956GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t MAX6956GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via Max6956", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via Max6956", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace max6956
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23016/mcp23016.cpp b/esphome/components/mcp23016/mcp23016.cpp
index 87c2668962..56b2ecf9f4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23016/mcp23016.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23016/mcp23016.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ void MCP23016GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this
 bool MCP23016GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void MCP23016GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t MCP23016GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via MCP23016", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via MCP23016", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace mcp23016
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23xxx_base/mcp23xxx_base.cpp b/esphome/components/mcp23xxx_base/mcp23xxx_base.cpp
index 302f6b8280..535119fc5c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23xxx_base/mcp23xxx_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23xxx_base/mcp23xxx_base.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ template<uint8_t N> void MCP23XXXGPIOPin<N>::digital_write(bool value) {
   this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_);
 }
 template<uint8_t N> size_t MCP23XXXGPIOPin<N>::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via MCP23XXX", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via MCP23XXX", this->pin_);
 }
 
 template class MCP23XXXGPIOPin<8>;
diff --git a/esphome/components/mpr121/mpr121.cpp b/esphome/components/mpr121/mpr121.cpp
index 4b358e384c..cd9c81fe03 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mpr121/mpr121.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mpr121/mpr121.cpp
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void MPR121GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) {
 }
 
 size_t MPR121GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "ELE%u on MPR121", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "ELE%u on MPR121", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace mpr121
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
index 0ab5b238b5..7d4050284f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
@@ -635,7 +635,8 @@ void MQTTClientComponent::set_log_message_template(MQTTMessage &&message) { this
 const MQTTDiscoveryInfo &MQTTClientComponent::get_discovery_info() const { return this->discovery_info_; }
 void MQTTClientComponent::set_topic_prefix(const std::string &topic_prefix, const std::string &check_topic_prefix) {
   if (App.is_name_add_mac_suffix_enabled() && (topic_prefix == check_topic_prefix)) {
-    this->topic_prefix_ = str_sanitize(App.get_name());
+    char buf[ESPHOME_DEVICE_NAME_MAX_LEN + 1];
+    this->topic_prefix_ = str_sanitize_to(buf, App.get_name().c_str());
   } else {
     this->topic_prefix_ = topic_prefix;
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
index 8e4b3437ab..3b9290259b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ void MQTTComponent::set_subscribe_qos(uint8_t qos) { this->subscribe_qos_ = qos;
 void MQTTComponent::set_retain(bool retain) { this->retain_ = retain; }
 
 std::string MQTTComponent::get_discovery_topic_(const MQTTDiscoveryInfo &discovery_info) const {
-  std::string sanitized_name = str_sanitize(App.get_name());
+  char sanitized_name[ESPHOME_DEVICE_NAME_MAX_LEN + 1];
+  str_sanitize_to(sanitized_name, App.get_name().c_str());
   const char *comp_type = this->component_type();
   char object_id_buf[OBJECT_ID_MAX_LEN];
   StringRef object_id = this->get_default_object_id_to_(object_id_buf);
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ std::string MQTTComponent::get_discovery_topic_(const MQTTDiscoveryInfo &discove
   p = append_char(p, '/');
   p = append_str(p, comp_type, strlen(comp_type));
   p = append_char(p, '/');
-  p = append_str(p, sanitized_name.data(), sanitized_name.size());
+  p = append_str(p, sanitized_name, strlen(sanitized_name));
   p = append_char(p, '/');
   p = append_str(p, object_id.c_str(), object_id.size());
   p = append_str(p, "/config", 7);
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
index d77af510d7..354288e1a3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "nextion.h"
 #include <cinttypes>
 #include "esphome/core/application.h"
+#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include "esphome/core/util.h"
 
@@ -1283,8 +1284,9 @@ void Nextion::check_pending_waveform_() {
   size_t buffer_to_send = component->get_wave_buffer_size() < 255 ? component->get_wave_buffer_size()
                                                                   : 255;  // ADDT command can only send 255
 
-  std::string command = "addt " + to_string(component->get_component_id()) + "," +
-                        to_string(component->get_wave_channel_id()) + "," + to_string(buffer_to_send);
+  char command[24];  // "addt " + uint8 + "," + uint8 + "," + uint8 + null = max 17 chars
+  buf_append_printf(command, sizeof(command), 0, "addt %u,%u,%zu", component->get_component_id(),
+                    component->get_wave_channel_id(), buffer_to_send);
   if (!this->send_command_(command)) {
     delete nb;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
     this->waveform_queue_.pop_front();
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
index d210bad004..220c75f9d3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_arduino.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ int Nextion::upload_by_chunks_(HTTPClient &http_client, uint32_t &range_start) {
   }
 
   char range_header[32];
-  sprintf(range_header, "bytes=%" PRIu32 "-%" PRIu32, range_start, range_end);
+  buf_append_printf(range_header, sizeof(range_header), 0, "bytes=%" PRIu32 "-%" PRIu32, range_start, range_end);
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Range: %s", range_header);
   http_client.addHeader("Range", range_header);
   int code = http_client.GET();
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
index 712fa8e78e..c4e6ff7182 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_upload_esp32.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int Nextion::upload_by_chunks_(esp_http_client_handle_t http_client, uint32_t &r
   }
 
