diff --git a/app/Controllers/SwimLanesController.php b/app/Controllers/SwimLanesController.php
index 5b5ff3a..8f1d50a 100644
--- a/app/Controllers/SwimLanesController.php
+++ b/app/Controllers/SwimLanesController.php
@@ -79,6 +79,24 @@ class SwimLanesController 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 = $this->lanes()->find($id);
+        if ($row === null) {
+            return $this->json(['ok' => false, 'error' => 'Not found'], 404);
+        }
+
+        $show = (string) $request->input('show_card_count', '0') === '1';
+
+        $this->lanes()->updateShowCardCount($id, $show, date('Y-m-d H:i:s'), AuthService::getCurrentUsername());
+
+        return $this->json(['ok' => true, 'show_card_count' => $show]);
+    }
+
     public function toggleExport(Request $request, int $id): mixed
     {
         if (!AuthService::isLoggedIn()) {
diff --git a/app/Models/SwimLane.php b/app/Models/SwimLane.php
index 1fa7d3a..dea50fb 100644
--- a/app/Models/SwimLane.php
+++ b/app/Models/SwimLane.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class SwimLane
     public int $boardId = 0;
     public string $name = '';
     public int $position = 0;
+    public bool $showCardCount = false;
     public bool $showExportButton = false;
     public bool $showCardAge = false;
     public int $cardAgeWarningDays = 0;
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ class SwimLane
         $model->boardId            = (int) ($row['board_id'] ?? 0);
         $model->name               = (string) ($row['name'] ?? '');
         $model->position           = (int) ($row['position'] ?? 0);
+        $model->showCardCount      = (bool) ($row['show_card_count'] ?? false);
         $model->showExportButton   = (bool) ($row['show_export_button'] ?? false);
         $model->showCardAge        = (bool) ($row['show_card_age'] ?? false);
         $model->cardAgeWarningDays = (int) ($row['card_age_warning_days'] ?? 0);
diff --git a/app/Repositories/SwimLaneRepository.php b/app/Repositories/SwimLaneRepository.php
index d09d431..d84eb82 100644
--- a/app/Repositories/SwimLaneRepository.php
+++ b/app/Repositories/SwimLaneRepository.php
@@ -35,12 +35,13 @@ class SwimLaneRepository extends Repository
     public function insert(SwimLane $lane): SwimLane
     {
         $this->database->execute(
-            'INSERT INTO swim_lanes (board_id, name, position, show_export_button, show_card_age, card_age_warning_days, created_at, created_by, updated_at, updated_by)
-             VALUES (:board_id, :name, :position, :show_export_button, :show_card_age, :card_age_warning_days, :created_at, :created_by, :updated_at, :updated_by)',
+            'INSERT INTO swim_lanes (board_id, name, position, show_card_count, show_export_button, show_card_age, card_age_warning_days, created_at, created_by, updated_at, updated_by)
+             VALUES (:board_id, :name, :position, :show_card_count, :show_export_button, :show_card_age, :card_age_warning_days, :created_at, :created_by, :updated_at, :updated_by)',
             [
                 'board_id'              => $lane->boardId,
                 'name'                  => $lane->name,
                 'position'              => $lane->position,
+                'show_card_count'       => $lane->showCardCount ? 1 : 0,
                 'show_export_button'    => $lane->showExportButton ? 1 : 0,
                 'show_card_age'         => $lane->showCardAge ? 1 : 0,
                 'card_age_warning_days' => $lane->cardAgeWarningDays,
@@ -65,6 +66,14 @@ class SwimLaneRepository extends Repository
         );
     }
 
+    public function updateShowCardCount(int $id, bool $show, string $updatedAt, string $updatedBy): void
+    {
+        $this->database->execute(
+            'UPDATE swim_lanes 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 updateShowExportButton(int $id, bool $show, string $updatedAt, string $updatedBy): void
     {
         $this->database->execute(
diff --git a/app/Views/boards/show.php b/app/Views/boards/show.php
index 35545fe..10f2dd7 100644
--- a/app/Views/boards/show.php
+++ b/app/Views/boards/show.php
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ var KANBAN = {
   cards: <?= $cardsJson ?>
 };
 var KANBAN_COLS  = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($c) => ['id' => $c->id, 'name' => $c->name, 'position' => $c->position, 'show_card_count' => $c->showCardCount, 'show_export_button' => $c->showExportButton, 'show_card_age' => $c->showCardAge, 'card_age_warning_days' => $c->cardAgeWarningDays], $columns)) ?>;
-var KANBAN_LANES = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($l) => ['id' => $l->id, 'name' => $l->name, 'position' => $l->position, 'show_export_button' => $l->showExportButton, 'show_card_age' => $l->showCardAge, 'card_age_warning_days' => $l->cardAgeWarningDays], $lanes)) ?>;
+var KANBAN_LANES = <?= json_encode(array_map(fn($l) => ['id' => $l->id, 'name' => $l->name, 'position' => $l->position, 'show_card_count' => $l->showCardCount, 'show_export_button' => $l->showExportButton, 'show_card_age' => $l->showCardAge, 'card_age_warning_days' => $l->cardAgeWarningDays], $lanes)) ?>;
 </script>
 
