diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index af6543f..fa6431f 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -291,6 +291,16 @@ Use `Dialog` for focused confirmation or interruption. Tones are `primary` and `
 - Do not open dialogs for information that can remain inline.
 - Do not add a second focus trap, backdrop, escape listener, or portal layer.
 
+### EmptyState
+
+Use `EmptyState` to explain an absence and offer the next useful action.
+
+- Distinguish the reason for absence in the copy: no data yet, no filtered matches, or no configuration.
+- Set `headingLevel` to preserve the surrounding document hierarchy.
+- Keep the description concrete and within the component's readable measure.
+- Provide one focused action when the user can resolve the absence.
+- Use Alert for failures; an error is not an empty state.
+
 ## Content quality
 
 - Prefer concrete labels: “Create project” over “Submit,” “Delete report” over “Confirm.”
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a235850..c3c7f0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ All JavaScript entry points ship ESM, CommonJS, and TypeScript declarations. Exp
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/button`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/card`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/dialog`
+- `@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/input`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/meter`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/select`
@@ -60,6 +61,23 @@ All JavaScript entry points ship ESM, CommonJS, and TypeScript declarations. Exp
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/typography`
 - `@16-bits-design/ui/styles.css`
 
+### EmptyState
+
+Use `EmptyState` to explain an absence and offer the next useful action. Descriptions stay within a readable measure, the default pixel motif follows the active theme, and `headingLevel` preserves the surrounding document hierarchy.
+
+```tsx
+import { EmptyState } from '@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state';
+import { Button } from '@16-bits-design/ui/button';
+
+<EmptyState
+  title="No deployments yet"
+  headingLevel={3}
+  action={<Button size="sm">Create deployment</Button>}
+>
+  Create a deployment to connect a repository and start tracking releases.
+</EmptyState>
+```
+
 ### Spinner
 
 Use `Spinner` for indeterminate waits. Its required label is announced through a polite live region, can remain visible or be visually hidden, and the stepped animation becomes a static bar when reduced motion is requested.
diff --git a/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ember.png b/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ember.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e46dbd
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ember.png differ
diff --git a/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ocean.png b/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ocean.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82690f7
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/evidence/issue-5-empty-state-ocean.png differ
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f693751..21ea813 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@
       "import": "./dist/dialog.js",
       "require": "./dist/dialog.cjs"
     },
+    "./empty-state": {
+      "types": "./dist/empty-state.d.ts",
+      "import": "./dist/empty-state.js",
+      "require": "./dist/empty-state.cjs"
+    },
     "./input": {
       "types": "./dist/input.d.ts",
       "import": "./dist/input.js",
diff --git a/scripts/verify-package.mjs b/scripts/verify-package.mjs
index 5a65a56..512a176 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-package.mjs
+++ b/scripts/verify-package.mjs
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ const esm = await import('@16-bits-design/ui');
 const esmAlert = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/alert');
 const esmCard = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/card');
 const esmTheme = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/theme');
+const esmEmptyState = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state');
 const esmSpinner = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/spinner');
 const esmSegmented = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/segmented');
 const esmTable = await import('@16-bits-design/ui/table');
 
-if (esm.Alert !== esmAlert.Alert || esm.Card !== esmCard.Card || esm.Segmented !== esmSegmented.Segmented || esm.Spinner !== esmSpinner.Spinner || esm.ThemeProvider !== esmTheme.ThemeProvider || esm.Table !== esmTable.Table) {
+if (esm.Alert !== esmAlert.Alert || esm.Card !== esmCard.Card || esm.EmptyState !== esmEmptyState.EmptyState || esm.Segmented !== esmSegmented.Segmented || esm.Spinner !== esmSpinner.Spinner || esm.ThemeProvider !== esmTheme.ThemeProvider || esm.Table !== esmTable.Table) {
   throw new Error('ESM root exports do not resolve to the public component subpaths.');
 }
 
@@ -34,11 +35,12 @@ const cjs = require('@16-bits-design/ui');
 const cjsAlert = require('@16-bits-design/ui/alert');
 const cjsCard = require('@16-bits-design/ui/card');
 const cjsTheme = require('@16-bits-design/ui/theme');
+const cjsEmptyState = require('@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state');
 const cjsSpinner = require('@16-bits-design/ui/spinner');
 const cjsSegmented = require('@16-bits-design/ui/segmented');
 const cjsTable = require('@16-bits-design/ui/table');
 
