diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 7c7036b..631acd3 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -56,11 +56,14 @@ func main() {
 	depsMode := flag.Bool("deps", false, "Enable dependency graph mode (function/import analysis)")
 	diffMode := flag.Bool("diff", false, "Only show files changed vs main (or use --ref to specify branch)")
 	diffRef := flag.String("ref", "main", "Branch/ref to compare against (use with --diff)")
+	depthLimit := flag.Int("depth", 0, "Limit tree depth (0 = unlimited)")
 	jsonMode := flag.Bool("json", false, "Output JSON (for Python renderer compatibility)")
 	debugMode := flag.Bool("debug", false, "Show debug info (gitignore loading, paths, etc.)")
 	watchMode := flag.Bool("watch", false, "Live file watcher daemon (experimental)")
 	importersMode := flag.String("importers", "", "Check file impact: who imports it, is it a hub?")
 	helpMode := flag.Bool("help", false, "Show help")
+	// Short flag aliases
+	flag.IntVar(depthLimit, "d", 0, "Limit tree depth (shorthand)")
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	if *helpMode {
@@ -75,6 +78,7 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Println("  --deps              Dependency flow map (functions & imports)")
 		fmt.Println("  --diff              Only show files changed vs main")
 		fmt.Println("  --ref <branch>      Branch to compare against (default: main)")
+		fmt.Println("  --depth, -d <n>     Limit tree depth (0 = unlimited)")
 		fmt.Println("  --importers <file>  Check file impact (who imports it, hub status)")
 		fmt.Println()
 		fmt.Println("Examples:")
@@ -84,6 +88,7 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Println("  codemap --deps /path/to/proj    # Dependency flow map")
 		fmt.Println("  codemap --diff                  # Files changed vs main")
 		fmt.Println("  codemap --diff --ref develop    # Files changed vs develop")
+		fmt.Println("  codemap --depth 3 .             # Show only 3 levels deep")
 		fmt.Println("  codemap --importers scanner/types.go  # Check file impact")
 		fmt.Println()
 		fmt.Println("Hooks (for Claude Code integration):")
@@ -182,6 +187,7 @@ func main() {
 		Files:   files,
 		DiffRef: activeDiffRef,
 		Impact:  impact,
+		Depth:   *depthLimit,
 	}
 
 	// Render or output JSON
diff --git a/render/tree.go b/render/tree.go
index 3913518..dfd78d3 100644
--- a/render/tree.go
+++ b/render/tree.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ func Tree(project scanner.Project) {
 	files := project.Files
 	projectName := filepath.Base(project.Root)
 	isDiffMode := project.DiffRef != ""
+	maxDepth := project.Depth // 0 = unlimited
 
 	// Calculate stats
 	totalFiles := len(files)
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ func Tree(project scanner.Project) {
 	// Build and render tree
 	root := buildTreeStructure(files)
 	fmt.Printf("%s%s%s\n", Bold, projectName, Reset)
-	printTreeNode(root, "", true, topLarge)
+	printTreeNode(root, "", true, topLarge, 1, maxDepth)
 
 	// Print impact footer for diff mode
 	if isDiffMode && len(project.Impact) > 0 {
@@ -208,7 +209,13 @@ func Tree(project scanner.Project) {
 }
 
 // printTreeNode recursively prints tree nodes
-func printTreeNode(node *treeNode, prefix string, isLast bool, topLarge map[string]bool) {
+// currentDepth starts at 1 for the root level, maxDepth 0 means unlimited
+func printTreeNode(node *treeNode, prefix string, isLast bool, topLarge map[string]bool, currentDepth, maxDepth int) {
+	// Check if we've exceeded depth limit
+	if maxDepth > 0 && currentDepth > maxDepth {
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Separate dirs and files
 	var dirs, fileNodes []*treeNode
 	for _, child := range node.children {
@@ -289,7 +296,40 @@ func printTreeNode(node *treeNode, prefix string, isLast bool, topLarge map[stri
 		if isLastDir {
 			newPrefix = prefix + "    "
 		}
-		printTreeNode(current, newPrefix, isLastDir, topLarge)
+
+		// Check if we're at max depth and there's more content below
+		if maxDepth > 0 && currentDepth >= maxDepth {
+			// Count hidden content
+			hiddenDirs := 0
+			hiddenFiles := 0
+			for _, c := range current.children {
+				if c.isFile {
+					hiddenFiles++
+				} else {
+					hiddenDirs++
+				}
+			}
+			if hiddenDirs > 0 || hiddenFiles > 0 {
+				var parts []string
+				if hiddenDirs > 0 {
+					if hiddenDirs == 1 {
+						parts = append(parts, "1 directory")
+					} else {
+						parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d directories", hiddenDirs))
+					}
+				}
+				if hiddenFiles > 0 {
+					if hiddenFiles == 1 {
+						parts = append(parts, "1 file")
+					} else {
+						parts = append(parts, fmt.Sprintf("%d files", hiddenFiles))
+					}
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("%s└── %s... %s%s\n", newPrefix, Dim, strings.Join(parts, ", "), Reset)
+			}
+		} else {
+			printTreeNode(current, newPrefix, isLastDir, topLarge, currentDepth+1, maxDepth)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Print files as a grid (multi-column layout like Python)
diff --git a/scanner/types.go b/scanner/types.go
index 78fb8d0..859da5d 100644
--- a/scanner/types.go
+++ b/scanner/types.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type Project struct {
 	Files   []FileInfo   `json:"files"`
 	DiffRef string       `json:"diff_ref,omitempty"`
 	Impact  []ImpactInfo `json:"impact,omitempty"`
+	Depth   int          `json:"depth,omitempty"` // Max tree depth (0 = unlimited)
 }
 
 // FileAnalysis holds extracted info about a single file for deps mode.