diff --git a/circuitbreaker/breaker.go b/circuitbreaker/breaker.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68a2695
--- /dev/null
+++ b/circuitbreaker/breaker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+package circuitbreaker
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.codelab.vc/pkg/httpx/middleware"
+)
+
+// ErrCircuitOpen is returned by Allow when the breaker is in the Open state.
+var ErrCircuitOpen = errors.New("httpx: circuit breaker is open")
+
+// State represents the current state of a circuit breaker.
+type State int
+
+const (
+	StateClosed   State = iota // normal operation
+	StateOpen                  // failing, reject requests
+	StateHalfOpen              // testing recovery
+)
+
+// String returns a human-readable name for the state.
+func (s State) String() string {
+	switch s {
+	case StateClosed:
+		return "closed"
+	case StateOpen:
+		return "open"
+	case StateHalfOpen:
+		return "half-open"
+	default:
+		return "unknown"
+	}
+}
+
+// Breaker implements a per-endpoint circuit breaker state machine.
+//
+// State transitions:
+//
+//	Closed   → Open:     after failureThreshold consecutive failures
+//	Open     → HalfOpen: after openDuration passes
+//	HalfOpen → Closed:   on success
+//	HalfOpen → Open:     on failure (timer resets)
+type Breaker struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	opts options
+
+	state       State
+	failures    int // consecutive failure count (Closed state)
+	openedAt    time.Time
+	halfOpenCur int // current in-flight half-open requests
+}
+
+// NewBreaker creates a Breaker with the given options.
+func NewBreaker(opts ...Option) *Breaker {
+	o := defaults()
+	for _, fn := range opts {
+		fn(&o)
+	}
+	return &Breaker{opts: o}
+}
+
+// State returns the current state of the breaker.
+func (b *Breaker) State() State {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+	return b.stateLocked()
+}
+
+// stateLocked returns the effective state, promoting Open → HalfOpen when the
+// open duration has elapsed. Caller must hold b.mu.
+func (b *Breaker) stateLocked() State {
+	if b.state == StateOpen && time.Since(b.openedAt) >= b.opts.openDuration {
+		b.state = StateHalfOpen
+		b.halfOpenCur = 0
+	}
+	return b.state
+}
+
+// Allow checks whether a request is permitted. If allowed it returns a done
+// callback that the caller MUST invoke with the result of the request. If the
+// breaker is open, it returns ErrCircuitOpen.
+func (b *Breaker) Allow() (done func(success bool), err error) {
+	b.mu.Lock()
+	defer b.mu.Unlock()
+
+	switch b.stateLocked() {
+	case StateClosed:
+		// always allow
+	case StateOpen:
+		return nil, ErrCircuitOpen
+	case StateHalfOpen:
+		if b.halfOpenCur >= b.opts.halfOpenMax {
+			return nil, ErrCircuitOpen
+		}
+		b.halfOpenCur++
+	}
+
+	return b.doneFunc(), nil
+}
+
+// doneFunc returns the callback for a single in-flight request. Caller must
+// hold b.mu when calling doneFunc, but the returned function acquires the lock
+// itself.
+func (b *Breaker) doneFunc() func(success bool) {
+	var once sync.Once
+	return func(success bool) {
+		once.Do(func() {
+			b.mu.Lock()
+			defer b.mu.Unlock()
+			b.record(success)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// record processes the outcome of a single request. Caller must hold b.mu.
+func (b *Breaker) record(success bool) {
+	switch b.state {
+	case StateClosed:
+		if success {
+			b.failures = 0
+			return
+		}
+		b.failures++
+		if b.failures >= b.opts.failureThreshold {
+			b.tripLocked()
+		}
+
+	case StateHalfOpen:
+		b.halfOpenCur--
+		if success {
+			b.state = StateClosed
+			b.failures = 0
+		} else {
+			b.tripLocked()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// tripLocked transitions to the Open state and records the timestamp.
+func (b *Breaker) tripLocked() {
+	b.state = StateOpen
+	b.openedAt = time.Now()
+	b.halfOpenCur = 0
+}
+
+// Transport returns a middleware that applies per-host circuit breaking. It
+// maintains an internal map of host → *Breaker so each target host is tracked
+// independently.
+func Transport(opts ...Option) middleware.Middleware {
+	var hosts sync.Map // map[string]*Breaker
+
+	return func(next http.RoundTripper) http.RoundTripper {
+		return middleware.RoundTripperFunc(func(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+			host := req.URL.Host
+
+			val, _ := hosts.LoadOrStore(host, NewBreaker(opts...))
+			cb := val.(*Breaker)
+
+			done, err := cb.Allow()
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+
+			resp, rtErr := next.RoundTrip(req)
+			done(rtErr == nil && resp != nil && resp.StatusCode < 500)
+
+			return resp, rtErr
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/circuitbreaker/breaker_test.go b/circuitbreaker/breaker_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0388a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/circuitbreaker/breaker_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+package circuitbreaker
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.codelab.vc/pkg/httpx/middleware"
+)
+
+func mockTransport(fn func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error)) http.RoundTripper {
+	return middleware.RoundTripperFunc(fn)
+}
+
+func okResponse() *http.Response {
+	return &http.Response{
+		StatusCode: http.StatusOK,
+		Body:       io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader("")),
+		Header:     make(http.Header),
+	}
+}
+
+func errResponse(code int) *http.Response {
+	return &http.Response{
+		StatusCode: code,
+		Body:       io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader("")),
+		Header:     make(http.Header),
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_StartsInClosedState(t *testing.T) {
+	b := NewBreaker()
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateClosed {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateClosed)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_TransitionsToOpenAfterThreshold(t *testing.T) {
+	const threshold = 3
+	b := NewBreaker(
+		WithFailureThreshold(threshold),
+		WithOpenDuration(time.Hour), // long duration so it stays open
+	)
+
+	for i := 0; i < threshold; i++ {
+		done, err := b.Allow()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("iteration %d: Allow returned error: %v", i, err)
+		}
+		done(false)
+	}
+
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateOpen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_OpenRejectsRequests(t *testing.T) {
+	b := NewBreaker(
+		WithFailureThreshold(1),
+		WithOpenDuration(time.Hour),
+	)
+
+	// Trip the breaker.