-if (cjs.Alert !== cjsAlert.Alert || cjs.Card !== cjsCard.Card || cjs.Segmented !== cjsSegmented.Segmented || cjs.Spinner !== cjsSpinner.Spinner || cjs.ThemeProvider !== cjsTheme.ThemeProvider || cjs.Table !== cjsTable.Table) {
+if (cjs.Alert !== cjsAlert.Alert || cjs.Card !== cjsCard.Card || cjs.EmptyState !== cjsEmptyState.EmptyState || cjs.Segmented !== cjsSegmented.Segmented || cjs.Spinner !== cjsSpinner.Spinner || cjs.ThemeProvider !== cjsTheme.ThemeProvider || cjs.Table !== cjsTable.Table) {
   throw new Error('CommonJS root exports do not resolve to the public component subpaths.');
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/EmptyState.stories.tsx b/src/components/EmptyState.stories.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5521f11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/EmptyState.stories.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import type { Meta, StoryObj } from '@storybook/react-vite';
+import { Button } from './Button';
+import { EmptyState } from './EmptyState';
+
+const meta = {
+  title: 'Components/EmptyState',
+  component: EmptyState,
+  tags: ['autodocs'],
+  args: {
+    title: 'No deployments yet',
+    headingLevel: 3,
+    children: 'Create a deployment to connect a repository and start tracking releases.',
+  },
+  argTypes: {
+    headingLevel: { control: 'inline-radio', options: [2, 3, 4] },
+    action: { control: false },
+    illustration: { control: false },
+  },
+} satisfies Meta<typeof EmptyState>;
+
+export default meta;
+type Story = StoryObj<typeof meta>;
+
+export const Playground: Story = {
+  render: (args) => <EmptyState {...args} action={<Button size="sm">Create deployment</Button>} />,
+};
+
+export const FilteredResults: Story = {
+  render: () => (
+    <EmptyState title="No matching deployments">
+      No deployments match the current owner and status filters. Adjust the filters to see more results.
+    </EmptyState>
+  ),
+};
+
+export const CustomIllustration: Story = {
+  render: () => (
+    <EmptyState
+      title="Inbox cleared"
+      illustration={<span className="story-empty-glyph" aria-hidden="true">✓</span>}
+      action={<Button variant="secondary" size="sm">View archive</Button>}
+    >
+      There are no pending review requests. Completed reviews remain available in the archive.
+    </EmptyState>
+  ),
+};
+
+export const InContext: Story = {
+  render: () => (
+    <section className="story-section" style={{ width: 'min(100%, 620px)' }}>
+      <p className="story-label">Deployment history</p>
+      <EmptyState
+        title="No deployments yet"
+        action={<Button size="sm">Create deployment</Button>}
+      >
+        Create a deployment to connect a repository and start tracking releases.
+      </EmptyState>
+    </section>
+  ),
+};
+
+export const NarrowViewport: Story = {
+  render: () => (
+    <div style={{ maxWidth: 280 }}>
+      <EmptyState
+        title="No matching deployments were found"
+        action={<Button size="sm" fullWidth>Clear filters</Button>}
+      >
+        Adjust the owner and status filters to see deployments from the rest of the workspace.
+      </EmptyState>
+    </div>
+  ),
+};
diff --git a/src/components/EmptyState.tsx b/src/components/EmptyState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8eb3e78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/EmptyState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { forwardRef } from 'react';
+import type { HTMLAttributes, ReactNode } from 'react';
+import { cn } from '../lib/cn';
+
+export type EmptyStateHeadingLevel = 2 | 3 | 4;
+
+export type EmptyStateProps = Omit<HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>, 'title'> & {
+  title: ReactNode;
+  headingLevel?: EmptyStateHeadingLevel;
+  illustration?: ReactNode;
+  action?: ReactNode;
+};
+
+function PixelMotif() {
+  return (
+    <span className="bits-empty-state__motif" aria-hidden="true">
+      <span />
+      <span />
+      <span />
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
+export const EmptyState = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, EmptyStateProps>(
+  (
+    {
+      title,
+      headingLevel = 3,
+      illustration,
+      action,
+      children,
+      className,
+      ...props
+    },
+    ref,
+  ) => {
+    const Heading = `h${headingLevel}` as const;
+
+    return (
+      <div {...props} ref={ref} className={cn('bits-component bits-empty-state', className)}>
+        <div className="bits-empty-state__illustration">
+          {illustration ?? <PixelMotif />}
+        </div>
+        <div className="bits-empty-state__copy">
+          <Heading className="bits-empty-state__title">{title}</Heading>
+          {children === undefined ? null : (
+            <div className="bits-empty-state__description">{children}</div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+        {action === undefined ? null : <div className="bits-empty-state__action">{action}</div>}
+      </div>
+    );
+  },
+);
+EmptyState.displayName = 'EmptyState';
diff --git a/src/components/components.test.tsx b/src/components/components.test.tsx
index a3da411..ab3649d 100644
--- a/src/components/components.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/components.test.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { Badge } from './Badge';
 import { Button } from './Button';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardTitle } from './Card';
 import { Dialog } from './Dialog';
+import { EmptyState } from './EmptyState';
 import { Input } from './Field';
 import { Meter } from './Meter';
 import { Select } from './Select';
@@ -89,6 +90,23 @@ describe('form controls', () => {
 });
 