   char range_header[32];
-  sprintf(range_header, "bytes=%" PRIu32 "-%" PRIu32, range_start, range_end);
+  buf_append_printf(range_header, sizeof(range_header), 0, "bytes=%" PRIu32 "-%" PRIu32, range_start, range_end);
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Range: %s", range_header);
   esp_http_client_set_header(http_client, "Range", range_header);
   ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Open HTTP");
diff --git a/esphome/components/pca6416a/pca6416a.cpp b/esphome/components/pca6416a/pca6416a.cpp
index 909bac5f05..f393af88ce 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pca6416a/pca6416a.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pca6416a/pca6416a.cpp
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void PCA6416AGPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this
 bool PCA6416AGPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void PCA6416AGPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t PCA6416AGPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via PCA6416A", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via PCA6416A", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace pca6416a
diff --git a/esphome/components/pca9554/pca9554.cpp b/esphome/components/pca9554/pca9554.cpp
index a6f9c2396c..c574ce6593 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pca9554/pca9554.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pca9554/pca9554.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void PCA9554GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this-
 bool PCA9554GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void PCA9554GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t PCA9554GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via PCA9554", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via PCA9554", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace pca9554
diff --git a/esphome/components/pcf8574/pcf8574.cpp b/esphome/components/pcf8574/pcf8574.cpp
index 8bdd312ab9..b7d3848f0e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pcf8574/pcf8574.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pcf8574/pcf8574.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ void PCF8574GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this-
 bool PCF8574GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void PCF8574GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t PCF8574GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via PCF8574", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via PCF8574", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace pcf8574
diff --git a/esphome/components/pi4ioe5v6408/pi4ioe5v6408.cpp b/esphome/components/pi4ioe5v6408/pi4ioe5v6408.cpp
index f3a1f013d9..fdff11dedb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pi4ioe5v6408/pi4ioe5v6408.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pi4ioe5v6408/pi4ioe5v6408.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ void PI4IOE5V6408GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) {
   this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_);
 }
 size_t PI4IOE5V6408GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via PI4IOE5V6408", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via PI4IOE5V6408", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace pi4ioe5v6408
diff --git a/esphome/components/rc522_spi/rc522_spi.cpp b/esphome/components/rc522_spi/rc522_spi.cpp
index 23e92be65a..40da449814 100644
--- a/esphome/components/rc522_spi/rc522_spi.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/rc522_spi/rc522_spi.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "rc522_spi.h"
+#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 
 // Based on:
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ void RC522Spi::pcd_read_register(PcdRegister reg,  ///< The register to read fro
     index++;
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERY_VERBOSE
-    sprintf(cstrb, " %x", values[0]);
+    buf_append_printf(cstrb, sizeof(cstrb), 0, " %x", values[0]);
     buf.append(cstrb);
 #endif
   }
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ void RC522Spi::pcd_read_register(PcdRegister reg,  ///< The register to read fro
     values[index] = transfer_byte(address);  // Read value and tell that we want to read the same address again.
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERY_VERBOSE
-    sprintf(cstrb, " %x", values[index]);
+    buf_append_printf(cstrb, sizeof(cstrb), 0, " %x", values[index]);
     buf.append(cstrb);
 #endif
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ void RC522Spi::pcd_read_register(PcdRegister reg,  ///< The register to read fro
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERY_VERBOSE
   buf = buf + " ";
-  sprintf(cstrb, "%x", values[index]);
+  buf_append_printf(cstrb, sizeof(cstrb), 0, "%x", values[index]);
   buf.append(cstrb);
 
   ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "read_register_array_(%x, %d, , %d) -> %s", reg, count, rx_align, buf.c_str());
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ void RC522Spi::pcd_write_register(PcdRegister reg,  ///< The register to write t
     transfer_byte(values[index]);
 
 #ifdef ESPHOME_LOG_HAS_VERY_VERBOSE
-    sprintf(cstrb, " %x", values[index]);
+    buf_append_printf(cstrb, sizeof(cstrb), 0, " %x", values[index]);
     buf.append(cstrb);
 #endif
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/sml/sml_parser.cpp b/esphome/components/sml/sml_parser.cpp
index 85e5a2da03..16e37949dc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sml/sml_parser.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sml/sml_parser.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@ std::vector<ObisInfo> SmlFile::get_obis_info() {
 std::string bytes_repr(const BytesView &buffer) {
   std::string repr;
   for (auto const value : buffer) {
-    repr += str_sprintf("%02x", value & 0xff);
+    // max 3: 2 hex digits + null
+    char hex_buf[3];
+    snprintf(hex_buf, sizeof(hex_buf), "%02x", static_cast<unsigned int>(value));
+    repr += hex_buf;
   }
   return repr;
 }
@@ -146,7 +149,11 @@ ObisInfo::ObisInfo(const BytesView &server_id, const SmlNode &val_list_entry) :
 }
 
 std::string ObisInfo::code_repr() const {
-  return str_sprintf("%d-%d:%d.%d.%d", this->code[0], this->code[1], this->code[2], this->code[3], this->code[4]);
+  // max 20: "255-255:255.255.255" (19 chars) + null
+  char buf[20];
+  snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d-%d:%d.%d.%d", this->code[0], this->code[1], this->code[2], this->code[3],
+           this->code[4]);
+  return buf;
 }
 
 }  // namespace sml
diff --git a/esphome/components/sn74hc165/sn74hc165.cpp b/esphome/components/sn74hc165/sn74hc165.cpp
index 718e0b86ed..63b3f98521 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sn74hc165/sn74hc165.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sn74hc165/sn74hc165.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ float SN74HC165Component::get_setup_priority() const { return setup_priority::IO
 bool SN74HC165GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read_(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 
 size_t SN74HC165GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via SN74HC165", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via SN74HC165", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace sn74hc165
diff --git a/esphome/components/sn74hc595/sn74hc595.cpp b/esphome/components/sn74hc595/sn74hc595.cpp
index 6b5c5d9fc4..1bb8c7936d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sn74hc595/sn74hc595.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sn74hc595/sn74hc595.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void SN74HC595GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) {
   this->parent_->digital_write_(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_);
 }
 size_t SN74HC595GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via SN74HC595", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via SN74HC595", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace sn74hc595
diff --git a/esphome/components/socket/socket.cpp b/esphome/components/socket/socket.cpp
index c92e33393b..bb94ecb675 100644
--- a/esphome/components/socket/socket.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/socket/socket.cpp
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<Socket> socket_ip_loop_monitored(int type, int protocol) {
 #endif /* USE_NETWORK_IPV6 */
 }
 
-socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const std::string &ip_address, uint16_t port) {
+socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const char *ip_address, uint16_t port) {
 #if USE_NETWORK_IPV6
-  if (ip_address.find(':') != std::string::npos) {
+  if (strchr(ip_address, ':') != nullptr) {
     if (addrlen < sizeof(sockaddr_in6)) {
       errno = EINVAL;
       return 0;
@@ -121,14 +121,14 @@ socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const std::stri
 