 <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.3/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
diff --git a/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php b/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
index c4f4525..f4a3f7f 100644
--- a/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
+++ b/app/Views/partials/settings-panel.php
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@
           <div class="d-flex align-items-center gap-2">
             <i class="bi bi-grip-vertical text-muted drag-handle" style="cursor:grab;"></i>
             <span class="flex-grow-1 lane-label-text"><?= e($lane->name) ?></span>
+            <div class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show card count in swim lane header">
+              <input class="form-check-input lane-count-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch"
+                     <?= $lane->showCardCount ? 'checked' : '' ?>>
+            </div>
             <div class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show export button on board">
               <input class="form-check-input lane-export-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch"
                      <?= $lane->showExportButton ? 'checked' : '' ?>>
diff --git a/database/migrations/20260622_000001_add_show_card_count_to_swim_lanes.php b/database/migrations/20260622_000001_add_show_card_count_to_swim_lanes.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..132b82b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database/migrations/20260622_000001_add_show_card_count_to_swim_lanes.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 swim_lanes 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 0ad8507..be0e12b 100644
--- a/public/css/kanban.css
+++ b/public/css/kanban.css
@@ -173,6 +173,21 @@ body.kanban-page .navbar .btn-outline-secondary:hover {
   background: #eff5ff;
 }
 
+.kanban-lane-header .lane-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;
+  color: #fff;
+  background: #1e4d8f;
+}
+
 .kanban-lane-header {
   position: sticky;
   left: 0;
diff --git a/public/js/kanban-board.js b/public/js/kanban-board.js
index abf1ac0..303bc53 100644
--- a/public/js/kanban-board.js
+++ b/public/js/kanban-board.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   var laneCollapseStorageKey = 'kanban_lane_collapsed_' + String(boardId);
   var collapsedLaneIds = loadCollapsedLaneIds();
   var columnShowCount = {};
+  var laneShowCount = {};
   var columnShowExport = {};
   var laneShowExport = {};
   var columnAgeSettings = {};
@@ -154,6 +155,37 @@
     });
   }
 
+  function countCardsInLane(laneId) {
+    var count = 0;
+    KANBAN.cards.forEach(function (c) {
+      if (String(c.swim_lane_id) === String(laneId)) count++;
+    });
+    return count;
+  }
+
+  function refreshLaneCount(laneId) {
+    var header = document.querySelector('.kanban-lane-header[data-lane-id="' + laneId + '"]');
+    if (!header) return;
+    var badge = header.querySelector('.lane-count-badge');
+    if (!laneShowCount[String(laneId)]) {
+      if (badge) badge.remove();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!badge) {
+      badge = document.createElement('span');
+      badge.className = 'lane-count-badge';
+      header.appendChild(badge);
+    }
+    badge.textContent = countCardsInLane(laneId);
+  }
+
+  function initLaneCounts() {
+    KANBAN_LANES.forEach(function (lane) {
+      laneShowCount[String(lane.id)] = !!lane.show_card_count;
+      refreshLaneCount(lane.id);
+    });
+  }
+
   function refreshColumnExport(colId) {
     var header = document.querySelector('.kanban-col-header[data-col-id="' + colId + '"]');
     if (!header) return;
@@ -397,6 +429,11 @@
     }
     refreshColumnCount(newColId);
 
+    if (oldLaneId !== null && String(oldLaneId) !== String(newLaneId)) {
+      refreshLaneCount(oldLaneId);
+    }
+    refreshLaneCount(newLaneId);
+
     post('/cards/' + cardId + '/move', {
       column_id: newColId,
       swim_lane_id: newLaneId,
@@ -513,6 +550,7 @@
       }
       applyCardFilter();
       refreshColumnCount(card.column_id);
+      refreshLaneCount(card.swim_lane_id);
     },
     onCardUpdated: function (id, data) {
       var card = KANBAN.cards.find(function (c) { return String(c.id) === String(id); });
@@ -535,11 +573,13 @@
     onCardDeleted: function (id) {
       var card = KANBAN.cards.find(function (c) { return String(c.id) === String(id); });
       var colId = card ? card.column_id : null;
+      var laneId = card ? card.swim_lane_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);
+      if (laneId !== null) refreshLaneCount(laneId);
     },
     addColumn: function (col) {
       var grid = document.getElementById('kanban-grid');
@@ -595,6 +635,7 @@
       grid.appendChild(lh);
       bindLaneHeaderToggle(lh);
 
