diff --git a/cmd/bd/list.go b/cmd/bd/list.go
index 821e8201..4b14e2a8 100644
--- a/cmd/bd/list.go
+++ b/cmd/bd/list.go
@@ -306,6 +306,61 @@ func sortIssues(issues []*types.Issue, sortBy string, reverse bool) {
 	})
 }
 
+// formatIssueLong formats a single issue in long format to a buffer
+func formatIssueLong(buf *strings.Builder, issue *types.Issue, labels []string) {
+	status := string(issue.Status)
+	if status == "closed" {
+		line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s\n  %s",
+			pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
+			issue.IssueType, status, issue.Title)
+		buf.WriteString(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
+		buf.WriteString("\n")
+	} else {
+		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s\n",
+			pinIndicator(issue),
+			ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
+			ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
+			ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
+			ui.RenderStatus(status)))
+		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  %s\n", issue.Title))
+	}
+	if issue.Assignee != "" {
+		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  Assignee: %s\n", issue.Assignee))
+	}
+	if len(labels) > 0 {
+		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  Labels: %v\n", labels))
+	}
+	buf.WriteString("\n")
+}
+
+// formatIssueCompact formats a single issue in compact format to a buffer
+func formatIssueCompact(buf *strings.Builder, issue *types.Issue, labels []string) {
+	labelsStr := ""
+	if len(labels) > 0 {
+		labelsStr = fmt.Sprintf(" %v", labels)
+	}
+	assigneeStr := ""
+	if issue.Assignee != "" {
+		assigneeStr = fmt.Sprintf(" @%s", issue.Assignee)
+	}
+	status := string(issue.Status)
+	if status == "closed" {
+		line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s%s%s - %s",
+			pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
+			issue.IssueType, status, assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title)
+		buf.WriteString(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
+		buf.WriteString("\n")
+	} else {
+		buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s%s%s - %s\n",
+			pinIndicator(issue),
+			ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
+			ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
+			ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
+			ui.RenderStatus(status),
+			assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title))
+	}
+}
+
 var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:     "list",
 	GroupID: "issues",
@@ -373,6 +428,9 @@ var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		prettyFormat, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("pretty")
 		watchMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("watch")
 
+		// Pager control (bd-jdz3)
+		noPager, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("no-pager")
+
 		// Watch mode implies pretty format
 		if watchMode {
 			prettyFormat = true
@@ -683,63 +741,26 @@ var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			// Apply sorting
 			sortIssues(issues, sortBy, reverse)
 
+			// Build output in buffer for pager support (bd-jdz3)
+			var buf strings.Builder
 			if longFormat {
 				// Long format: multi-line with details
-				fmt.Printf("\nFound %d issues:\n\n", len(issues))
+				buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\nFound %d issues:\n\n", len(issues)))
 				for _, issue := range issues {
-					status := string(issue.Status)
-					if status == "closed" {
-						// Entire closed issue is dimmed
-						line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s\n  %s",
-							pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
-							issue.IssueType, status, issue.Title)
-						fmt.Println(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
-					} else {
-						fmt.Printf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s\n",
-							pinIndicator(issue),
-							ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
-							ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
-							ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
-							ui.RenderStatus(status))
-						fmt.Printf("  %s\n", issue.Title)
-					}
-					if issue.Assignee != "" {
-						fmt.Printf("  Assignee: %s\n", issue.Assignee)
-					}
-					if len(issue.Labels) > 0 {
-						fmt.Printf("  Labels: %v\n", issue.Labels)
-					}
-					fmt.Println()
+					formatIssueLong(&buf, issue, issue.Labels)
 				}
 			} else {
 				// Compact format: one line per issue
 				for _, issue := range issues {
-					labelsStr := ""
-					if len(issue.Labels) > 0 {
-						labelsStr = fmt.Sprintf(" %v", issue.Labels)
-					}
-					assigneeStr := ""
-					if issue.Assignee != "" {
-						assigneeStr = fmt.Sprintf(" @%s", issue.Assignee)
-					}
-					status := string(issue.Status)
-					if status == "closed" {
-						// Entire closed line is dimmed
-						line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s%s%s - %s",
-							pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
-							issue.IssueType, status, assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title)
-						fmt.Println(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
-					} else {
-						fmt.Printf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s%s%s - %s\n",
-							pinIndicator(issue),
-							ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
-							ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
-							ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
-							ui.RenderStatus(status),
-							assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title)
-					}
+					formatIssueCompact(&buf, issue, issue.Labels)
 				}
 			}
+
+			// Output with pager support
+			if err := ui.ToPager(buf.String(), ui.PagerOptions{NoPager: noPager}); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprint(os.Stdout, buf.String())
+			}
+
 			// Show truncation hint if we hit the limit (GH#788)
 			if effectiveLimit > 0 && len(issues) == effectiveLimit {
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\nShowing %d issues (use --limit 0 for all)\n", effectiveLimit)
@@ -836,68 +857,28 @@ var listCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 		labelsMap, _ := store.GetLabelsForIssues(ctx, issueIDs)
 
