diff --git a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
index e39e4d13..e887f9ad 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_events/types/ae_badge_template_cfg.ts
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ export interface BadgeTemplateCfg {
     header_border_color?: string;
     // Thickness of the header bottom border. Any CSS length. Default "2px" when color is set.
     header_border_width?: string;
-    // Padding below the header image (inside the badge_header div, above the border).
-    // Useful for creating visual space between the image and the body.
-    // Any CSS length: "0.5in", "1rem". Unset = no extra padding.
+    // Per-side padding of the badge_header div. Any CSS length. Unset = 0.5rem (Tailwind p-2 default).
+    // Bottom padding creates space between the header image and the border line (e.g. "1.45in").
+    header_padding_top?: string;
+    header_padding_right?: string;
     header_padding_bottom?: string;
+    header_padding_left?: string;
 
     // Punch-out hole markers: show X overlays at the physical badge clip slot positions.
     // Slots are pre-perforated on the badge stock — markers guide attendees to push them out.
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
index 7c9a3456..bfb8b3cb 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/[badge_id]/ae_comp__badge_obj_view.svelte
@@ -347,17 +347,21 @@ let punch_holes_colors = $derived.by(() => {
 });
 
 // Full inline style string for the badge_header div.
-// Combines margin-top, optional bottom border (color + width), and optional bottom padding.
+// All four padding sides are set explicitly so the p-2 class is not needed.
+// Unset sides default to 0.5rem (Tailwind p-2 equivalent).
 // Unset border_color = no border drawn.
 let header_div_style = $derived.by(() => {
     const parts: string[] = [`margin-top: ${header_margin_top}`];
+    const pt = (template_cfg?.header_padding_top    ?? '').trim() || '0.5rem';
+    const pr = (template_cfg?.header_padding_right  ?? '').trim() || '0.5rem';
+    const pb = (template_cfg?.header_padding_bottom ?? '').trim() || '0.5rem';
+    const pl = (template_cfg?.header_padding_left   ?? '').trim() || '0.5rem';
+    parts.push(`padding: ${pt} ${pr} ${pb} ${pl}`);
     const color = (template_cfg?.header_border_color ?? '').trim();
     if (color) {
         const width = (template_cfg?.header_border_width ?? '').trim() || '2px';
         parts.push(`border-bottom: ${width} solid ${color}`);
     }
-    const pb = (template_cfg?.header_padding_bottom ?? '').trim();
-    if (pb) parts.push(`padding-bottom: ${pb}`);
     return parts.join('; ');
 });
 
@@ -748,7 +752,6 @@ const code_to_icon: {
                 max-h-[1.10in]
                 min-h-[.50in]
                 max-w-full overflow-hidden
-                p-2
                 hover:outline-2 hover:outline-gray-500/75 hover:outline-dashed
                 "
                         style={header_div_style}>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
index 9dfc91d9..c020c66e 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/templates/ae_comp__badge_template_form.svelte
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ let cfg_body_text_color = $state('#000000');
 let cfg_bleed = $state('');
 // Header image vertical offset (CSS length). Empty = default 2rem. Negative = shift up.
 let cfg_header_margin_top = $state('');
+// Header div padding per side (CSS length). Empty = default 0.5rem (Tailwind p-2).
+let cfg_header_padding_top    = $state('');
+let cfg_header_padding_right  = $state('');
+let cfg_header_padding_bottom = $state('');
+let cfg_header_padding_left   = $state('');
 // Punch-out hole markers (left/right/center badge clip slots).
 let cfg_punch_holes_left = $state(false);
 let cfg_punch_holes_right = $state(false);
@@ -81,8 +86,6 @@ let cfg_punch_holes_center_bg = $state('');
 // Header bottom border. Empty color = no border.
 let cfg_header_border_color = $state('');
 let cfg_header_border_width = $state('');
-// Padding below the header image (above the border line). Empty = no extra padding.
-let cfg_header_padding_bottom = $state('');
 // Alignment overrides: 'left' | 'center' | 'right' | 'justify'
 let cfg_align_name = $state('center');
 let cfg_align_title = $state('center');
@@ -190,7 +193,10 @@ async function load_template(id: string) {
             cfg_punch_holes_center_bg = parsed_cfg?.punch_holes?.center_bg ?? '';
             cfg_header_border_color = parsed_cfg.header_border_color ?? '';
             cfg_header_border_width = parsed_cfg.header_border_width ?? '';
+            cfg_header_padding_top    = parsed_cfg.header_padding_top    ?? '';
+            cfg_header_padding_right  = parsed_cfg.header_padding_right  ?? '';
             cfg_header_padding_bottom = parsed_cfg.header_padding_bottom ?? '';
+            cfg_header_padding_left   = parsed_cfg.header_padding_left   ?? '';
 
