diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
index b08b203a..8857c3b6 100644
--- a/.jules/bolt.md
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
 ## 2026-07-12 - Optimize renderTaskRow DOM allocations
 **Learning:** Caching unattached template nodes and instantiating them via `.cloneNode(false)` reduces DOM instantiation overhead in O(N) render loops significantly.
 **Action:** Apply this optimization to other hot-path rendering elements such as rows, cells, and stack containers.
+## 2026-07-27 - Optimize badge DOM allocations
+**Learning:** Expanding the caching strategy (caching unattached template nodes and instantiating them via `.cloneNode(false)`) to cell renderers like owner and status badges reduces JS-to-C++ instantiation overhead during O(N) DOM rendering loops.
+**Action:** Always apply template caching to any repeatedly constructed DOM elements in list or table rendering loops.
diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index b8c62279..82077364 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -952,6 +952,8 @@ function createWarningBadge(warning) {
 
 const persistentOwnerColorMap = new Map();
 
+let ownerBadgeTemplate = null;
+
 function createOwnerCellContent(owner) {
   if (!owner) {
     return createEmptyCell();
@@ -961,18 +963,26 @@ function createOwnerCellContent(owner) {
     persistentOwnerColorMap.set(owner, OWNER_COLORS[persistentOwnerColorMap.size % OWNER_COLORS.length]);
   }
 
-  const badge = document.createElement('span');
-  badge.className = 'owner-badge';
+  if (!ownerBadgeTemplate) {
+    ownerBadgeTemplate = document.createElement('span');
+    ownerBadgeTemplate.className = 'owner-badge';
+  }
+  const badge = ownerBadgeTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   badge.style.background = persistentOwnerColorMap.get(owner);
   badge.textContent = owner;
   return badge;
 }
 
+let statusBadgeTemplate = null;
+
 function createStatusCellContent(progressState) {
   if (!progressState.label) {
     return createEmptyCell();
   }
-  const badge = document.createElement('span');
+  if (!statusBadgeTemplate) {
+    statusBadgeTemplate = document.createElement('span');
+  }
+  const badge = statusBadgeTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   badge.className = `status-badge ${progressState.className}`;
   badge.textContent = progressState.label;
   if (progressState.description) {