 #ifdef USE_SOCKET_IMPL_BSD_SOCKETS
     // Use standard inet_pton for BSD sockets
-    if (inet_pton(AF_INET6, ip_address.c_str(), &server->sin6_addr) != 1) {
+    if (inet_pton(AF_INET6, ip_address, &server->sin6_addr) != 1) {
       errno = EINVAL;
       return 0;
     }
 #else
     // Use LWIP-specific functions
     ip6_addr_t ip6;
-    inet6_aton(ip_address.c_str(), &ip6);
+    inet6_aton(ip_address, &ip6);
     memcpy(server->sin6_addr.un.u32_addr, ip6.addr, sizeof(ip6.addr));
 #endif
     return sizeof(sockaddr_in6);
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const std::stri
   auto *server = reinterpret_cast<sockaddr_in *>(addr);
   memset(server, 0, sizeof(sockaddr_in));
   server->sin_family = AF_INET;
-  server->sin_addr.s_addr = inet_addr(ip_address.c_str());
+  server->sin_addr.s_addr = inet_addr(ip_address);
   server->sin_port = htons(port);
   return sizeof(sockaddr_in);
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/socket/socket.h b/esphome/components/socket/socket.h
index 9f9f61de85..d74804fdb0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/socket/socket.h
+++ b/esphome/components/socket/socket.h
@@ -87,7 +87,17 @@ std::unique_ptr<Socket> socket_loop_monitored(int domain, int type, int protocol
 std::unique_ptr<Socket> socket_ip_loop_monitored(int type, int protocol);
 
 /// Set a sockaddr to the specified address and port for the IP version used by socket_ip().
-socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const std::string &ip_address, uint16_t port);
+/// @param addr Destination sockaddr structure
+/// @param addrlen Size of the addr buffer
+/// @param ip_address Null-terminated IP address string (IPv4 or IPv6)
+/// @param port Port number in host byte order
+/// @return Size of the sockaddr structure used, or 0 on error
+socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const char *ip_address, uint16_t port);
+
+/// Convenience overload for std::string (backward compatible).
+inline socklen_t set_sockaddr(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, const std::string &ip_address, uint16_t port) {
+  return set_sockaddr(addr, addrlen, ip_address.c_str(), port);
+}
 
 /// Set a sockaddr to the any address and specified port for the IP version used by socket_ip().
 socklen_t set_sockaddr_any(struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrlen, uint16_t port);
diff --git a/esphome/components/status/binary_sensor.py b/esphome/components/status/binary_sensor.py
index c1a4a52ce2..f0c7c87e17 100644
--- a/esphome/components/status/binary_sensor.py
+++ b/esphome/components/status/binary_sensor.py
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ DEPENDENCIES = ["network"]
 
 status_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("status")
 StatusBinarySensor = status_ns.class_(
-    "StatusBinarySensor", binary_sensor.BinarySensor, cg.Component
+    "StatusBinarySensor", binary_sensor.BinarySensor, cg.PollingComponent
 )
 
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = binary_sensor.binary_sensor_schema(
     StatusBinarySensor,
     device_class=DEVICE_CLASS_CONNECTIVITY,
     entity_category=ENTITY_CATEGORY_DIAGNOSTIC,
-).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
+).extend(cv.polling_component_schema("1s"))
 
 
 async def to_code(config):
diff --git a/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.cpp
index 1795a9c41b..2c95be8569 100644
--- a/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.cpp
@@ -10,12 +10,11 @@
 #include "esphome/components/api/api_server.h"
 #endif
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace status {
+namespace esphome::status {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "status";
 
-void StatusBinarySensor::loop() {
+void StatusBinarySensor::update() {
   bool status = network::is_connected();
 #ifdef USE_MQTT
   if (mqtt::global_mqtt_client != nullptr) {
@@ -33,5 +32,4 @@ void StatusBinarySensor::loop() {
 void StatusBinarySensor::setup() { this->publish_initial_state(false); }
 void StatusBinarySensor::dump_config() { LOG_BINARY_SENSOR("", "Status Binary Sensor", this); }
 
-}  // namespace status
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::status
diff --git a/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.h b/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.h
index feda8b6328..7e8c31d741 100644
--- a/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.h
+++ b/esphome/components/status/status_binary_sensor.h
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/components/binary_sensor/binary_sensor.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-namespace status {
+namespace esphome::status {
 
-class StatusBinarySensor : public binary_sensor::BinarySensor, public Component {
+class StatusBinarySensor : public binary_sensor::BinarySensor, public PollingComponent {
  public:
-  void loop() override;
+  void update() override;
 
   void setup() override;
   void dump_config() override;
@@ -16,5 +15,4 @@ class StatusBinarySensor : public binary_sensor::BinarySensor, public Component
   bool is_status_binary_sensor() const override { return true; }
 };
 
-}  // namespace status
-}  // namespace esphome
+}  // namespace esphome::status
diff --git a/esphome/components/sx1509/sx1509_gpio_pin.cpp b/esphome/components/sx1509/sx1509_gpio_pin.cpp
index 41a99eba4b..a7e5d0514d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/sx1509/sx1509_gpio_pin.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/sx1509/sx1509_gpio_pin.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ void SX1509GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this->
 bool SX1509GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void SX1509GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t SX1509GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via sx1509", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via sx1509", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace sx1509
diff --git a/esphome/components/syslog/esphome_syslog.cpp b/esphome/components/syslog/esphome_syslog.cpp
index 83ad6b2720..376de54db4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/syslog/esphome_syslog.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/syslog/esphome_syslog.cpp
@@ -47,29 +47,27 @@ void Syslog::log_(const int level, const char *tag, const char *message, size_t
   size_t remaining = sizeof(packet);
 
   // Write PRI - abort if this fails as packet would be malformed
-  int ret = snprintf(packet, remaining, "<%d>", pri);
-  if (ret <= 0 || static_cast<size_t>(ret) >= remaining) {
-    return;
+  offset = buf_append_printf(packet, sizeof(packet), 0, "<%d>", pri);
+  if (offset == 0) {
+    return;  // PRI always produces at least "<0>" (3 chars), so 0 means error
   }
-  offset = ret;
-  remaining -= ret;
+  remaining -= offset;
 
