diff --git a/app/frontend/src/components/SearchPalette.tsx b/app/frontend/src/components/SearchPalette.tsx
index 3e81cb5..9da6fa4 100644
--- a/app/frontend/src/components/SearchPalette.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/src/components/SearchPalette.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router';
 import { CommandPalette, isAbortError, type CommandItem } from '@project-graphite/ui';
 import { useAuth } from '../auth';
 import { itemHref, useSpaces, type Tag } from '../spaces';
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ const pages = [
 export function SearchPalette({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
   const { request, user } = useAuth();
   const spaces = useSpaces();
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const personal = spaces.data?.find((space) => space.kind === 'personal');
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
   const [results, setResults] = useState<SearchResults>();
   const text = query.trim();
@@ -53,7 +56,22 @@ export function SearchPalette({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
 
   const matches = (label: string) => label.toLowerCase().includes(text.toLowerCase());
   const spaceName = (spaceId: string) => spaces.data?.find((space) => space.id === spaceId)?.name;
+  const actions: CommandItem[] = personal
+    ? [
+        {
+          group: 'Create',
+          id: 'new-page',
+          label: 'New page',
+          onSelect: () =>
+            void request<{ id: string }>(`/spaces/${personal.id}/notes`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({}) }).then((created) =>
+              navigate(`/notes/${created.id}`),
+            ),
+        },
+        { group: 'Create', href: `/spaces/${personal.id}/tasks`, id: 'new-task', label: 'New task' },
+      ]
+    : [];
   const items: CommandItem[] = [
+    ...actions.filter((action) => !text || matches(action.label)),
     ...(results?.items ?? []).map((item) => ({
       group: 'Items',
       hint: `${item.kind} · ${item.spaceName}${item.archived ? ' · archived' : ''}`,
diff --git a/app/frontend/src/dashboard/capture-widget.tsx b/app/frontend/src/dashboard/capture-widget.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd8ddd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/frontend/src/dashboard/capture-widget.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useAuth } from '../auth';
+import { useSpaces } from '../spaces';
+import { useAction } from '../useAction';
+import { Empty } from './widget-parts';
+
+export function Capture() {
+  const auth = useAuth();
+  const spaces = useSpaces();
+  const saving = useAction();
+  const [text, setText] = useState('');
+  const [spaceId, setSpaceId] = useState('');
+  const editable = (spaces.data ?? []).filter((space) => space.role !== 'viewer');
+  const target = spaceId || editable[0]?.id;
+
+  if (spaces.data && editable.length === 0) return <Empty>You can only view your spaces, so there is nowhere to save.</Empty>;
+
+  function save(kind: 'note' | 'task') {
+    const content = text.trim();
+    if (!content || !target) return;
+    void saving.run(async () => {
+      if (kind === 'note') {
+        await auth.request(`/spaces/${target}/notes`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({ text: content }) });
+      } else {
+        await auth.request(`/spaces/${target}/tasks`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({ title: content.split(/\r?\n/)[0]!.slice(0, 200) }) });
+      }
+      setText('');
+      return kind === 'note' ? 'Saved as a page.' : 'Saved as a task.';
+    }, 'Could not save that');
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="grid gap-2">
+      <textarea
+        aria-label="Quick note"
+        maxLength={10_000}
+        onChange={(event) => setText(event.currentTarget.value)}
+        placeholder="Write it down…"
+        rows={3}
+        value={text}
+      />
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+        {editable.length > 1 && (
+          <select aria-label="Save in" className="text-sm" onChange={(event) => setSpaceId(event.currentTarget.value)} value={target}>
+            {editable.map((space) => (
+              <option key={space.id} value={space.id}>
+                {space.name}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </select>
+        )}
+        <button className="secondary-button px-3 py-1.5 text-sm" disabled={!text.trim() || saving.busy} onClick={() => save('note')} type="button">
+          Save as page
+        </button>
+        <button className="secondary-button px-3 py-1.5 text-sm" disabled={!text.trim() || saving.busy} onClick={() => save('task')} type="button">
+          Save as task
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/app/frontend/src/dashboard/widgets.tsx b/app/frontend/src/dashboard/widgets.tsx
index d008808..bfb4299 100644
--- a/app/frontend/src/dashboard/widgets.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/src/dashboard/widgets.tsx
@@ -12,10 +12,11 @@ import { TaskRow, type Task, type TaskList } from '../tasks';
 import { useAction } from '../useAction';
 import { useResource } from '../useResource';
 import { LoadError } from '../components/LoadError';
+import { Capture } from './capture-widget';
 import { News, NewsSettings, Weather, WeatherSettings } from './outside-widgets';
 import { Empty, type SettingsProps, type WidgetProps } from './widget-parts';
 
