diff --git a/app/Controllers/ColumnsController.php b/app/Controllers/ColumnsController.php
index f807d94..de0641e 100644
--- a/app/Controllers/ColumnsController.php
+++ b/app/Controllers/ColumnsController.php
@@ -79,6 +79,24 @@ class ColumnsController extends Controller
         return $this->json(['ok' => true]);
     }
 
+    public function toggleCount(Request $request, int $id): mixed
+    {
+        if (!AuthService::isLoggedIn()) {
+            return $this->json(['ok' => false, 'error' => 'Unauthorized'], 401);
+        }
+
+        $row = $this->columns()->find($id);
+        if ($row === null) {
+            return $this->json(['ok' => false, 'error' => 'Not found'], 404);
+        }
+
+        $show = (string) $request->input('show_card_count', '0') === '1';
+
+        $this->columns()->updateShowCardCount($id, $show, date('Y-m-d H:i:s'), AuthService::getCurrentUsername());
+
+        return $this->json(['ok' => true, 'show_card_count' => $show]);
+    }
+
     public function destroy(int $id): mixed
     {
         if (!AuthService::isLoggedIn()) {
diff --git a/app/Models/BoardColumn.php b/app/Models/BoardColumn.php
index 8604de7..181b2a7 100644
--- a/app/Models/BoardColumn.php
+++ b/app/Models/BoardColumn.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class BoardColumn
     public int $boardId = 0;
     public string $name = '';
     public int $position = 0;
+    public bool $showCardCount = false;
     public ?string $createdAt = null;
     public string $createdBy = '';
     public ?string $updatedAt = null;
@@ -18,14 +19,15 @@ class BoardColumn
     public static function fromRow(array $row): self
     {
         $model = new self();
-        $model->id        = (int) ($row['id'] ?? 0);
-        $model->boardId   = (int) ($row['board_id'] ?? 0);
-        $model->name      = (string) ($row['name'] ?? '');
-        $model->position  = (int) ($row['position'] ?? 0);
-        $model->createdAt = $row['created_at'] ?? null;
-        $model->createdBy = (string) ($row['created_by'] ?? '');
-        $model->updatedAt = $row['updated_at'] ?? null;
-        $model->updatedBy = (string) ($row['updated_by'] ?? '');
+        $model->id            = (int) ($row['id'] ?? 0);
+        $model->boardId       = (int) ($row['board_id'] ?? 0);
+        $model->name          = (string) ($row['name'] ?? '');
+        $model->position      = (int) ($row['position'] ?? 0);
+        $model->showCardCount = (bool) ($row['show_card_count'] ?? false);
+        $model->createdAt     = $row['created_at'] ?? null;
+        $model->createdBy     = (string) ($row['created_by'] ?? '');
+        $model->updatedAt     = $row['updated_at'] ?? null;
+        $model->updatedBy     = (string) ($row['updated_by'] ?? '');
 
         return $model;
     }
diff --git a/app/Repositories/BoardColumnRepository.php b/app/Repositories/BoardColumnRepository.php
index fe5404e..5dd5e53 100644
--- a/app/Repositories/BoardColumnRepository.php
+++ b/app/Repositories/BoardColumnRepository.php
@@ -35,16 +35,17 @@ class BoardColumnRepository extends Repository
     public function insert(BoardColumn $col): BoardColumn
     {
         $this->database->execute(
-            'INSERT INTO board_columns (board_id, name, position, created_at, created_by, updated_at, updated_by)
-             VALUES (:board_id, :name, :position, :created_at, :created_by, :updated_at, :updated_by)',
+            'INSERT INTO board_columns (board_id, name, position, show_card_count, created_at, created_by, updated_at, updated_by)
+             VALUES (:board_id, :name, :position, :show_card_count, :created_at, :created_by, :updated_at, :updated_by)',
             [
-                'board_id'   => $col->boardId,
-                'name'       => $col->name,
-                'position'   => $col->position,
-                'created_at' => $col->createdAt,
-                'created_by' => $col->createdBy,
-                'updated_at' => $col->updatedAt,
-                'updated_by' => $col->updatedBy,
+                'board_id'        => $col->boardId,
+                'name'            => $col->name,
+                'position'        => $col->position,
+                'show_card_count' => $col->showCardCount ? 1 : 0,
+                'created_at'      => $col->createdAt,
+                'created_by'      => $col->createdBy,
+                'updated_at'      => $col->updatedAt,
+                'updated_by'      => $col->updatedBy,
             ]
         );
 