   // Write timestamp directly into packet (RFC 5424: use "-" if time not valid or strftime fails)
   auto now = this->time_->now();
   size_t ts_written = now.is_valid() ? now.strftime(packet + offset, remaining, "%b %e %H:%M:%S") : 0;
   if (ts_written > 0) {
     offset += ts_written;
-    remaining -= ts_written;
   } else if (remaining > 0) {
     packet[offset++] = '-';
-    remaining--;
   }
 
   // Write hostname, tag, and message
-  ret = snprintf(packet + offset, remaining, " %s %s: %.*s", App.get_name().c_str(), tag, (int) len, message);
-  if (ret > 0) {
-    // snprintf returns chars that would be written; clamp to actual buffer space
-    offset += std::min(static_cast<size_t>(ret), remaining > 0 ? remaining - 1 : 0);
+  offset = buf_append_printf(packet, sizeof(packet), offset, " %s %s: %.*s", App.get_name().c_str(), tag, (int) len,
+                             message);
+  // Clamp to exclude null terminator position if buffer was filled
+  if (offset >= sizeof(packet)) {
+    offset = sizeof(packet) - 1;
   }
 
   if (offset > 0) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/tca9555/tca9555.cpp b/esphome/components/tca9555/tca9555.cpp
index 376de6a370..79c5253898 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tca9555/tca9555.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tca9555/tca9555.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void TCA9555GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this-
 bool TCA9555GPIOPin::digital_read() { return this->parent_->digital_read(this->pin_) != this->inverted_; }
 void TCA9555GPIOPin::digital_write(bool value) { this->parent_->digital_write(this->pin_, value != this->inverted_); }
 size_t TCA9555GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via TCA9555", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via TCA9555", this->pin_);
 }
 
 }  // namespace tca9555
diff --git a/esphome/components/tormatic/tormatic_protocol.h b/esphome/components/tormatic/tormatic_protocol.h
index e26535e985..057713b884 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tormatic/tormatic_protocol.h
+++ b/esphome/components/tormatic/tormatic_protocol.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ enum MessageType : uint16_t {
   COMMAND = 0x0106,
 };
 
+// Max string length: 7 ("Unknown"/"Command"). Update print() buffer sizes if adding longer strings.
 inline const char *message_type_to_str(MessageType t) {
   switch (t) {
     case STATUS:
@@ -83,7 +84,11 @@ struct MessageHeader {
   }
 
   std::string print() {
-    return str_sprintf("MessageHeader: seq %d, len %d, type %s", this->seq, this->len, message_type_to_str(this->type));
+    // 64 bytes: "MessageHeader: seq " + uint16 + ", len " + uint32 + ", type " + type + safety margin
+    char buf[64];
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "MessageHeader: seq %d, len %d, type %s", this->seq, this->len,
+                      message_type_to_str(this->type));
+    return buf;
   }
 
   void byteswap() {
@@ -131,6 +136,7 @@ inline CoverOperation gate_status_to_cover_operation(GateStatus s) {
   return COVER_OPERATION_IDLE;
 }
 
+// Max string length: 11 ("Ventilating"). Update print() buffer sizes if adding longer strings.
 inline const char *gate_status_to_str(GateStatus s) {
   switch (s) {
     case PAUSED:
@@ -170,7 +176,12 @@ struct StatusReply {
   GateStatus state;
   uint8_t trailer = 0x0;
 
-  std::string print() { return str_sprintf("StatusReply: state %s", gate_status_to_str(this->state)); }
+  std::string print() {
+    // 48 bytes: "StatusReply: state " (19) + state (11) + safety margin
+    char buf[48];
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "StatusReply: state %s", gate_status_to_str(this->state));
+    return buf;
+  }
 
   void byteswap(){};
 } __attribute__((packed));
@@ -202,7 +213,12 @@ struct CommandRequestReply {
   CommandRequestReply() = default;
   CommandRequestReply(GateStatus state) { this->state = state; }
 
-  std::string print() { return str_sprintf("CommandRequestReply: state %s", gate_status_to_str(this->state)); }
+  std::string print() {
+    // 56 bytes: "CommandRequestReply: state " (27) + state (11) + safety margin
+    char buf[56];
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "CommandRequestReply: state %s", gate_status_to_str(this->state));
+    return buf;
+  }
 
   void byteswap() { this->type = convert_big_endian(this->type); }
 } __attribute__((packed));
diff --git a/esphome/components/toshiba/toshiba.cpp b/esphome/components/toshiba/toshiba.cpp
index 5efa70d6b4..7b5e78af52 100644
--- a/esphome/components/toshiba/toshiba.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/toshiba/toshiba.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "toshiba.h"
 #include "esphome/components/remote_base/toshiba_ac_protocol.h"
+#include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -427,10 +428,17 @@ void ToshibaClimate::setup() {
   // Never send nan to HA
   if (std::isnan(this->target_temperature))
     this->target_temperature = 24;
+#if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERBOSE
   // Log final state for debugging HA errors
-  ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Setup complete - Mode: %d, Fan: %s, Swing: %d, Temp: %.1f", static_cast<int>(this->mode),
-           this->fan_mode.has_value() ? std::to_string(static_cast<int>(this->fan_mode.value())).c_str() : "NONE",
+  const char *fan_mode_str = "NONE";
+  char fan_mode_buf[4];  // max 3 digits for fan mode enum + null
+  if (this->fan_mode.has_value()) {
+    buf_append_printf(fan_mode_buf, sizeof(fan_mode_buf), 0, "%d", static_cast<int>(this->fan_mode.value()));
+    fan_mode_str = fan_mode_buf;
+  }
+  ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Setup complete - Mode: %d, Fan: %s, Swing: %d, Temp: %.1f", static_cast<int>(this->mode), fan_mode_str,
            static_cast<int>(this->swing_mode), this->target_temperature);
+#endif
 }
 