             // Alignment overrides (nested under cfg_json.align and cfg_json.qr_alignment)
             cfg_align_name = parsed_cfg?.align?.name ?? parsed_cfg.align_name ?? 'center';
@@ -307,12 +313,11 @@ async function handle_submit() {
         delete cfg_obj.header_border_width;
     }
 
-    // Header padding below image
-    if (cfg_header_padding_bottom.trim()) {
-        cfg_obj.header_padding_bottom = cfg_header_padding_bottom.trim();
-    } else {
-        delete cfg_obj.header_padding_bottom;
-    }
+    // Header padding — per side; each saved independently, removed when cleared
+    if (cfg_header_padding_top.trim())    { cfg_obj.header_padding_top    = cfg_header_padding_top.trim();    } else { delete cfg_obj.header_padding_top; }
+    if (cfg_header_padding_right.trim())  { cfg_obj.header_padding_right  = cfg_header_padding_right.trim();  } else { delete cfg_obj.header_padding_right; }
+    if (cfg_header_padding_bottom.trim()) { cfg_obj.header_padding_bottom = cfg_header_padding_bottom.trim(); } else { delete cfg_obj.header_padding_bottom; }
+    if (cfg_header_padding_left.trim())   { cfg_obj.header_padding_left   = cfg_header_padding_left.trim();   } else { delete cfg_obj.header_padding_left; }
 
     const data_to_save: key_val = {
         name,
@@ -480,13 +485,29 @@ function toggle_cfg_controls_auth_editable(key: string) {
                         <span>Border Thickness</span>
                         <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_border_width} class="input" placeholder="e.g. 2px, 0.5mm (default: 2px)" />
                     </label>
-                    <label class="label">
-                        <span>Padding Below Header Image</span>
-                        <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_padding_bottom} class="input" placeholder="e.g. 1.45in, 2rem — leave blank for none" />
-                        <p class="text-xs text-surface-400 italic">
-                            Creates space between the header image and the border line.
-                        </p>
-                    </label>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="space-y-1">
+                    <p class="text-sm font-medium">Header Padding</p>
+                    <p class="text-xs text-surface-400 italic">Per-side padding of the header image container. Any CSS length. Leave blank for default (0.5rem). Bottom padding creates space between the image and the border line.</p>
+                    <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2">
+                        <label class="label">
+                            <span>Top</span>
+                            <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_padding_top} class="input" placeholder="0.5rem" />
+                        </label>
+                        <label class="label">
+                            <span>Right</span>
+                            <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_padding_right} class="input" placeholder="0.5rem" />
+                        </label>
+                        <label class="label">
+                            <span>Bottom</span>
+                            <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_padding_bottom} class="input" placeholder="0.5rem" />
+                        </label>
+                        <label class="label">
+                            <span>Left</span>
+                            <input type="text" bind:value={cfg_header_padding_left} class="input" placeholder="0.5rem" />
+                        </label>
+                    </div>
                 </div>
 
                 <label class="label">