@@ -62,6 +63,14 @@ class BoardColumnRepository extends Repository
         );
     }
 
+    public function updateShowCardCount(int $id, bool $show, string $updatedAt, string $updatedBy): void
+    {
+        $this->database->execute(
+            'UPDATE board_columns SET show_card_count = :show_card_count, updated_at = :updated_at, updated_by = :updated_by WHERE id = :id',
+            ['show_card_count' => $show ? 1 : 0, 'updated_at' => $updatedAt, 'updated_by' => $updatedBy, 'id' => $id]
+        );
+    }
+
     public function updatePosition(int $id, int $position, string $updatedAt, string $updatedBy): void
     {
         $this->database->execute(
diff --git a/app/Views/boards/show.php b/app/Views/boards/show.php
index 74c1f1a..4db7a29 100644
--- a/app/Views/boards/show.php
+++ b/app/Views/boards/show.php
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ var KANBAN = {
   boardSlug: "<?= e($board->slug) ?>",
   cards: <?= $cardsJson ?>
 };
-var KANBAN_COLS  = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($c) => ['id' => $c->id, 'name' => $c->name, 'position' => $c->position], $columns)) ?>;
+var KANBAN_COLS  = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($c) => ['id' => $c->id, 'name' => $c->name, 'position' => $c->position, 'show_card_count' => $c->showCardCount], $columns)) ?>;
 var KANBAN_LANES = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($l) => ['id' => $l->id, 'name' => $l->name, 'position' => $l->position], $lanes)) ?>;
 </script>
 
diff --git a/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php b/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
index 7925bd5..d5cea0a 100644
--- a/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
+++ b/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@
             data-id="<?= e((string) $col->id) ?>">
           <i class="bi bi-grip-vertical text-muted drag-handle" style="cursor:grab;"></i>
           <span class="flex-grow-1 col-label-text"><?= e($col->name) ?></span>
+          <div class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show card count in column header">
+            <input class="form-check-input col-count-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch"
+                   <?= $col->showCardCount ? 'checked' : '' ?>>
+          </div>
           <button class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0 text-secondary btn-edit-col" title="Rename">
             <i class="bi bi-pencil"></i>
           </button>
diff --git a/database/migrations/20260615_000001_add_show_card_count_to_board_columns.php b/database/migrations/20260615_000001_add_show_card_count_to_board_columns.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..533e022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/20260615_000001_add_show_card_count_to_board_columns.php
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Core\Database;
+use Core\Migration;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(Database $database): void
+    {
+        $database->execute(
+            'ALTER TABLE board_columns ADD COLUMN show_card_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function down(Database $database): void
+    {
+        // SQLite cannot drop columns without recreating the table.
+    }
+};
diff --git a/public/css/kanban.css b/public/css/kanban.css
index 1603cc5..4abbd21 100644
--- a/public/css/kanban.css
+++ b/public/css/kanban.css
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ body.kanban-page .navbar .btn-outline-secondary:hover {
   z-index: 30;
   min-width: 230px;
   padding: 0.75rem 0.88rem;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
   color: #eff5ff;
   font-size: clamp(0.68rem, 0.16vw + 0.65rem, 0.78rem);
   font-weight: 700;
@@ -148,6 +152,27 @@ body.kanban-page .navbar .btn-outline-secondary:hover {
   border-left: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.16);
 }
 