 void ToshibaClimate::transmit_state() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/light/tuya_light.cpp b/esphome/components/tuya/light/tuya_light.cpp
index c487f9f50b..097b3c1af8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/light/tuya_light.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/light/tuya_light.cpp
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ void TuyaLight::write_state(light::LightState *state) {
       case TuyaColorType::RGB: {
         char buffer[7];
         const char *format_str = this->color_type_lowercase_ ? "%02x%02x%02x" : "%02X%02X%02X";
-        sprintf(buffer, format_str, int(red * 255), int(green * 255), int(blue * 255));
+        snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), format_str, int(red * 255), int(green * 255), int(blue * 255));
         color_value = buffer;
         break;
       }
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void TuyaLight::write_state(light::LightState *state) {
         rgb_to_hsv(red, green, blue, hue, saturation, value);
         char buffer[13];
         const char *format_str = this->color_type_lowercase_ ? "%04x%04x%04x" : "%04X%04X%04X";
-        sprintf(buffer, format_str, hue, int(saturation * 1000), int(value * 1000));
+        snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), format_str, hue, int(saturation * 1000), int(value * 1000));
         color_value = buffer;
         break;
       }
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ void TuyaLight::write_state(light::LightState *state) {
         rgb_to_hsv(red, green, blue, hue, saturation, value);
         char buffer[15];
         const char *format_str = this->color_type_lowercase_ ? "%02x%02x%02x%04x%02x%02x" : "%02X%02X%02X%04X%02X%02X";
-        sprintf(buffer, format_str, int(red * 255), int(green * 255), int(blue * 255), hue, int(saturation * 255),
-                int(value * 255));
+        snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), format_str, int(red * 255), int(green * 255), int(blue * 255), hue,
+                 int(saturation * 255), int(value * 255));
         color_value = buffer;
         break;
       }
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/text_sensor/tuya_text_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/tuya/text_sensor/tuya_text_sensor.cpp
index 36b6d630ae..b15fb6f85a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/text_sensor/tuya_text_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/text_sensor/tuya_text_sensor.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ void TuyaTextSensor::setup() {
       }
       case TuyaDatapointType::ENUM: {
         char buf[4];  // uint8_t max is 3 digits + null
-        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%u", datapoint.value_enum);
+        buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%u", datapoint.value_enum);
         ESP_LOGD(TAG, "MCU reported text sensor %u is: %s", datapoint.id, buf);
         this->publish_state(buf);
         break;
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/uart_debugger.cpp b/esphome/components/uart/uart_debugger.cpp
index b51a57d68e..5490154d01 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/uart_debugger.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/uart_debugger.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ void UARTDebug::log_hex(UARTDirection direction, std::vector<uint8_t> bytes, uin
     if (i > 0) {
       res += separator;
     }
-    sprintf(buf, "%02X", bytes[i]);
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%02X", bytes[i]);
     res += buf;
   }
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s", res.c_str());
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ void UARTDebug::log_string(UARTDirection direction, std::vector<uint8_t> bytes)
     } else if (bytes[i] == 92) {
       res += "\\\\";
     } else if (bytes[i] < 32 || bytes[i] > 127) {
-      sprintf(buf, "\\x%02X", bytes[i]);
+      buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "\\x%02X", bytes[i]);
       res += buf;
     } else {
       res += bytes[i];
@@ -166,11 +166,13 @@ void UARTDebug::log_int(UARTDirection direction, std::vector<uint8_t> bytes, uin
   } else {
     res += ">>> ";
   }
+  char buf[4];  // max 3 digits for uint8_t (255) + null
   for (size_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
     if (i > 0) {
       res += separator;
     }
-    res += to_string(bytes[i]);
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "%u", bytes[i]);
+    res += buf;
   }
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s", res.c_str());
   delay(10);
@@ -189,7 +191,7 @@ void UARTDebug::log_binary(UARTDirection direction, std::vector<uint8_t> bytes,
     if (i > 0) {
       res += separator;
     }
-    sprintf(buf, "0b" BYTE_TO_BINARY_PATTERN " (0x%02X)", BYTE_TO_BINARY(bytes[i]), bytes[i]);
+    buf_append_printf(buf, sizeof(buf), 0, "0b" BYTE_TO_BINARY_PATTERN " (0x%02X)", BYTE_TO_BINARY(bytes[i]), bytes[i]);
     res += buf;
   }
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s", res.c_str());
diff --git a/esphome/components/uptime/text_sensor/uptime_text_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/uptime/text_sensor/uptime_text_sensor.cpp
index b7b3273f39..acd3980a1a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uptime/text_sensor/uptime_text_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uptime/text_sensor/uptime_text_sensor.cpp
@@ -9,17 +9,12 @@ namespace uptime {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "uptime.sensor";
 
-// Clamp position to valid buffer range when snprintf indicates truncation
-static size_t clamp_buffer_pos(size_t pos, size_t buf_size) { return pos < buf_size ? pos : buf_size - 1; }
-
 static void append_unit(char *buf, size_t buf_size, size_t &pos, const char *separator, unsigned value,
                         const char *label) {
   if (pos > 0) {
-    pos += snprintf(buf + pos, buf_size - pos, "%s", separator);
-    pos = clamp_buffer_pos(pos, buf_size);
+    pos = buf_append_printf(buf, buf_size, pos, "%s", separator);
   }
-  pos += snprintf(buf + pos, buf_size - pos, "%u%s", value, label);
-  pos = clamp_buffer_pos(pos, buf_size);
+  pos = buf_append_printf(buf, buf_size, pos, "%u%s", value, label);
 }
 
 void UptimeTextSensor::setup() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp b/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
index 61b9ea5163..e538a35e8c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/web_server/web_server.cpp
@@ -1188,11 +1188,7 @@ std::string WebServer::date_json_(datetime::DateEntity *obj, JsonDetail start_co
 
   // Format: YYYY-MM-DD (max 10 chars + null)
   char value[12];
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-  snprintf_P(value, sizeof(value), PSTR("%d-%02d-%02d"), obj->year, obj->month, obj->day);
-#else
-  snprintf(value, sizeof(value), "%d-%02d-%02d", obj->year, obj->month, obj->day);
-#endif
+  buf_append_printf(value, sizeof(value), 0, "%d-%02d-%02d", obj->year, obj->month, obj->day);
   set_json_icon_state_value(root, obj, "date", value, value, start_config);
   if (start_config == DETAIL_ALL) {
     this->add_sorting_info_(root, obj);
@@ -1251,11 +1247,7 @@ std::string WebServer::time_json_(datetime::TimeEntity *obj, JsonDetail start_co
 