+	done, err := b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Allow returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	// Subsequent requests should be rejected.
+	_, err = b.Allow()
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrCircuitOpen) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want %v", err, ErrCircuitOpen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_TransitionsToHalfOpenAfterDuration(t *testing.T) {
+	const openDuration = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	b := NewBreaker(
+		WithFailureThreshold(1),
+		WithOpenDuration(openDuration),
+	)
+
+	// Trip the breaker.
+	done, err := b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateOpen)
+	}
+
+	// Wait for the open duration to elapse.
+	time.Sleep(openDuration + 10*time.Millisecond)
+
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateHalfOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateHalfOpen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_HalfOpenToClosedOnSuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	const openDuration = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	b := NewBreaker(
+		WithFailureThreshold(1),
+		WithOpenDuration(openDuration),
+	)
+
+	// Trip the breaker.
+	done, err := b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	// Wait for half-open.
+	time.Sleep(openDuration + 10*time.Millisecond)
+
+	// A successful request in half-open should close the breaker.
+	done, err = b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Allow in half-open returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(true)
+
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateClosed {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateClosed)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBreaker_HalfOpenToOpenOnFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	const openDuration = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	b := NewBreaker(
+		WithFailureThreshold(1),
+		WithOpenDuration(openDuration),
+	)
+
+	// Trip the breaker.
+	done, err := b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	// Wait for half-open.
+	time.Sleep(openDuration + 10*time.Millisecond)
+
+	// A failed request in half-open should re-open the breaker.
+	done, err = b.Allow()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Allow in half-open returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+	done(false)
+
+	if s := b.State(); s != StateOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("state = %v, want %v", s, StateOpen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTransport_PerHostBreakers(t *testing.T) {
+	const threshold = 2
+
+	base := mockTransport(func(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		if req.URL.Host == "failing.example.com" {
+			return errResponse(http.StatusInternalServerError), nil
+		}
+		return okResponse(), nil
+	})
+
+	rt := Transport(
+		WithFailureThreshold(threshold),
+		WithOpenDuration(time.Hour),
+	)(base)
+
+	t.Run("failing host trips breaker", func(t *testing.T) {
+		for i := 0; i < threshold; i++ {
+			req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://failing.example.com/test", nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			resp, err := rt.RoundTrip(req)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("iteration %d: unexpected error: %v", i, err)
+			}
+			resp.Body.Close()
+		}
+
+		// Next request to failing host should be rejected.
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://failing.example.com/test", nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		_, err = rt.RoundTrip(req)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrCircuitOpen) {
+			t.Fatalf("err = %v, want %v", err, ErrCircuitOpen)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("healthy host is unaffected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://healthy.example.com/test", nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		resp, err := rt.RoundTrip(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+		}
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+			t.Errorf("status = %d, want %d", resp.StatusCode, http.StatusOK)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestTransport_SuccessResetsFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	callCount := 0
+	base := mockTransport(func(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		callCount++
+		// Fail on odd calls, succeed on even.
+		if callCount%2 == 1 {
+			return errResponse(http.StatusInternalServerError), nil
+		}
+		return okResponse(), nil
+	})
+
+	rt := Transport(
+		WithFailureThreshold(3),
+		WithOpenDuration(time.Hour),
+	)(base)
+
+	// Alternate fail/success — should never trip because successes reset the
+	// consecutive failure counter.
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "https://host.example.com/test", nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		resp, err := rt.RoundTrip(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("iteration %d: unexpected error (circuit should not be open): %v", i, err)
+		}
+		resp.Body.Close()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/circuitbreaker/options.go b/circuitbreaker/options.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57bd770
--- /dev/null
+++ b/circuitbreaker/options.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package circuitbreaker
+
+import "time"
+
+type options struct {
+	failureThreshold int           // consecutive failures to trip
+	openDuration     time.Duration // how long to stay open before half-open
+	halfOpenMax      int           // max concurrent requests in half-open
+}
+
+func defaults() options {
+	return options{
+		failureThreshold: 5,
+		openDuration:     30 * time.Second,
+		halfOpenMax:      1,
+	}
+}
+
+// Option configures a Breaker.
+type Option func(*options)
+
+// WithFailureThreshold sets the number of consecutive failures required to
+// trip the breaker from Closed to Open. Default is 5.
+func WithFailureThreshold(n int) Option {
+	return func(o *options) {
+		if n > 0 {
+			o.failureThreshold = n
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// WithOpenDuration sets how long the breaker stays in the Open state before
+// transitioning to HalfOpen. Default is 30s.
+func WithOpenDuration(d time.Duration) Option {
+	return func(o *options) {
+		if d > 0 {
+			o.openDuration = d
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// WithHalfOpenMax sets the maximum number of concurrent probe requests
+// allowed while the breaker is in the HalfOpen state. Default is 1.
+func WithHalfOpenMax(n int) Option {
+	return func(o *options) {
+		if n > 0 {
+			o.halfOpenMax = n
+		}
+	}
+}