diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index abd95ef898..b8a31f97a3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -1017,6 +1017,8 @@ void WiFiComponent::set_ap(const WiFiAP &ap) {
 }
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_AP
 
+void WiFiComponent::init_sta(size_t count) { this->sta_.init(count); }
+void WiFiComponent::add_sta(const WiFiAP &ap) { this->sta_.push_back(ap); }
 void WiFiComponent::clear_sta() {
   // Clear roaming state - no more configured networks
   this->clear_roaming_state_();
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index 1738348a3f..14c9f0ad42 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -442,8 +442,9 @@ class WiFiComponent final : public Component {
   void set_sta(const WiFiAP &ap);
   // Returns a copy of the currently selected AP configuration
   WiFiAP get_sta() const;
-  void init_sta(size_t count) { this->sta_.init(count); }
-  void add_sta(const WiFiAP &ap) { this->sta_.push_back(ap); }
+  // Kept out of line: inlining these into the generated setup() grows flash
+  void init_sta(size_t count);
+  void add_sta(const WiFiAP &ap);
   void clear_sta();
 
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_AP