   // Format: HH:MM:SS (8 chars + null)
   char value[12];
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-  snprintf_P(value, sizeof(value), PSTR("%02d:%02d:%02d"), obj->hour, obj->minute, obj->second);
-#else
-  snprintf(value, sizeof(value), "%02d:%02d:%02d", obj->hour, obj->minute, obj->second);
-#endif
+  buf_append_printf(value, sizeof(value), 0, "%02d:%02d:%02d", obj->hour, obj->minute, obj->second);
   set_json_icon_state_value(root, obj, "time", value, value, start_config);
   if (start_config == DETAIL_ALL) {
     this->add_sorting_info_(root, obj);
@@ -1314,13 +1306,8 @@ std::string WebServer::datetime_json_(datetime::DateTimeEntity *obj, JsonDetail
 
   // Format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS (max 19 chars + null)
   char value[24];
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
-  snprintf_P(value, sizeof(value), PSTR("%d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d"), obj->year, obj->month, obj->day, obj->hour,
-             obj->minute, obj->second);
-#else
-  snprintf(value, sizeof(value), "%d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d", obj->year, obj->month, obj->day, obj->hour, obj->minute,
-           obj->second);
-#endif
+  buf_append_printf(value, sizeof(value), 0, "%d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d", obj->year, obj->month, obj->day, obj->hour,
+                    obj->minute, obj->second);
   set_json_icon_state_value(root, obj, "datetime", value, value, start_config);
   if (start_config == DETAIL_ALL) {
     this->add_sorting_info_(root, obj);
diff --git a/esphome/components/weikai/weikai.cpp b/esphome/components/weikai/weikai.cpp
index 197b516bb2..d0a8f8366b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/weikai/weikai.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/weikai/weikai.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void WeikaiGPIOPin::setup() {
 }
 
 size_t WeikaiGPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via WeiKai %s", this->pin_, this->parent_->get_name());
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via WeiKai %s", this->pin_, this->parent_->get_name());
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/esphome/components/wiegand/wiegand.cpp b/esphome/components/wiegand/wiegand.cpp
index dd1443d10c..f3f578794a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wiegand/wiegand.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wiegand/wiegand.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "wiegand.h"
+#include <cinttypes>
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 
@@ -69,32 +70,35 @@ void Wiegand::loop() {
   for (auto *trigger : this->raw_triggers_)
     trigger->trigger(count, value);
   if (count == 26) {
-    std::string tag = to_string((value >> 1) & 0xffffff);
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 26-bit tag: %s", tag.c_str());
+    char tag_buf[12];  // max 8 digits for 24-bit value + null
+    buf_append_printf(tag_buf, sizeof(tag_buf), 0, "%" PRIu32, static_cast<uint32_t>((value >> 1) & 0xffffff));
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 26-bit tag: %s", tag_buf);
     if (!check_eparity(value, 13, 13) || !check_oparity(value, 0, 13)) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "invalid parity");
       return;
     }
     for (auto *trigger : this->tag_triggers_)
-      trigger->trigger(tag);
+      trigger->trigger(tag_buf);
   } else if (count == 34) {
-    std::string tag = to_string((value >> 1) & 0xffffffff);
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 34-bit tag: %s", tag.c_str());
+    char tag_buf[12];  // max 10 digits for 32-bit value + null
+    buf_append_printf(tag_buf, sizeof(tag_buf), 0, "%" PRIu32, static_cast<uint32_t>((value >> 1) & 0xffffffff));
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 34-bit tag: %s", tag_buf);
     if (!check_eparity(value, 17, 17) || !check_oparity(value, 0, 17)) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "invalid parity");
       return;
     }
     for (auto *trigger : this->tag_triggers_)
-      trigger->trigger(tag);
+      trigger->trigger(tag_buf);
   } else if (count == 37) {
-    std::string tag = to_string((value >> 1) & 0x7ffffffff);
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 37-bit tag: %s", tag.c_str());
+    char tag_buf[12];  // max 11 digits for 35-bit value + null
+    buf_append_printf(tag_buf, sizeof(tag_buf), 0, "%" PRIu64, static_cast<uint64_t>((value >> 1) & 0x7ffffffff));
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "received 37-bit tag: %s", tag_buf);
     if (!check_eparity(value, 18, 19) || !check_oparity(value, 0, 19)) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "invalid parity");
       return;
     }
     for (auto *trigger : this->tag_triggers_)
-      trigger->trigger(tag);
+      trigger->trigger(tag_buf);
   } else if (count == 4) {
     for (auto *trigger : this->key_triggers_)
       trigger->trigger(value);
diff --git a/esphome/components/xl9535/xl9535.cpp b/esphome/components/xl9535/xl9535.cpp
index dd6c8188eb..cfcbeeeb8d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/xl9535/xl9535.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/xl9535/xl9535.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void XL9535Component::pin_mode(uint8_t pin, gpio::Flags mode) {
 void XL9535GPIOPin::setup() { this->pin_mode(this->flags_); }
 
 size_t XL9535GPIOPin::dump_summary(char *buffer, size_t len) const {
-  return snprintf(buffer, len, "%u via XL9535", this->pin_);
+  return buf_append_printf(buffer, len, 0, "%u via XL9535", this->pin_);
 }
 
 void XL9535GPIOPin::pin_mode(gpio::Flags flags) { this->parent_->pin_mode(this->pin_, flags); }
diff --git a/esphome/components/zephyr/preferences.cpp b/esphome/components/zephyr/preferences.cpp
index 08b361b8fb..311133a813 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zephyr/preferences.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zephyr/preferences.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include "esphome/core/preferences.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
 #include <zephyr/settings/settings.h>
+#include <cinttypes>
+#include <cstring>
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace zephyr {
@@ -13,6 +15,9 @@ static const char *const TAG = "zephyr.preferences";
 
 #define ESPHOME_SETTINGS_KEY "esphome"
 
