diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 2706bc2..6c49285 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ The plugin handles two different query scenarios:
 - Global `$displayed_post_ids` array accumulates IDs from rendered query loops
 - Subsequent query loops with `excludeDisplayed` enabled filter out tracked IDs via `post__not_in`
 
+### Editor Viewport Placeholder (Lazy Rendering)
+`withViewportPlaceholder` HOC (registered last, so it wraps the plugin's other `core/query` enhancements) replaces off-screen Query Loop blocks with a cheap `<Placeholder>` that fires no REST request. Mounting the real block triggers the core preview fetch, so on a page with many query loops this defers those requests until each block scrolls near the viewport. An `IntersectionObserver` — constructed from the target node's own `ownerDocument.defaultView` so it works whether or not the canvas is iframed — swaps in the real block on intersection (with a 300px `rootMargin` preload). Selecting a block (e.g. right after insertion or via List View) renders it immediately, and once rendered a block stays rendered (latched via state) so scrolling away neither discards edits nor refetches.
+
 ### Editor Preview Synchronization
 `withPostTemplateStyles` HOC injects an inline `<style>` tag that hides posts outside each post template's slice in the editor preview using `nth-of-type` selectors. It accounts for both query-level `perPage` (inherited queries) and post-template-level `perPage` (multiple post templates), plus an offset for preceding templates.
 
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@ The plugin provides a PHP API for registering custom query presets that can be s
 - `tests/e2e/multiple-post-templates.spec.js` - E2E tests for multiple post templates
 - `tests/e2e/unique-query-id.spec.js` - E2E tests for query ID deduplication
 - `tests/e2e/exclude-with-post-in.spec.js` - E2E tests for exclusion with post__in queries
+- `tests/e2e/viewport-placeholder.spec.js` - E2E tests for lazy viewport placeholder rendering
 
 ## Testing Environment
 
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 3bbeb4a..e4d1b9a 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -2,17 +2,26 @@
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
 import { addFilter } from '@wordpress/hooks';
-import { createHigherOrderComponent } from '@wordpress/compose';
+import { createHigherOrderComponent, useMergeRefs } from '@wordpress/compose';
 import { useSelect } from '@wordpress/data';
-import { InspectorControls } from '@wordpress/block-editor';
+import { InspectorControls, useBlockProps } from '@wordpress/block-editor';
 import {
 	PanelBody,
 	ToggleControl,
 	TextControl,
 	SelectControl,
+	Placeholder,
+	Spinner,
 } from '@wordpress/components';
 import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
-import { createContext, useContext, useEffect } from '@wordpress/element';
+import {
+	createContext,
+	useContext,
+	useEffect,
+	useState,
+	useRef,
+	useCallback,
+} from '@wordpress/element';
 
 /**
  * Styles
@@ -226,11 +235,13 @@ const withInspectorControls = createHigherOrderComponent( ( BlockEdit ) => {
 		}
 
 		const { hmQueryLoop = {}, query = {} } = attributes;
-		const { perPage, hideOnPaged, excludeDisplayed, useElasticPress } = hmQueryLoop;
+		const { perPage, hideOnPaged, excludeDisplayed, useElasticPress } =
+			hmQueryLoop;
 
 		const isInheritQuery = query.inherit || false;
 		const maxPerPage = window.hmQueryLoopSettings?.postsPerPage || 10;
-		const elasticPressAvailable = window.hmQueryLoopSettings?.elasticPressAvailable ?? false;
+		const elasticPressAvailable =
+			window.hmQueryLoopSettings?.elasticPressAvailable ?? false;
 