+      laneShowCount[String(lane.id)] = false;
       laneShowExport[String(lane.id)] = false;
       laneAgeSettings[String(lane.id)] = { showCardAge: false, cardAgeWarningDays: 0 };
 
@@ -617,6 +658,7 @@
       document.querySelector('.kanban-lane-header[data-lane-id="' + laneId + '"]').remove();
       document.querySelectorAll('.kanban-cell[data-lane-id="' + laneId + '"]').forEach(function (el) { el.remove(); });
       KANBAN.cards = KANBAN.cards.filter(function (c) { return String(c.swim_lane_id) !== String(laneId); });
+      delete laneShowCount[String(laneId)];
       delete laneShowExport[String(laneId)];
       delete laneAgeSettings[String(laneId)];
       if (collapsedLaneIds[String(laneId)]) {
@@ -636,6 +678,10 @@
       columnShowCount[String(colId)] = show;
       refreshColumnCount(colId);
     },
+    setLaneShowCount: function (laneId, show) {
+      laneShowCount[String(laneId)] = show;
+      refreshLaneCount(laneId);
+    },
     setColumnShowExport: function (colId, show) {
       columnShowExport[String(colId)] = !!show;
       refreshColumnExport(colId);
@@ -668,4 +714,5 @@
   initJobSearch();
   initLaneHeaderToggles();
   initColumnCounts();
+  initLaneCounts();
 })();
diff --git a/public/js/kanban-settings.js b/public/js/kanban-settings.js
index 6183e84..207e3b9 100644
--- a/public/js/kanban-settings.js
+++ b/public/js/kanban-settings.js
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
         '<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 class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show card count in header">' +
+            '<input class="form-check-input ' + agePrefix + '-count-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch">' +
           '</div>' : '') +
         '<div class="form-check form-switch m-0" title="Show export button on board">' +
           '<input class="form-check-input ' + agePrefix + '-export-toggle" type="checkbox" role="switch">' +
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@
       if (!res.ok) { alert(res.error || 'Failed'); return; }
       document.getElementById('lane-add-form').classList.add('d-none');
       document.getElementById('lane-add-input').value = '';
-      var li = buildListItem(res.id, res.name, 'btn-edit-lane', 'btn-delete-lane', 'lane-label-text', false, 'lane');
+      var li = buildListItem(res.id, res.name, 'btn-edit-lane', 'btn-delete-lane', 'lane-label-text', true, 'lane');
       document.getElementById('lane-list').appendChild(li);
       bindLaneItem(li);
       window.KanbanBoard.addLane(res);
@@ -278,6 +278,20 @@
         }
       });
     });
+    var laneCountToggle = li.querySelector('.lane-count-toggle');
+    if (laneCountToggle) {
+      laneCountToggle.addEventListener('change', function () {
+        var show = laneCountToggle.checked;
+        post('/swimlanes/' + li.dataset.id + '/toggle-count', { show_card_count: show ? '1' : '0' }, function (res) {
+          if (res.ok) {
+            window.KanbanBoard.setLaneShowCount(li.dataset.id, show);
+          } else {
+            laneCountToggle.checked = !show;
+            alert(res.error || 'Update failed');
+          }
+        });
+      });
+    }
     var laneExportToggle = li.querySelector('.lane-export-toggle');
     if (laneExportToggle) {
       laneExportToggle.addEventListener('change', function () {
diff --git a/routes/web.php b/routes/web.php
index 1d4d2a5..0de209b 100644
--- a/routes/web.php
+++ b/routes/web.php
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ $router->post('/columns',              [ColumnsController::class, 'store']);
 // Swim lanes (JSON API) — /swimlanes/reorder MUST be before /swimlanes/{id}
 $router->get('/swimlanes/{id}/export',         [SwimLanesController::class, 'export']);
 $router->post('/swimlanes/reorder',            [SwimLanesController::class, 'reorder']);
+$router->post('/swimlanes/{id}/toggle-count',  [SwimLanesController::class, 'toggleCount']);
 $router->post('/swimlanes/{id}/toggle-export', [SwimLanesController::class, 'toggleExport']);
 $router->post('/swimlanes/{id}/card-age-settings', [SwimLanesController::class, 'updateCardAgeSettings']);
 $router->post('/swimlanes/{id}/delete', [SwimLanesController::class, 'destroy']);