+		// Build output in buffer for pager support (bd-jdz3)
+		var buf strings.Builder
 		if longFormat {
 			// Long format: multi-line with details
-			fmt.Printf("\nFound %d issues:\n\n", len(issues))
+			buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\nFound %d issues:\n\n", len(issues)))
 			for _, issue := range issues {
 				labels := labelsMap[issue.ID]
-				status := string(issue.Status)
-
-				if status == "closed" {
-					// Entire closed issue is dimmed
-					line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s\n  %s",
-						pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
-						issue.IssueType, status, issue.Title)
-					fmt.Println(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
-				} else {
-					fmt.Printf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s\n",
-						pinIndicator(issue),
-						ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
-						ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
-						ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
-						ui.RenderStatus(status))
-					fmt.Printf("  %s\n", issue.Title)
-				}
-				if issue.Assignee != "" {
-					fmt.Printf("  Assignee: %s\n", issue.Assignee)
-				}
-				if len(labels) > 0 {
-					fmt.Printf("  Labels: %v\n", labels)
-				}
-				fmt.Println()
+				formatIssueLong(&buf, issue, labels)
 			}
 		} else {
 			// Compact format: one line per issue
 			for _, issue := range issues {
 				labels := labelsMap[issue.ID]
-
-				labelsStr := ""
-				if len(labels) > 0 {
-					labelsStr = fmt.Sprintf(" %v", labels)
-				}
-				assigneeStr := ""
-				if issue.Assignee != "" {
-					assigneeStr = fmt.Sprintf(" @%s", issue.Assignee)
-				}
-				status := string(issue.Status)
-				if status == "closed" {
-					// Entire closed line is dimmed
-					line := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s [P%d] [%s] %s%s%s - %s",
-						pinIndicator(issue), issue.ID, issue.Priority,
-						issue.IssueType, status, assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title)
-					fmt.Println(ui.RenderClosedLine(line))
-				} else {
-					fmt.Printf("%s%s [%s] [%s] %s%s%s - %s\n",
-						pinIndicator(issue),
-						ui.RenderID(issue.ID),
-						ui.RenderPriority(issue.Priority),
-						ui.RenderType(string(issue.IssueType)),
-						ui.RenderStatus(status),
-						assigneeStr, labelsStr, issue.Title)
-				}
+				formatIssueCompact(&buf, issue, labels)
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Output with pager support
+		if err := ui.ToPager(buf.String(), ui.PagerOptions{NoPager: noPager}); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprint(os.Stdout, buf.String())
+		}
+
 		// Show truncation hint if we hit the limit (GH#788)
 		if effectiveLimit > 0 && len(issues) == effectiveLimit {
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\nShowing %d issues (use --limit 0 for all)\n", effectiveLimit)
@@ -963,6 +944,9 @@ func init() {
 	listCmd.Flags().Bool("pretty", false, "Display issues in a tree format with status/priority symbols")
 	listCmd.Flags().BoolP("watch", "w", false, "Watch for changes and auto-update display (implies --pretty)")
 