+// Buffer size for key: "esphome/" (8) + max hex uint32 (8) + null terminator (1) = 17; use 20 for safety margin
+static constexpr size_t KEY_BUFFER_SIZE = 20;
+
 class ZephyrPreferenceBackend : public ESPPreferenceBackend {
  public:
   ZephyrPreferenceBackend(uint32_t type) { this->type_ = type; }
@@ -27,7 +32,9 @@ class ZephyrPreferenceBackend : public ESPPreferenceBackend {
 
   bool load(uint8_t *data, size_t len) override {
     if (len != this->data.size()) {
-      ESP_LOGE(TAG, "size of setting key %s changed, from: %u, to: %u", get_key().c_str(), this->data.size(), len);
+      char key_buf[KEY_BUFFER_SIZE];
+      this->format_key(key_buf, sizeof(key_buf));
+      ESP_LOGE(TAG, "size of setting key %s changed, from: %u, to: %u", key_buf, this->data.size(), len);
       return false;
     }
     std::memcpy(data, this->data.data(), len);
@@ -36,7 +43,7 @@ class ZephyrPreferenceBackend : public ESPPreferenceBackend {
   }
 
   uint32_t get_type() const { return this->type_; }
-  std::string get_key() const { return str_sprintf(ESPHOME_SETTINGS_KEY "/%" PRIx32, this->type_); }
+  void format_key(char *buf, size_t size) const { snprintf(buf, size, ESPHOME_SETTINGS_KEY "/%" PRIx32, this->type_); }
 
   std::vector<uint8_t> data;
 
@@ -85,7 +92,9 @@ class ZephyrPreferences : public ESPPreferences {
     }
     printf("type %u size %u\n", type, this->backends_.size());
     auto *pref = new ZephyrPreferenceBackend(type);  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Add new setting %s.", pref->get_key().c_str());
+    char key_buf[KEY_BUFFER_SIZE];
+    pref->format_key(key_buf, sizeof(key_buf));
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Add new setting %s.", key_buf);
     this->backends_.push_back(pref);
     return ESPPreferenceObject(pref);
   }
@@ -134,9 +143,10 @@ class ZephyrPreferences : public ESPPreferences {
 
   static int export_settings(int (*cb)(const char *name, const void *value, size_t val_len)) {
     for (auto *backend : static_cast<ZephyrPreferences *>(global_preferences)->backends_) {
-      auto name = backend->get_key();
-      int err = cb(name.c_str(), backend->data.data(), backend->data.size());
-      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "save in flash, name %s, len %u, err %d", name.c_str(), backend->data.size(), err);
+      char name[KEY_BUFFER_SIZE];
+      backend->format_key(name, sizeof(name));
+      int err = cb(name, backend->data.data(), backend->data.size());
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "save in flash, name %s, len %u, err %d", name, backend->data.size(), err);
     }
     return 0;
   }
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.cpp b/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
index 44c20845e8..e7b901d71f 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.cpp
@@ -206,11 +206,22 @@ std::string str_snake_case(const std::string &str) {
   }
   return result;
 }
-std::string str_sanitize(const std::string &str) {
-  std::string result = str;
-  for (char &c : result) {
-    c = to_sanitized_char(c);
+char *str_sanitize_to(char *buffer, size_t buffer_size, const char *str) {
+  if (buffer_size == 0) {
+    return buffer;
   }
+  size_t i = 0;
+  while (*str && i < buffer_size - 1) {
+    buffer[i++] = to_sanitized_char(*str++);
+  }
+  buffer[i] = '\0';
+  return buffer;
+}
+
+std::string str_sanitize(const std::string &str) {
+  std::string result;
+  result.resize(str.size());
+  str_sanitize_to(&result[0], str.size() + 1, str.c_str());
   return result;
 }
 std::string str_snprintf(const char *fmt, size_t len, ...) {
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 8b581eb97a..bd3a4def05 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -366,6 +366,35 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
   const T *end() const { return data_ + size_; }
 };
 
+/// @brief Helper class for efficient buffer allocation - uses stack for small sizes, heap for large
+/// This is useful when most operations need a small buffer but occasionally need larger ones.
+/// The stack buffer avoids heap allocation in the common case, while heap fallback handles edge cases.
+template<size_t STACK_SIZE> class SmallBufferWithHeapFallback {
+ public:
+  explicit SmallBufferWithHeapFallback(size_t size) {
+    if (size <= STACK_SIZE) {
+      this->buffer_ = this->stack_buffer_;
+    } else {
+      this->heap_buffer_ = new uint8_t[size];
+      this->buffer_ = this->heap_buffer_;
+    }
+  }
+  ~SmallBufferWithHeapFallback() { delete[] this->heap_buffer_; }
+
+  // Delete copy and move operations to prevent double-delete
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback(const SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &) = delete;
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &operator=(const SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &) = delete;
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback(SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &&) = delete;
+  SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &operator=(SmallBufferWithHeapFallback &&) = delete;
+
+  uint8_t *get() { return this->buffer_; }
+
+ private:
+  uint8_t stack_buffer_[STACK_SIZE];
+  uint8_t *heap_buffer_{nullptr};
+  uint8_t *buffer_;
+};
+
 ///@}
 
 /// @name Mathematics
@@ -580,7 +609,25 @@ std::string str_snake_case(const std::string &str);
 constexpr char to_sanitized_char(char c) {
   return (c == '-' || c == '_' || (c >= '0' && c <= '9') || (c >= 'a' && c <= 'z') || (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z')) ? c : '_';
 }
+
+/** Sanitize a string to buffer, keeping only alphanumerics, dashes, and underscores.
+ *
+ * @param buffer Output buffer to write to.
+ * @param buffer_size Size of the output buffer.
+ * @param str Input string to sanitize.
+ * @return Pointer to buffer.
+ *
+ * Buffer size needed: strlen(str) + 1.
+ */
+char *str_sanitize_to(char *buffer, size_t buffer_size, const char *str);
+
+/// Sanitize a string to buffer. Automatically deduces buffer size.
+template<size_t N> inline char *str_sanitize_to(char (&buffer)[N], const char *str) {
+  return str_sanitize_to(buffer, N, str);
+}
+
 /// Sanitizes the input string by removing all characters but alphanumerics, dashes and underscores.
+/// @warning Allocates heap memory. Use str_sanitize_to() with a stack buffer instead.
 std::string str_sanitize(const std::string &str);
 
