diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index e9b056541f..f877f09f17 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -110,9 +110,10 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             ): ACTIONS_SCHEMA,
             cv.Exclusive(CONF_ACTIONS, group_of_exclusion=CONF_ACTIONS): ACTIONS_SCHEMA,
             cv.Optional(CONF_ENCRYPTION): _encryption_schema,
-            cv.Optional(
-                CONF_BATCH_DELAY, default="100ms"
-            ): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_BATCH_DELAY, default="100ms"): cv.All(
+                cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+                cv.Range(max=cv.TimePeriod(milliseconds=65535)),
+            ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_CLIENT_CONNECTED): automation.validate_automation(
                 single=True
             ),
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index 6ef21281ce..ebe80604dc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ void APIServer::set_port(uint16_t port) { this->port_ = port; }
 
 void APIServer::set_password(const std::string &password) { this->password_ = password; }
 
-void APIServer::set_batch_delay(uint32_t batch_delay) { this->batch_delay_ = batch_delay; }
+void APIServer::set_batch_delay(uint16_t batch_delay) { this->batch_delay_ = batch_delay; }
 
 void APIServer::send_homeassistant_service_call(const HomeassistantServiceResponse &call) {
   for (auto &client : this->clients_) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
index 729bdb1df8..3c5218af85 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class APIServer : public Component, public Controller {
   void set_port(uint16_t port);
   void set_password(const std::string &password);
   void set_reboot_timeout(uint32_t reboot_timeout);
-  void set_batch_delay(uint32_t batch_delay);
-  uint32_t get_batch_delay() const { return batch_delay_; }
+  void set_batch_delay(uint16_t batch_delay);
+  uint16_t get_batch_delay() const { return batch_delay_; }
 
   // Get reference to shared buffer for API connections
   std::vector<uint8_t> &get_shared_buffer_ref() { return shared_write_buffer_; }
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@ class APIServer : public Component, public Controller {
 
   // 4-byte aligned types
   uint32_t reboot_timeout_{300000};
-  uint32_t batch_delay_{100};
 
   // Vectors and strings (12 bytes each on 32-bit)
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<APIConnection>> clients_;
@@ -195,8 +194,9 @@ class APIServer : public Component, public Controller {
 
   // Group smaller types together
   uint16_t port_{6053};
+  uint16_t batch_delay_{100};
   bool shutting_down_ = false;
-  // 3 bytes used, 1 byte padding
+  // 5 bytes used, 3 bytes padding
 
 #ifdef USE_API_NOISE
   std::shared_ptr<APINoiseContext> noise_ctx_ = std::make_shared<APINoiseContext>();