+.kanban-col-header .col-label {
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.kanban-col-header .col-count-badge {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  min-width: 1.5rem;
+  height: 1.5rem;
+  padding: 0 0.4rem;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  font-size: 0.68rem;
+  font-weight: 800;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
+  text-transform: none;
+  color: #173864;
+  background: #eff5ff;
+}
+
 .kanban-lane-header {
   position: sticky;
   left: 0;
diff --git a/public/js/kanban-board.js b/public/js/kanban-board.js
index 64f4a67..1026793 100644
--- a/public/js/kanban-board.js
+++ b/public/js/kanban-board.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   var boardId = KANBAN.boardId;
   var laneCollapseStorageKey = 'kanban_lane_collapsed_' + String(boardId);
   var collapsedLaneIds = loadCollapsedLaneIds();
+  var columnShowCount = {};
   var searchState = {
     query: ''
   };
@@ -44,6 +45,37 @@
     grid.style.gridTemplateColumns = cols;
   }
 
+  function countCardsInColumn(colId) {
+    var count = 0;
+    KANBAN.cards.forEach(function (c) {
+      if (String(c.column_id) === String(colId)) count++;
+    });
+    return count;
+  }
+
+  function refreshColumnCount(colId) {
+    var header = document.querySelector('.kanban-col-header[data-col-id="' + colId + '"]');
+    if (!header) return;
+    var badge = header.querySelector('.col-count-badge');
+    if (!columnShowCount[String(colId)]) {
+      if (badge) badge.remove();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!badge) {
+      badge = document.createElement('span');
+      badge.className = 'col-count-badge';
+      header.appendChild(badge);
+    }
+    badge.textContent = countCardsInColumn(colId);
+  }
+
+  function initColumnCounts() {
+    KANBAN_COLS.forEach(function (col) {
+      columnShowCount[String(col.id)] = !!col.show_card_count;
+      refreshColumnCount(col.id);
+    });
+  }
+
   function loadCollapsedLaneIds() {
     var laneMap = {};
     try {
@@ -204,6 +236,7 @@
     });
 
     var card = KANBAN.cards.find(function (c) { return String(c.id) === String(cardId); });
+    var oldColId = card ? card.column_id : null;
     if (card) {
       card.column_id = parseInt(newColId, 10);
       card.swim_lane_id = parseInt(newLaneId, 10);
@@ -213,6 +246,11 @@
     evt.item.dataset.columnId = newColId;
     evt.item.dataset.laneId = newLaneId;
 
+    if (oldColId !== null && String(oldColId) !== String(newColId)) {
+      refreshColumnCount(oldColId);
+    }
+    refreshColumnCount(newColId);
+
     post('/cards/' + cardId + '/move', {
       column_id: newColId,
       swim_lane_id: newLaneId,
@@ -328,6 +366,7 @@
         cell.appendChild(buildCardEl(card));
       }
       applyCardFilter();
+      refreshColumnCount(card.column_id);
     },
     onCardUpdated: function (id, data) {
       var card = KANBAN.cards.find(function (c) { return String(c.id) === String(id); });
@@ -348,10 +387,13 @@
       applyCardFilter();
     },
     onCardDeleted: function (id) {
+      var card = KANBAN.cards.find(function (c) { return String(c.id) === String(id); });
+      var colId = card ? card.column_id : null;
       KANBAN.cards = KANBAN.cards.filter(function (c) { return String(c.id) !== String(id); });
       var el = document.querySelector('.kanban-card[data-id="' + id + '"]');
       if (el) el.remove();
       applyCardFilter();
+      if (colId !== null) refreshColumnCount(colId);
     },
     addColumn: function (col) {
       var grid = document.getElementById('kanban-grid');
@@ -365,6 +407,8 @@
       hdr.innerHTML = '<span class="col-label">' + esc(col.name) + '</span>';
       grid.insertBefore(hdr, refNode);
 