+	// Pager control (bd-jdz3)
+	listCmd.Flags().Bool("no-pager", false, "Disable pager output")
+
 	// Note: --json flag is defined as a persistent flag in main.go, not here
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(listCmd)
 }
diff --git a/internal/ui/pager.go b/internal/ui/pager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b6be46aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ui/pager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+// Package ui provides terminal styling and pager support for beads CLI output.
+package ui
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+
+	"golang.org/x/term"
+)
+
+// PagerOptions controls pager behavior
+type PagerOptions struct {
+	// NoPager disables pager for this command (--no-pager flag)
+	NoPager bool
+}
+
+// shouldUsePager determines if output should be piped to a pager.
+// Returns false if:
+// - NoPager option is set
+// - BD_NO_PAGER environment variable is set
+// - stdout is not a TTY (e.g., piped to another command)
+func shouldUsePager(opts PagerOptions) bool {
+	if opts.NoPager {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if os.Getenv("BD_NO_PAGER") != "" {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Check if stdout is a terminal
+	if !term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return true
+}
+
+// getPagerCommand returns the pager command to use.
+// Checks BD_PAGER, then PAGER, defaults to "less".
+func getPagerCommand() string {
+	if pager := os.Getenv("BD_PAGER"); pager != "" {
+		return pager
+	}
+	if pager := os.Getenv("PAGER"); pager != "" {
+		return pager
+	}
+	return "less"
+}
+
+// getTerminalHeight returns the height of the terminal in lines.
+// Returns 0 if unable to determine (not a TTY).
+func getTerminalHeight() int {
+	fd := int(os.Stdout.Fd())
+	if !term.IsTerminal(fd) {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	_, height, err := term.GetSize(fd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return height
+}
+
+// contentHeight counts the number of lines in the content.
+func contentHeight(content string) int {
+	if content == "" {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return strings.Count(content, "\n") + 1
+}
+
+// ToPager pipes content to a pager if appropriate.
+// If pager should not be used (not a TTY, --no-pager, etc.), prints directly.
+// If content fits in terminal, prints directly without pager.
+func ToPager(content string, opts PagerOptions) error {
+	if !shouldUsePager(opts) {
+		fmt.Print(content)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Check if content exceeds terminal height
+	termHeight := getTerminalHeight()
+	if termHeight > 0 && contentHeight(content) <= termHeight-1 {
+		// Content fits in terminal, no pager needed
+		fmt.Print(content)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Use pager
+	pagerCmd := getPagerCommand()
+
+	// Parse pager command (may include arguments like "less -R")
+	parts := strings.Fields(pagerCmd)
+	if len(parts) == 0 {
+		fmt.Print(content)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	cmd := exec.Command(parts[0], parts[1:]...)
+	cmd.Stdin = strings.NewReader(content)
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+	// Set LESS environment variable for sensible defaults if not already set
+	// -R: Allow ANSI color codes
+	// -F: Quit if content fits on one screen
+	// -X: Don't clear screen on exit
+	if os.Getenv("LESS") == "" {
+		cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "LESS=-RFX")
+	} else {
+		cmd.Env = os.Environ()
+	}
+
+	return cmd.Run()
+}
diff --git a/internal/ui/pager_test.go b/internal/ui/pager_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..69f0b68c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ui/pager_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+package ui
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestContentHeight(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+		want    int
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "empty string",
+			content: "",
+			want:    0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "single line",
+			content: "hello",
+			want:    1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "single line with newline",
+			content: "hello\n",
+			want:    2,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "multiple lines",
+			content: "line1\nline2\nline3",
+			want:    3,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "multiple lines with trailing newline",
+			content: "line1\nline2\nline3\n",
+			want:    4,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := contentHeight(tt.content)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("contentHeight() = %d, want %d", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShouldUsePager(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		opts      PagerOptions
+		envVars   map[string]string
+		wantPager bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "NoPager option set",
+			opts:      PagerOptions{NoPager: true},
+			wantPager: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "BD_NO_PAGER env set",
+			opts:      PagerOptions{NoPager: false},
+			envVars:   map[string]string{"BD_NO_PAGER": "1"},
+			wantPager: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// Set up env vars
+			for k, v := range tt.envVars {
+				oldVal := os.Getenv(k)
+				os.Setenv(k, v)
+				defer os.Setenv(k, oldVal)
+			}
+
+			got := shouldUsePager(tt.opts)
+			if got != tt.wantPager {
+				t.Errorf("shouldUsePager() = %v, want %v", got, tt.wantPager)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGetPagerCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		envVars  map[string]string
+		wantPager string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "default pager",
+			envVars:   map[string]string{},
+			wantPager: "less",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "BD_PAGER set",
+			envVars:   map[string]string{"BD_PAGER": "more"},
+			wantPager: "more",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "PAGER set",
+			envVars:   map[string]string{"PAGER": "cat"},
+			wantPager: "cat",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "BD_PAGER takes precedence over PAGER",
+			envVars:   map[string]string{"BD_PAGER": "more", "PAGER": "cat"},
+			wantPager: "more",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// Save and clear relevant env vars
+			oldBdPager := os.Getenv("BD_PAGER")
+			oldPager := os.Getenv("PAGER")
+			os.Unsetenv("BD_PAGER")
+			os.Unsetenv("PAGER")
+			defer func() {
+				if oldBdPager != "" {
+					os.Setenv("BD_PAGER", oldBdPager)
+				}
+				if oldPager != "" {
+					os.Setenv("PAGER", oldPager)
+				}
+			}()
+
+			// Set up env vars for test
+			for k, v := range tt.envVars {
+				os.Setenv(k, v)
+			}
+
+			got := getPagerCommand()
+			if got != tt.wantPager {
+				t.Errorf("getPagerCommand() = %q, want %q", got, tt.wantPager)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToPagerNoPagerOption(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a test output that we want to capture
+	content := "test content\n"
+
+	// With NoPager=true, ToPager should just print directly
+	// (we can't easily capture stdout in a test, but we can verify no error)
+	err := ToPager(content, PagerOptions{NoPager: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ToPager() returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToPagerWithBdNoPagerEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	oldVal := os.Getenv("BD_NO_PAGER")
+	os.Setenv("BD_NO_PAGER", "1")
+	defer func() {
+		if oldVal != "" {
+			os.Setenv("BD_NO_PAGER", oldVal)
+		} else {
+			os.Unsetenv("BD_NO_PAGER")
+		}
+	}()
+
+	content := strings.Repeat("line\n", 100)
+	err := ToPager(content, PagerOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ToPager() returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+}