 /// Calculate FNV-1 hash of a string while applying snake_case + sanitize transformations.
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.h b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
index 8c2e349180..7de1023e6d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.h
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
@@ -403,7 +403,9 @@ class Scheduler {
       for (size_t i = 0; i < remaining; i++) {
         this->defer_queue_[i] = std::move(this->defer_queue_[this->defer_queue_front_ + i]);
       }
-      this->defer_queue_.resize(remaining);
+      // Use erase() instead of resize() to avoid instantiating _M_default_append
+      // (saves ~156 bytes flash). Erasing from the end is O(1) - no shifting needed.
+      this->defer_queue_.erase(this->defer_queue_.begin() + remaining, this->defer_queue_.end());
     }
     this->defer_queue_front_ = 0;
   }
diff --git a/script/ci-custom.py b/script/ci-custom.py
index e227ec873e..ee2e73872c 100755
--- a/script/ci-custom.py
+++ b/script/ci-custom.py
@@ -688,6 +688,7 @@ HEAP_ALLOCATING_HELPERS = {
     "format_mac_address_pretty": "format_mac_addr_upper() with a stack buffer",
     "get_mac_address": "get_mac_address_into_buffer() with a stack buffer",
     "get_mac_address_pretty": "get_mac_address_pretty_into_buffer() with a stack buffer",
+    "str_sanitize": "str_sanitize_to() with a stack buffer",
     "str_truncate": "removal (function is unused)",
     "str_upper_case": "removal (function is unused)",
     "str_snake_case": "removal (function is unused)",
@@ -706,6 +707,7 @@ HEAP_ALLOCATING_HELPERS = {
     r"format_mac_address_pretty|"
     r"get_mac_address_pretty(?!_)|"
     r"get_mac_address(?!_)|"
+    r"str_sanitize(?!_)|"
     r"str_truncate|"
     r"str_upper_case|"
     r"str_snake_case"
diff --git a/tests/integration/fixtures/api_homeassistant.yaml b/tests/integration/fixtures/api_homeassistant.yaml
index 8fe23b9a19..2d77821ff3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/fixtures/api_homeassistant.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/fixtures/api_homeassistant.yaml
@@ -108,6 +108,25 @@ text_sensor:
             format: "HA Empty state updated: %s"
             args: ['x.c_str()']
 
+  # Test long attribute handling (>255 characters)
+  # HA states are limited to 255 chars, but attributes are not
+  - platform: homeassistant
+    name: "HA Long Attribute"
+    entity_id: sensor.long_data
+    attribute: long_value
+    id: ha_long_attribute
+    on_value:
+      then:
+        - logger.log:
+            format: "HA Long attribute received, length: %d"
+            args: ['x.size()']
+        # Log the first 50 and last 50 chars to verify no truncation
+        - lambda: |-
+            if (x.size() >= 100) {
+              ESP_LOGI("test", "Long attribute first 50 chars: %.50s", x.c_str());
+              ESP_LOGI("test", "Long attribute last 50 chars: %s", x.c_str() + x.size() - 50);
+            }
+
 # Number component for testing HA number control
 number:
   - platform: template
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_api_homeassistant.py b/tests/integration/test_api_homeassistant.py
index 3fe0dfe045..b4adedf873 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_api_homeassistant.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_api_homeassistant.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ async def test_api_homeassistant(
     humidity_update_future = loop.create_future()
     motion_update_future = loop.create_future()
     weather_update_future = loop.create_future()
+    long_attr_future = loop.create_future()
 
     # Number future
     ha_number_future = loop.create_future()
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ async def test_api_homeassistant(
     humidity_update_pattern = re.compile(r"HA Humidity state updated: ([\d.]+)")
     motion_update_pattern = re.compile(r"HA Motion state changed: (ON|OFF)")
     weather_update_pattern = re.compile(r"HA Weather condition updated: (\w+)")
+    long_attr_pattern = re.compile(r"HA Long attribute received, length: (\d+)")
 
     # Number pattern
     ha_number_pattern = re.compile(r"Setting HA number to: ([\d.]+)")
@@ -143,8 +145,14 @@ async def test_api_homeassistant(
         elif not weather_update_future.done() and weather_update_pattern.search(line):
             weather_update_future.set_result(line)
 
-        # Check number pattern
-        elif not ha_number_future.done() and ha_number_pattern.search(line):
+        # Check long attribute pattern - separate if since it can come at different times
+        if not long_attr_future.done():
+            match = long_attr_pattern.search(line)
+            if match:
+                long_attr_future.set_result(int(match.group(1)))
+
+        # Check number pattern - separate if since it can come at different times
+        if not ha_number_future.done():
             match = ha_number_pattern.search(line)
             if match:
                 ha_number_future.set_result(match.group(1))
@@ -179,6 +187,14 @@ async def test_api_homeassistant(
         client.send_home_assistant_state("binary_sensor.external_motion", "", "ON")
         client.send_home_assistant_state("weather.home", "condition", "sunny")
 
+        # Send a long attribute (300 characters) to test that attributes aren't truncated
+        # HA states are limited to 255 chars, but attributes are NOT limited
+        # This tests the fix for the 256-byte buffer truncation bug
+        long_attr_value = "X" * 300  # 300 chars - enough to expose truncation bug
+        client.send_home_assistant_state(
+            "sensor.long_data", "long_value", long_attr_value
+        )
+
         # Test edge cases for zero-copy implementation safety
         # Empty entity_id should be silently ignored (no crash)
         client.send_home_assistant_state("", "", "should_be_ignored")
@@ -225,6 +241,13 @@ async def test_api_homeassistant(
             number_value = await asyncio.wait_for(ha_number_future, timeout=5.0)
             assert number_value == "42.5", f"Unexpected number value: {number_value}"
 
+            # Long attribute test - verify 300 chars weren't truncated to 255
+            long_attr_len = await asyncio.wait_for(long_attr_future, timeout=5.0)
+            assert long_attr_len == 300, (
+                f"Long attribute was truncated! Expected 300 chars, got {long_attr_len}. "
+                "This indicates the 256-byte truncation bug."
+            )
+
             # Wait for completion
             await asyncio.wait_for(tests_complete_future, timeout=5.0)