+      columnShowCount[String(col.id)] = false;
+
       var laneHeaders = grid.querySelectorAll('.kanban-lane-header');
       laneHeaders.forEach(function (lh) {
         var laneId = lh.dataset.laneId;
@@ -383,6 +427,7 @@
       document.querySelector('.kanban-col-header[data-col-id="' + colId + '"]').remove();
       document.querySelectorAll('.kanban-cell[data-col-id="' + colId + '"]').forEach(function (el) { el.remove(); });
       KANBAN.cards = KANBAN.cards.filter(function (c) { return String(c.column_id) !== String(colId); });
+      delete columnShowCount[String(colId)];
       applyGridTemplate();
     },
     addLane: function (lane) {
@@ -431,6 +476,10 @@
     renameLane: function (laneId, name) {
       var hdr = document.querySelector('.kanban-lane-header[data-lane-id="' + laneId + '"] .lane-label');
       if (hdr) hdr.textContent = name;
+    },
+    setColumnShowCount: function (colId, show) {
+      columnShowCount[String(colId)] = show;
+      refreshColumnCount(colId);
     }
   };
 
@@ -439,4 +488,5 @@
   initSortables();
   initJobSearch();
   initLaneHeaderToggles();
+  initColumnCounts();
 })();
diff --git a/public/js/kanban-settings.js b/public/js/kanban-settings.js
index bbd2f6c..40e6924 100644
--- a/public/js/kanban-settings.js
+++ b/public/js/kanban-settings.js
@@ -45,13 +45,17 @@
     });
   }
 
-  function buildListItem(id, name, editClass, deleteClass, labelClass) {
+  function buildListItem(id, name, editClass, deleteClass, labelClass, countToggle) {
     var li = document.createElement('li');
     li.className   = 'list-group-item d-flex align-items-center gap-2 py-2';
     li.dataset.id  = id;
     li.innerHTML   =
       '<i class="bi bi-grip-vertical text-muted drag-handle" style="cursor:grab;"></i>' +
       '<span class="flex-grow-1 ' + labelClass + '">' + esc(name) + '</span>' +
+      (countToggle ?
+        '<div class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show card count in column header">' +
+          '<input class="form-check-input col-count-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch">' +
+        '</div>' : '') +
       '<button class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0 text-secondary ' + editClass + '" title="Rename"><i class="bi bi-pencil"></i></button>' +
       '<button class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0 text-danger '  + deleteClass + '" title="Delete"><i class="bi bi-trash"></i></button>';
     return li;
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@
       if (!res.ok) { alert(res.error || 'Failed'); return; }
       document.getElementById('col-add-form').classList.add('d-none');
       document.getElementById('col-add-input').value = '';
-      var li = buildListItem(res.id, res.name, 'btn-edit-col', 'btn-delete-col', 'col-label-text');
+      var li = buildListItem(res.id, res.name, 'btn-edit-col', 'btn-delete-col', 'col-label-text', true);
       document.getElementById('col-list').appendChild(li);
       bindColItem(li);
       window.KanbanBoard.addColumn(res);
@@ -133,6 +137,20 @@
         }
       });
     });
+    var countToggle = li.querySelector('.col-count-toggle');
+    if (countToggle) {
+      countToggle.addEventListener('change', function () {
+        var show = countToggle.checked;
+        post('/columns/' + li.dataset.id + '/toggle-count', { show_card_count: show ? '1' : '0' }, function (res) {
+          if (res.ok) {
+            window.KanbanBoard.setColumnShowCount(li.dataset.id, show);
+          } else {
+            countToggle.checked = !show;
+            alert(res.error || 'Update failed');
+          }
+        });
+      });
+    }
   }
 
   document.querySelectorAll('#col-list li').forEach(bindColItem);
diff --git a/routes/web.php b/routes/web.php
index a4ea117..5398aed 100644
--- a/routes/web.php
+++ b/routes/web.php
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ $router->post('/cards/{id}',         [CardsController::class, 'update']);
 
 // Columns (JSON API) — /columns/reorder MUST be before /columns/{id}
 $router->post('/columns/reorder',      [ColumnsController::class, 'reorder']);
+$router->post('/columns/{id}/toggle-count', [ColumnsController::class, 'toggleCount']);
 $router->post('/columns/{id}/delete',  [ColumnsController::class, 'destroy']);
 $router->post('/columns/{id}',         [ColumnsController::class, 'update']);
 $router->post('/columns',              [ColumnsController::class, 'store']);