diff --git a/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ChatRow.tsx b/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ChatRow.tsx
index 23ec50af37..a6e1f4c638 100644
--- a/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ChatRow.tsx
+++ b/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ChatRow.tsx
@@ -1090,6 +1090,8 @@ export const ChatRowContent = ({
 							isStreaming={isStreaming}
 							isLast={isLast}
 							metadata={message.metadata as any}
+							isExpanded={isExpanded}
+							onToggleExpand={handleToggleExpand}
 						/>
 					)
 				case "api_req_started":
diff --git a/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ReasoningBlock.tsx b/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ReasoningBlock.tsx
index 3c981126ef..85767fd25e 100644
--- a/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ReasoningBlock.tsx
+++ b/webview-ui/src/components/chat/ReasoningBlock.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react"
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next"
 
 import MarkdownBlock from "../common/MarkdownBlock"
-import { Clock, Lightbulb } from "lucide-react"
+import { Clock, Lightbulb, ChevronDown, ChevronUp } from "lucide-react"
+import { ToolUseBlock } from "../common/ToolUseBlock"
 
 interface ReasoningBlockProps {
 	content: string
@@ -10,19 +11,33 @@ interface ReasoningBlockProps {
 	isStreaming: boolean
 	isLast: boolean
 	metadata?: any
+	isExpanded?: boolean
+	onToggleExpand?: () => void
 }
 
 /**
  * Render reasoning with a heading and a simple timer.
  * - Heading uses i18n key chat:reasoning.thinking
  * - Timer runs while reasoning is active (no persistence)
+ * - Content can be collapsed/expanded for better performance
  */
-export const ReasoningBlock = ({ content, isStreaming, isLast }: ReasoningBlockProps) => {
+export const ReasoningBlock = ({
+	content,
+	isStreaming,
+	isLast,
+	isExpanded: externalIsExpanded,
+	onToggleExpand,
+}: ReasoningBlockProps) => {
 	const { t } = useTranslation()
 
 	const startTimeRef = useRef<number>(Date.now())
 	const [elapsed, setElapsed] = useState<number>(0)
 
+	// Use internal state if no external control is provided
+	const [internalIsExpanded, setInternalIsExpanded] = useState(false)
+	const isExpanded = externalIsExpanded !== undefined ? externalIsExpanded : internalIsExpanded
+	const toggleExpand = onToggleExpand || (() => setInternalIsExpanded(!internalIsExpanded))
+
 	// Simple timer that runs while streaming
 	useEffect(() => {
 		if (isLast && isStreaming) {
@@ -35,26 +50,33 @@ export const ReasoningBlock = ({ content, isStreaming, isLast }: ReasoningBlockP
 
 	const seconds = Math.floor(elapsed / 1000)
 	const secondsLabel = t("chat:reasoning.seconds", { count: seconds })
+	const hasContent = (content?.trim()?.length ?? 0) > 0
 
 	return (
-		<div className="py-1">
-			<div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2.5 pr-2">
+		<ToolUseBlock>
+			<div
+				className="flex items-center justify-between px-3 py-2 cursor-pointer hover:bg-vscode-list-hoverBackground"
+				onClick={toggleExpand}>
 				<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
 					<Lightbulb className="w-4" />
 					<span className="font-bold text-vscode-foreground">{t("chat:reasoning.thinking")}</span>
 				</div>
-				{elapsed > 0 && (
-					<span className="text-vscode-foreground tabular-nums flex items-center gap-1">
-						<Clock className="w-4" />
-						{secondsLabel}
-					</span>
-				)}
+				<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+					{elapsed > 0 && (
+						<span className="text-vscode-foreground tabular-nums flex items-center gap-1">
+							<Clock className="w-4" />
+							{secondsLabel}
+						</span>
+					)}
+					{hasContent &&
+						(isExpanded ? <ChevronUp className="w-4 h-4" /> : <ChevronDown className="w-4 h-4" />)}
+				</div>
 			</div>
-			{(content?.trim()?.length ?? 0) > 0 && (
-				<div className="px-3 italic text-vscode-descriptionForeground">
+			{hasContent && isExpanded && (
+				<div className="px-4 py-2 italic text-vscode-descriptionForeground border-t border-vscode-panel-border">
 					<MarkdownBlock markdown={content} />
 				</div>
 			)}
-		</div>
+		</ToolUseBlock>
 	)
 }