diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9d61ced..9c3c279 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@
           "type": "string",
           "default": "",
           "description": "Your user ID for 'Assign to me'. Defaults to $USER if not set."
+        },
+        "beads.tooltipHoverDelay": {
+          "type": "number",
+          "default": 1000,
+          "minimum": 0,
+          "description": "Delay in milliseconds before showing bead description tooltip on hover. Set to 0 to disable tooltips."
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/backend/types.ts b/src/backend/types.ts
index 7a131f3..85ca3bd 100644
--- a/src/backend/types.ts
+++ b/src/backend/types.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export interface BeadsSummary {
 // Settings that can be passed to webview
 export interface WebviewSettings {
   renderMarkdown: boolean;
+  tooltipHoverDelay: number; // 0 = disabled
 }
 
 // Messages sent from extension to webview
diff --git a/src/providers/BaseViewProvider.ts b/src/providers/BaseViewProvider.ts
index b20ce53..e611fa9 100644
--- a/src/providers/BaseViewProvider.ts
+++ b/src/providers/BaseViewProvider.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ export abstract class BaseViewProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
       settings: {
         renderMarkdown: config.get<boolean>("renderMarkdown", true),
         userId,
+        tooltipHoverDelay: config.get<number>("tooltipHoverDelay", 1000),
       },
     });
 
diff --git a/src/webview/App.tsx b/src/webview/App.tsx
index be14221..836d167 100644
--- a/src/webview/App.tsx
+++ b/src/webview/App.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const initialState: AppState = {
   summary: null,
   loading: true,
   error: null,
-  settings: { renderMarkdown: true, userId: "" },
+  settings: { renderMarkdown: true, userId: "", tooltipHoverDelay: 1000 },
 };
 
 export function App(): React.ReactElement {
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export function App(): React.ReactElement {
             selectedBeadId={state.selectedBeadId}
             projects={state.projects}
             activeProject={state.project}
+            tooltipHoverDelay={state.settings.tooltipHoverDelay}
             onSelectProject={(projectId) =>
               vscode.postMessage({ type: "selectProject", projectId })
             }
diff --git a/src/webview/types.ts b/src/webview/types.ts
index 5e92379..d75df3c 100644
--- a/src/webview/types.ts
+++ b/src/webview/types.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ export interface BeadsSummary {
 export interface WebviewSettings {
   renderMarkdown: boolean;
   userId: string;
+  tooltipHoverDelay: number; // 0 = disabled
 }
 
 // Messages from extension to webview
diff --git a/src/webview/views/IssuesView.tsx b/src/webview/views/IssuesView.tsx
index 956dc69..e060bcb 100644
--- a/src/webview/views/IssuesView.tsx
+++ b/src/webview/views/IssuesView.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ interface IssuesViewProps {
   selectedBeadId: string | null;
   projects: BeadsProject[];
   activeProject: BeadsProject | null;
+  tooltipHoverDelay: number; // 0 = disabled
   onSelectProject: (projectId: string) => void;
   onSelectBead: (beadId: string) => void;
   onUpdateBead: (beadId: string, updates: Partial<Bead>) => void;
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ export function IssuesView({
   selectedBeadId,
   projects,
   activeProject,
+  tooltipHoverDelay,
   onSelectProject,
   onSelectBead,
   onUpdateBead: _onUpdateBead,
@@ -165,11 +167,15 @@ export function IssuesView({
   }, [hoveredRowId, beads]);
 
   const handleRowMouseEnter = useCallback((e: React.MouseEvent<HTMLTableRowElement>, beadId: string) => {
+    // Skip if tooltips are disabled
+    if (tooltipHoverDelay === 0) return;
+
     if (tooltipTimeoutRef.current) {
       clearTimeout(tooltipTimeoutRef.current);
     }
     const rect = e.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect();
     const tooltipWidth = 300;
+    const tooltipMaxHeight = 200;
     const padding = 8;
 
     // Position below the row, left-aligned with some offset
@@ -181,19 +187,24 @@ export function IssuesView({
       left = window.innerWidth - tooltipWidth - padding;
     }
 
-    // If tooltip would go below viewport, show above instead
-    if (top + 150 > window.innerHeight) {
-      top = rect.top - 150 - padding;
+    // Check if tooltip would overflow below viewport
+    const spaceBelow = window.innerHeight - rect.bottom - padding;
+    const spaceAbove = rect.top - padding;
+
+    if (spaceBelow < tooltipMaxHeight && spaceAbove > spaceBelow) {
+      // Position above the row when there's more space above
+      top = rect.top - tooltipMaxHeight - padding;
+      // Clamp to viewport top
       if (top < padding) {
-        top = rect.bottom + padding;
+        top = padding;
       }
     }
 
     tooltipTimeoutRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
       setHoveredRowId(beadId);
       setTooltipPosition({ top, left });
-    }, 400);
-  }, []);
+    }, tooltipHoverDelay);
+  }, [tooltipHoverDelay]);
 
   const handleRowMouseLeave = useCallback(() => {
     if (tooltipTimeoutRef.current) {