 		// Get available presets from PHP.
 		const availablePresets = window.hmQueryLoopPresets?.presets || [];
@@ -626,3 +637,134 @@ addFilter(
 	'hm-query-loop/with-post-template-styles',
 	withPostTemplateStyles
 );
+
+/**
+ * Placeholder shown in place of a Query Loop block until it scrolls into view.
+ *
+ * Rendering the real block edit component mounts the core Query Loop, which
+ * immediately fires a REST request to fetch its posts for the preview. On a
+ * page with many query loops every one of those requests is dispatched up
+ * front on editor load, which is slow and can hammer the server. This
+ * placeholder is cheap to render and issues no requests; the real block is
+ * only mounted once the placeholder intersects the viewport.
+ *
+ * The IntersectionObserver is created from the target node's own
+ * `defaultView` so the correct viewport is used whether or not the editor
+ * canvas is rendered inside an iframe (the site editor and the block-themed
+ * post editor both iframe the canvas). If IntersectionObserver is
+ * unavailable the block is rendered immediately as a safe fallback.
+ *
+ * @param {Object}   props                 Component props.
+ * @param {Function} props.onEnterViewport Called once the placeholder is at
+ *                                         or near the viewport.
+ * @return {Element} Placeholder element.
+ */
+function QueryLoopPlaceholder( { onEnterViewport } ) {
+	const observerRef = useRef();
+	const blockProps = useBlockProps( {
+		className: 'hm-query-loop-viewport-placeholder',
+	} );
+	const mergedRef = useMergeRefs( [ blockProps.ref, observerRef ] );
+
+	useEffect( () => {
+		const node = observerRef.current;
+		if ( ! node ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		const view = node.ownerDocument?.defaultView;
+		if ( ! view?.IntersectionObserver ) {
+			// No observer support: fall back to rendering the block now.
+			onEnterViewport();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		const observer = new view.IntersectionObserver(
+			( entries ) => {
+				if ( entries.some( ( entry ) => entry.isIntersecting ) ) {
+					onEnterViewport();
+				}
+			},
+			// Load a little before the block is actually on screen so the
+			// preview is ready by the time the user scrolls to it.
+			{ rootMargin: '300px 0px' }
+		);
+		observer.observe( node );
+
+		return () => observer.disconnect();
+	}, [ onEnterViewport ] );
+
+	return (
+		<div { ...blockProps } ref={ mergedRef }>
+			<Placeholder
+				label={ __( 'Query Loop', 'hm-query-loop' ) }
+				instructions={ __(
+					'The preview will load when this block scrolls into view.',
+					'hm-query-loop'
+				) }
+			>
+				<Spinner />
+			</Placeholder>
+		</div>
+	);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Defer rendering of off-screen Query Loop blocks in the editor.
+ *
+ * Until a Query Loop scrolls near the viewport it is replaced with a cheap
+ * placeholder that fires no API requests. Selecting the block (e.g. right
+ * after inserting it, or via the List View) renders it immediately, and once
+ * a block has been rendered it stays rendered so scrolling away does not
+ * discard edits or trigger a refetch.
+ *
+ * This HOC is registered last so it wraps the plugin's other Query Loop
+ * enhancements: while the placeholder is shown none of them — nor the core
+ * block itself — are mounted.
+ */
+const withViewportPlaceholder = createHigherOrderComponent( ( BlockEdit ) => {
+	return ( props ) => {
+		const { name, isSelected, clientId } = props;
+
+		if ( name !== 'core/query' ) {
+			return <BlockEdit { ...props } />;
+		}
+
+		const [ isReady, setIsReady ] = useState( false );
+		const handleEnterViewport = useCallback( () => setIsReady( true ), [] );
+
+		// The block must also render when one of its inner blocks is selected
+		// (e.g. reached through the List View), otherwise that block would be
+		// selected but never mounted for editing.
+		const hasSelectedInnerBlock = useSelect(
+			( select ) =>
+				select( 'core/block-editor' ).hasSelectedInnerBlock(
+					clientId,
+					true
+				),
+			[ clientId ]
+		);
+
+		const isActive = isSelected || hasSelectedInnerBlock;
+
+		// Latch to rendered once selected so deselecting does not collapse the
+		// block back to a placeholder and refetch.
+		useEffect( () => {
+			if ( isActive ) {
+				setIsReady( true );
+			}
+		}, [ isActive ] );
+
+		if ( isReady || isActive ) {
+			return <BlockEdit { ...props } />;
+		}
+
+		return <QueryLoopPlaceholder onEnterViewport={ handleEnterViewport } />;
+	};
+}, 'withViewportPlaceholder' );
+
+addFilter(
+	'editor.BlockEdit',
+	'hm-query-loop/with-viewport-placeholder',
+	withViewportPlaceholder
+);
diff --git a/src/index.scss b/src/index.scss
index 06c1277..677cfdb 100644
--- a/src/index.scss
+++ b/src/index.scss
@@ -23,3 +23,15 @@
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+/**
+ * Placeholder shown for off-screen Query Loop blocks until they scroll into
+ * view. Reserves vertical space so the block is tall enough to be observed and
+ * so the surrounding layout does not jump when the real block is swapped in.
+ */
+.hm-query-loop-viewport-placeholder {
+
+	.components-placeholder {
+		min-height: 200px;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/viewport-placeholder.spec.js b/tests/e2e/viewport-placeholder.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b75f245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/viewport-placeholder.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-console */
