diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/DeviceTests/Elements/SearchBar/SearchBarTests.cs b/src/Controls/tests/DeviceTests/Elements/SearchBar/SearchBarTests.cs
index 4a2fcddbde35..4bdd0f9c930c 100644
--- a/src/Controls/tests/DeviceTests/Elements/SearchBar/SearchBarTests.cs
+++ b/src/Controls/tests/DeviceTests/Elements/SearchBar/SearchBarTests.cs
@@ -188,6 +188,40 @@ await InvokeOnMainThreadAsync(() =>
 				Assert.Equal(requestedHeight, actualHeight);
 			});
 		}
+
+		[Theory(DisplayName = "SearchBar small HeightRequest keeps intrinsic minimum height on iOS/Mac")]
+		[InlineData(35)]
+		[InlineData(20)]
+		public async Task ValidateSearchBarSmallHeightRequestRendering(double requestedHeight)
+		{
+			// This test is gated to iOS/MacCatalyst 26+ where the handler clamp is applied
+			if (!OperatingSystem.IsIOSVersionAtLeast(26) && !OperatingSystem.IsMacCatalystVersionAtLeast(26))
+			{
+				return;
+			}
+
+			var searchBar = new SearchBar
+			{
+				HeightRequest = requestedHeight,
+			};
+
+			await InvokeOnMainThreadAsync(() =>
+			{
+				var handler = CreateHandler<SearchBarHandler>(searchBar);
+				var platformControl = GetPlatformControl(handler);
+
+				double actualHeight = 0;
+				double intrinsicHeight = 0;
+
+				if (platformControl is UIKit.UISearchBar uiSearchBar)
+				{
+					actualHeight = uiSearchBar.Frame.Height;
+					intrinsicHeight = uiSearchBar.IntrinsicContentSize.Height;
+				}
+
+				Assert.True(actualHeight >= intrinsicHeight, $"Expected SearchBar height to remain at least the intrinsic height ({intrinsicHeight}), but was {actualHeight} for HeightRequest={requestedHeight}.");
+			});
+		}
 #endif
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Android.Tests/snapshots/android/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Android.Tests/snapshots/android/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9759140348c2
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Android.Tests/snapshots/android/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png differ
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.HostApp/Issues/Issue35286.cs b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.HostApp/Issues/Issue35286.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ff0c195d5aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.HostApp/Issues/Issue35286.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+namespace Maui.Controls.Sample.Issues;
+
+[Issue(IssueTracker.Github, 35286, "Spacing problem with SearchBar", PlatformAffected.iOS | PlatformAffected.macOS)]
+public class Issue35286 : ContentPage
+{
+	public Issue35286()
+	{
+		var content = new VerticalStackLayout
+		{
+			Padding = 10,
+			Spacing = 10,
+			Children =
+			{
+				new Label
+				{
+					Text = "SearchBar with HeightRequest=35",
+					AutomationId = "Issue35286Label1"
+				},
+				// SearchBar with small HeightRequest - this should NOT have spacing issues
+				new SearchBar
+				{
+					Placeholder = "Search with HeightRequest=35",
+					HeightRequest = 35,
+					BackgroundColor = Colors.LightBlue,
+					AutomationId = "Issue35286SearchBar1"
+				},
+
+				new Label
+				{
+					Text = "SearchBar with HeightRequest=100",
+					AutomationId = "Issue35286Label2",
+					Margin = new Thickness(0, 20, 0, 0)
+				},
+				// SearchBar with large HeightRequest - should work normally
+				new SearchBar
+				{
+					Placeholder = "Search with HeightRequest=100",
+					HeightRequest = 100,
+					BackgroundColor = Colors.LightBlue,
+					AutomationId = "Issue35286SearchBar2"
+				},
+			}
+		};
+
+		Content = new ScrollView { Content = content };
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Mac.Tests/snapshots/mac/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Mac.Tests/snapshots/mac/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..06b553735574
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Mac.Tests/snapshots/mac/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png differ
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Shared.Tests/Tests/Issues/Issue35286.cs b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Shared.Tests/Tests/Issues/Issue35286.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ffc2026dd6bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Shared.Tests/Tests/Issues/Issue35286.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using UITest.Appium;
+using UITest.Core;
+
+namespace Microsoft.Maui.TestCases.Tests.Issues;
+
+public class Issue35286 : _IssuesUITest
+{
+	public Issue35286(TestDevice device) : base(device) { }
+
+	public override string Issue => "Spacing problem with SearchBar";
+
+	[Test]
+	[Category(UITestCategories.SearchBar)]
+	public void VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues()
+	{
+		App.WaitForElement("Issue35286Label1");
+        VerifyScreenshot();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.WinUI.Tests/snapshots/windows/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.WinUI.Tests/snapshots/windows/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9de7aff39216
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.WinUI.Tests/snapshots/windows/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png differ
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..910d28bd0b2d
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png differ
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarPlaceholderAndBackgroundColor.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarPlaceholderAndBackgroundColor.png
index 1e8d006f6f17..19ba94b17f15 100644
Binary files a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarPlaceholderAndBackgroundColor.png and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios-26/VerifySearchBarPlaceholderAndBackgroundColor.png differ
diff --git a/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f8592d4747aa
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/Controls/tests/TestCases.iOS.Tests/snapshots/ios/VerifySearchBarHeightRequestValues.png differ
diff --git a/src/Core/src/Handlers/SearchBar/SearchBarHandler.iOS.cs b/src/Core/src/Handlers/SearchBar/SearchBarHandler.iOS.cs
index d304bc5aa273..a7a882041d0b 100644
--- a/src/Core/src/Handlers/SearchBar/SearchBarHandler.iOS.cs
+++ b/src/Core/src/Handlers/SearchBar/SearchBarHandler.iOS.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 using Foundation;
 using Microsoft.Maui.Graphics;
 using UIKit;
+using static Microsoft.Maui.Primitives.Dimension;
 
 namespace Microsoft.Maui.Handlers
 {
@@ -42,8 +43,17 @@ public override Size GetDesiredSize(double widthConstraint, double heightConstra
 			{
 				PlatformView.SizeToFit();
 
+				double intrinsicHeight = PlatformView.IntrinsicContentSize.Height;
 				double constrainedWidth = ViewHandlerExtensions.ResolveConstraints(PlatformView.Frame.Width, VirtualView.Width, VirtualView.MinimumWidth, VirtualView.MaximumWidth);
-				double constrainedHeight = ViewHandlerExtensions.ResolveConstraints(PlatformView.Frame.Height, VirtualView.Height, VirtualView.MinimumHeight, VirtualView.MaximumHeight);
+				double constrainedHeight = ViewHandlerExtensions.ResolveConstraints(intrinsicHeight, VirtualView.Height, VirtualView.MinimumHeight, VirtualView.MaximumHeight);
+
+				// On iOS/MacCatalyst 26, setting SearchBar height below its intrinsic size can shrink only the background
+				// while the internal UITextField keeps its native size (platform limitation). Clamp height to the intrinsic minimum.
+				if (OperatingSystem.IsIOSVersionAtLeast(26) || OperatingSystem.IsMacCatalystVersionAtLeast(26))
+				{
+					constrainedHeight = Math.Max(constrainedHeight, intrinsicHeight);
+				}
+
 				return new Size(constrainedWidth, constrainedHeight);
 			}