diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api/metrics.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api/metrics.ts
index baf9f11..c3aaea8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api/metrics.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api/metrics.ts
@@ -21,5 +21,14 @@ export async function fetchSandboxMetrics(id: string, range: MetricRange): Promi
 
 export const METRIC_RANGES: MetricRange[] = ['5m', '10m', '1h', '6h', '24h'];
 
-// All ranges poll every 10 seconds.
+// Poll interval varies by range — shorter ranges need fresher data.
+export const METRIC_POLL_INTERVALS: Record<MetricRange, number> = {
+	'5m':  10_000,
+	'10m': 10_000,
+	'1h':  30_000,
+	'6h':  60_000,
+	'24h': 120_000,
+};
+
+/** @deprecated Use METRIC_POLL_INTERVALS instead */
 export const METRIC_POLL_INTERVAL = 10_000;
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/StatsPanel.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/StatsPanel.svelte
index 19be331..56963b2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/StatsPanel.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/StatsPanel.svelte
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 	let chartRam: any = null;
 
 	let pollInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+	let lastDataKey = '';   // cheap fingerprint to skip redundant chart redraws
+	let visibilityHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
 
 	async function load() {
 		const result = await fetchStats(range);
@@ -43,6 +45,10 @@
 
 	function updateCharts() {
 		if (!stats) return;
+		// Skip redraw if data hasn't changed (same length + same last label).
+		const key = `${stats.series.labels.length}:${stats.series.labels.at(-1) ?? ''}`;
+		if (key === lastDataKey) return;
+		lastDataKey = key;
 		// Use Array.from to pass plain JS arrays to Chart.js — Svelte 5 $state
 		// wraps arrays in reactive proxies which Chart.js can't iterate reliably.
 		const labels = formatLabels(Array.from(stats.series.labels), range);
@@ -77,14 +83,19 @@
 		});
 	}
 
+	function stopPolling() {
+		if (pollInterval) { clearInterval(pollInterval); pollInterval = null; }
+	}
+
 	function restartPolling() {
-		if (pollInterval) clearInterval(pollInterval);
+		stopPolling();
 		load();
 		pollInterval = setInterval(load, POLL_INTERVALS[range]);
 	}
 
 	function setRange(r: TimeRange) {
 		range = r;
+		lastDataKey = '';   // force chart redraw on range switch
 		goto(`?range=${r}`, { replaceState: true, noScroll: true, keepFocus: true });
 		restartPolling();
 	}
@@ -237,10 +248,21 @@
 		updateCharts();
 
 		restartPolling();
+
+		// Pause polling when the browser tab is hidden to save bandwidth/CPU.
+		visibilityHandler = () => {
+			if (document.hidden) {
+				stopPolling();
+			} else {
+				restartPolling();
+			}
+		};
+		document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
 	});
 
 	onDestroy(() => {
-		if (pollInterval) clearInterval(pollInterval);
+		stopPolling();
+		if (visibilityHandler) document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
 		chartRunning?.destroy();
 		chartCpu?.destroy();
 		chartRam?.destroy();
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/templates/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/admin/templates/+page.svelte
index 0a4703c..39b62da 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/templates/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/templates/+page.svelte
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 	// Polling
 	let pollInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
 	let hasActiveBuilds = $derived(builds.some((b) => b.status === 'pending' || b.status === 'running'));
+	let visibilityHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
 
 	// Build log expansion
 	let expandedBuildId = $state<string | null>(null);
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@
 	function startPolling() {
 		stopPolling();
 		pollInterval = setInterval(() => {
-			if (hasActiveBuilds) fetchBuilds();
+			if (hasActiveBuilds && activeTab === 'builds') fetchBuilds();
 		}, 3000);
 	}
 
@@ -242,9 +243,22 @@
 	onMount(() => {
 		fetchTemplates();
 		fetchBuilds().then(startPolling);
+
+		// Pause polling when the browser tab is hidden.
+		visibilityHandler = () => {
+			if (document.hidden) {
+				stopPolling();
+			} else {
+				startPolling();
+			}
+		};
+		document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
 	});
 
-	onDestroy(stopPolling);
+	onDestroy(() => {
+		stopPolling();
+		if (visibilityHandler) document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
+	});
 </script>
 
 <div class="flex h-screen overflow-hidden bg-[var(--color-bg-0)]">
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/[id]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/[id]/+page.svelte
index 9c84f97..8b1aa67 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 	import {
 		fetchSandboxMetrics,
 		METRIC_RANGES,
-		METRIC_POLL_INTERVAL,
+		METRIC_POLL_INTERVALS,
 		type MetricRange,
 		type MetricPoint
 	} from '$lib/api/metrics';
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@
 	// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
 	let ChartJS = $state<any>(null);
 	let pollInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+	let lastDataKey = '';   // fingerprint to skip redundant chart redraws
+	let visibilityHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
 
 	const metricsAvailable = $derived(
 		capsule?.status === 'running' || capsule?.status === 'paused'
@@ -141,6 +143,10 @@
 
 	function updateCharts() {
 		if (!points.length) return;
+		// Skip redraw if data hasn't changed.
+		const key = `${points.length}:${points.at(-1)?.timestamp_unix ?? ''}`;
+		if (key === lastDataKey) return;
+		lastDataKey = key;
 		const labels = formatLabels(Array.from(points), range);
 		const w = smoothWindow(points.length);
 		if (chartCpu) {
@@ -171,15 +177,20 @@
 
 	function setRange(r: MetricRange) {
 		range = r;
+		lastDataKey = '';   // force chart redraw on range switch
 		goto(`?range=${r}`, { replaceState: true, noScroll: true, keepFocus: true });
 		metricsLoading = true;
 		restartPolling();
 	}
 
+	function stopPolling() {
+		if (pollInterval) { clearInterval(pollInterval); pollInterval = null; }
+	}
+
 	function restartPolling() {
-		if (pollInterval) clearInterval(pollInterval);
+		stopPolling();
 		loadMetrics();
-		pollInterval = setInterval(loadMetrics, METRIC_POLL_INTERVAL);
+		pollInterval = setInterval(loadMetrics, METRIC_POLL_INTERVALS[range]);
 	}
 
 	// Chart design tokens (match StatsPanel.svelte)
@@ -342,7 +353,7 @@
 		});
 
 		return () => {
-			if (pollInterval) { clearInterval(pollInterval); pollInterval = null; }
+			stopPolling();
 			chartCpu?.destroy(); chartCpu = null;
 			chartRam?.destroy(); chartRam = null;
 		};
@@ -367,10 +378,21 @@
 
 		const mod = await import('chart.js/auto');
 		ChartJS = mod.Chart;
+
+		// Pause polling when the browser tab is hidden.
+		visibilityHandler = () => {
+			if (document.hidden) {
+				stopPolling();
+			} else if (activeTab === 'metrics' && metricsAvailable) {
+				restartPolling();
+			}
+		};
+		document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
 	});
 
 	onDestroy(() => {
-		if (pollInterval) clearInterval(pollInterval);
+		stopPolling();
+		if (visibilityHandler) document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', visibilityHandler);
 		chartCpu?.destroy();
 		chartRam?.destroy();
 	});