 describe('display components', () => {
+  it('renders an empty state with document-aware heading and action', () => {
+    render(
+      <EmptyState
+        title="No deployments yet"
+        headingLevel={2}
+        action={<button>Create deployment</button>}
+      >
+        Connect a repository to begin.
+      </EmptyState>,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { level: 2, name: 'No deployments yet' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Connect a repository to begin.')).toHaveClass('bits-empty-state__description');
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Create deployment' })).toBeEnabled();
+    expect(document.querySelector('.bits-empty-state__motif')).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+  });
+
   it('announces indeterminate loading with a polite busy status', () => {
     render(<Spinner label="Loading deployments" />);
     const status = screen.getByRole('status');
diff --git a/src/entries/empty-state.ts b/src/entries/empty-state.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a639fa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/entries/empty-state.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+export { EmptyState } from '../components/EmptyState';
+export type { EmptyStateHeadingLevel, EmptyStateProps } from '../components/EmptyState';
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 5ad8a96..3a5240b 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ export type { CardProps, CardTone, CardVariant } from '@16-bits-design/ui/card';
 export { Dialog } from '@16-bits-design/ui/dialog';
 export type { DialogProps, DialogTone } from '@16-bits-design/ui/dialog';
 
+export { EmptyState } from '@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state';
+export type { EmptyStateHeadingLevel, EmptyStateProps } from '@16-bits-design/ui/empty-state';
+
 export { Input } from '@16-bits-design/ui/input';
 export type { FieldStatus, InputProps } from '@16-bits-design/ui/input';
 
diff --git a/src/stories/story.css b/src/stories/story.css
index 8477232..b0a9905 100644
--- a/src/stories/story.css
+++ b/src/stories/story.css
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ body { margin: 0; background: var(--bits-surface); color: var(--bits-text); }
 .story-subheading { margin: 0; font: 400 13px/1 var(--bits-font-display); }
 .story-body { margin: 0; font-size: 12px; }
 .story-card { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 8px; min-width: 180px; }
+.story-empty-glyph { display: grid; place-items: center; width: 36px; height: 36px; background: var(--bits-success); color: var(--bits-ink); font: 400 13px/1 var(--bits-font-display); }
 .story-table-person { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; white-space: nowrap; }
 .story-theme-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(280px, 1fr)); min-height: 360px; }
 .story-theme-preview { padding: 32px; background: var(--bits-surface); }
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index b8e32b5..13e603e 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@
   80% { transform: translateX(2px); }
 }
 
+@keyframes bits-blink {
+  0%, 49% { opacity: 1; }
+  50%, 100% { opacity: 0; }
+}
+
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   .bits-reset *,
   .bits-reset *::before,
@@ -375,6 +380,22 @@
 .bits-card__header + .bits-card__content { padding-top: 14px; }
 .bits-card__footer { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: flex-end; gap: 9px; padding: 13px 18px; border-top: var(--bits-border-width) solid var(--bits-line); }
 
+.bits-empty-state { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--bits-space-4); width: 100%; padding: calc(var(--bits-space-6) * 2) var(--bits-space-5); color: var(--bits-text); text-align: center; }
+.bits-empty-state__illustration { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; min-height: 56px; color: var(--bits-primary); }
+.bits-empty-state__motif { position: relative; display: block; width: 56px; height: 56px; }
+.bits-empty-state__motif span { position: absolute; display: block; }
+.bits-empty-state__motif span:nth-child(1) { inset: 0; background: var(--bits-line); }
+.bits-empty-state__motif span:nth-child(2) { inset: 6.25%; background: var(--bits-panel); }
+.bits-empty-state__motif span:nth-child(3) { top: 62.5%; right: 25%; left: 25%; height: 9.4%; background: var(--bits-line); animation: bits-blink 1.2s steps(1) infinite; }
+.bits-empty-state__copy { display: flex; align-items: center; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--bits-space-2); }
+.bits-empty-state__title { margin: 0; color: var(--bits-text-soft); font: 400 var(--bits-font-size-h4)/1.2 var(--bits-font-display); }
+.bits-empty-state__description { max-width: 46ch; color: var(--bits-text-muted); font-size: var(--bits-font-size-small); line-height: 1.6; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
+.bits-empty-state__action { display: flex; justify-content: center; max-width: 100%; }
+@media (max-width: 480px) {
+  .bits-empty-state { padding: var(--bits-space-6) var(--bits-space-3); }
+  .bits-empty-state__action { width: 100%; }
+}
+
 .bits-table-container { width: 100%; max-width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; border: var(--bits-border-width) solid var(--bits-line); background: var(--bits-panel); color: var(--bits-text); scrollbar-color: var(--bits-line-strong) var(--bits-surface); }
 .bits-table-container:focus-visible { outline: none; box-shadow: var(--bits-focus-ring); }
 .bits-table { width: 100%; border-spacing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; color: var(--bits-text-soft); font: 400 var(--bits-font-size-body)/1.5 var(--bits-font-body); text-align: start; }
diff --git a/tsup.config.ts b/tsup.config.ts
index 4a83a9f..182d201 100644
--- a/tsup.config.ts
+++ b/tsup.config.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
     button: 'src/entries/button.ts',
     card: 'src/entries/card.ts',
     dialog: 'src/entries/dialog.ts',
+    'empty-state': 'src/entries/empty-state.ts',
     input: 'src/entries/input.ts',
     meter: 'src/entries/meter.ts',
     select: 'src/entries/select.ts',