+/**
+ * Test that off-screen Query Loop blocks are replaced with a lightweight
+ * placeholder in the editor until they scroll into view.
+ *
+ * Mounting the real Query Loop block fires a REST request to fetch its posts
+ * for the preview. On a page with many query loops, rendering every one up
+ * front dispatches all of those requests on editor load. This plugin defers
+ * the off-screen blocks: they render a cheap placeholder (which issues no
+ * request) until they intersect the viewport, at which point the real block
+ * is mounted.
+ */
+const { test, expect } = require( './fixtures' );
+
+const PLACEHOLDER_SELECTOR = '.hm-query-loop-viewport-placeholder';
+
+// A single query loop followed by a tall spacer, repeated, so that the later
+// query loops start well below the fold on a standard test viewport.
+const queryLoopWithSpacer = (
+	queryId
+) => `<!-- wp:query {"queryId":${ queryId },"query":{"perPage":3,"postType":"post","inherit":false}} -->
+<div class="wp-block-query"><!-- wp:post-template -->
+<!-- wp:post-title /-->
+<!-- /wp:post-template --></div>
+<!-- /wp:query -->
+
+<!-- wp:spacer {"height":"1500px"} -->
+<div style="height:1500px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>
+<!-- /wp:spacer -->`;
+
+test.describe( 'Viewport placeholder for Query Loop blocks', () => {
+	test( 'renders placeholders for off-screen query loops and loads them on scroll', async ( {
+		page,
+		admin,
+		editor,
+	} ) => {
+		await admin.createNewPost( { postType: 'page' } );
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1500 );
+
+		// Dismiss the welcome guide / any modal if present.
+		const closeButton = page.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Close' } );
+		if (
+			await closeButton
+				.isVisible( { timeout: 1000 } )
+				.catch( () => false )
+		) {
+			await closeButton.click();
+		}
+
+		// Three query loops separated by tall spacers. The first sits in the
+		// viewport on load; the later two start below the fold.
+		await editor.setContent(
+			[
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 101 ),
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 102 ),
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 103 ),
+			].join( '\n\n' )
+		);
+
+		const canvas = page
+			.locator( 'iframe[name="editor-canvas"]' )
+			.contentFrame();
+
+		// All three query blocks should exist in the block tree.
+		const queryBlockCount = await page.evaluate(
+			() =>
+				window.wp.data
+					.select( 'core/block-editor' )
+					.getBlocksByName( 'core/query' ).length
+		);
+		expect( queryBlockCount ).toBe( 3 );
+
+		// Let the intersection observers settle for the initial viewport.
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1500 );
+
+		// At least one of the below-the-fold query loops should be showing the
+		// placeholder rather than the fully rendered block.
+		const initialPlaceholders = await canvas
+			.locator( PLACEHOLDER_SELECTOR )
+			.count();
+		expect( initialPlaceholders ).toBeGreaterThan( 0 );
+
+		// The last query loop is the furthest down the page, so it should be a
+		// placeholder before we scroll to it.
+		const lastLoopPlaceholder = canvas
+			.locator( PLACEHOLDER_SELECTOR )
+			.last();
+		await expect( lastLoopPlaceholder ).toBeVisible();
+
+		// Scroll the placeholder into view; the observer should then swap in
+		// the real block, so the placeholder count drops.
+		await lastLoopPlaceholder.scrollIntoViewIfNeeded();
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1500 );
+
+		const remainingPlaceholders = await canvas
+			.locator( PLACEHOLDER_SELECTOR )
+			.count();
+		expect( remainingPlaceholders ).toBeLessThan( initialPlaceholders );
+	} );
+
+	test( 'renders a selected query loop immediately instead of a placeholder', async ( {
+		page,
+		admin,
+		editor,
+	} ) => {
+		await admin.createNewPost( { postType: 'page' } );
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1500 );
+
+		const closeButton = page.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Close' } );
+		if (
+			await closeButton
+				.isVisible( { timeout: 1000 } )
+				.catch( () => false )
+		) {
+			await closeButton.click();
+		}
+
+		await editor.setContent(
+			[
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 201 ),
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 202 ),
+				queryLoopWithSpacer( 203 ),
+			].join( '\n\n' )
+		);
+
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1500 );
+
+		// Select the last query loop via the data store (as the List View
+		// would). A selected block must render immediately, even off-screen,
+		// so its inspector controls and content are available for editing.
+		await page.evaluate( () => {
+			const blocks = window.wp.data
+				.select( 'core/block-editor' )
+				.getBlocksByName( 'core/query' );
+			window.wp.data
+				.dispatch( 'core/block-editor' )
+				.selectBlock( blocks[ blocks.length - 1 ] );
+		} );
+
+		await page.waitForTimeout( 1000 );
+
+		const canvas = page
+			.locator( 'iframe[name="editor-canvas"]' )
+			.contentFrame();
+
+		// The selected (last) query loop should no longer be a placeholder.
+		// With three loops and the last one selected, at most the middle one
+		// can remain a placeholder.
+		const placeholders = await canvas
+			.locator( PLACEHOLDER_SELECTOR )
+			.count();
+		expect( placeholders ).toBeLessThan( 2 );
+	} );
+} );