-export type WidgetType = 'clock' | 'today' | 'tasks' | 'shortcuts' | 'recurring' | 'inbox' | 'agenda' | 'countdown' | 'focus' | 'tidy' | 'weather' | 'news';
+export type WidgetType = 'clock' | 'today' | 'tasks' | 'shortcuts' | 'recurring' | 'inbox' | 'agenda' | 'countdown' | 'focus' | 'tidy' | 'weather' | 'news' | 'capture';
 export type WidgetSize = 'small' | 'medium' | 'wide' | 'full';
 
 export interface Widget {
@@ -479,4 +480,5 @@ export const widgetKinds: Record<
   tidy: { title: 'Tidy status', size: 'small', settings: {}, View: Tidy },
   weather: { title: 'Weather', size: 'small', settings: { unit: 'celsius' }, View: Weather, Settings: WeatherSettings },
   news: { title: 'News', size: 'medium', settings: { feeds: [], count: 5 }, View: News, Settings: NewsSettings },
+  capture: { title: 'Quick note', size: 'medium', settings: {}, View: Capture },
 };
diff --git a/app/frontend/src/notes.ts b/app/frontend/src/notes.ts
index 9e86c28..34d9cb8 100644
--- a/app/frontend/src/notes.ts
+++ b/app/frontend/src/notes.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export interface Note {
   position: number;
   icon: string | null;
   pinnedAt: string | null;
+  template: boolean;
   createdAt: string;
   updatedAt: string;
 }
@@ -42,4 +43,11 @@ export function realtimeUrl() {
   return `${window.location.origin.replace(/^http/, 'ws')}/api/v1/realtime`;
 }
 
+export const builtInTemplates = [
+  ['meeting', 'Meeting notes'],
+  ['journal', 'Journal'],
+  ['project', 'Project brief'],
+  ['recipe', 'Recipe'],
+] as const;
+
 export const noteTitle = (note: { title: string }) => note.title || 'Untitled';
diff --git a/app/frontend/src/pages/NotePage.tsx b/app/frontend/src/pages/NotePage.tsx
index 05b41a5..bbb55c7 100644
--- a/app/frontend/src/pages/NotePage.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/src/pages/NotePage.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export function NotePage() {
   const backlinks = (links.data?.backlinks ?? []).filter((link) => link.kind === 'mention');
   const renaming = useAction();
   const adding = useAction();
+  const marking = useAction();
   const [history, setHistory] = useState(false);
 
   if (note.status === 404) {
@@ -66,9 +67,27 @@ export function NotePage() {
             </Fragment>
           ))}
         </nav>
-        <button className="text-button text-sm" onClick={() => setHistory(true)} type="button">
-          History
-        </button>
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-4">
+          {details.editable && (
+            <button
+              className="text-button text-sm"
+              disabled={marking.busy}
+              onClick={() =>
+                void marking.run(async () => {
+                  const saved = await auth.request<Note>(`/notes/${details.id}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: JSON.stringify({ template: !details.template }) });
+                  note.mutate((current) => ({ ...current, ...saved }));
+                  return saved.template ? 'New pages in this space can start from this one.' : 'This page is no longer a template.';
+                }, 'Could not change the page')
+              }
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {details.template ? 'Stop using as a template' : 'Use as a template'}
+            </button>
+          )}
+          <button className="text-button text-sm" onClick={() => setHistory(true)} type="button">
+            History
+          </button>
+        </div>
       </div>
       <input
         aria-label="Page title"
diff --git a/app/frontend/src/pages/spaces/SpaceNotes.tsx b/app/frontend/src/pages/spaces/SpaceNotes.tsx
index 119a62f..3b6a265 100644
--- a/app/frontend/src/pages/spaces/SpaceNotes.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/src/pages/spaces/SpaceNotes.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,30 @@
 import { Link, useNavigate } from 'react-router';
-import { EmptyState, Icon, ListSkeleton } from '@project-graphite/ui';
+import { EmptyState, Icon, ListSkeleton, Menu } from '@project-graphite/ui';
 import { useAuth } from '../../auth';
 import { LoadError } from '../../components/LoadError';
-import { flattenTree, noteTitle, type Note } from '../../notes';
+import { builtInTemplates, flattenTree, noteTitle, type Note } from '../../notes';
 import { useAction } from '../../useAction';
 import { useResource } from '../../useResource';
 import { useSpace } from './SpaceLayout';
 
+function PageRow({ depth = 0, note }: { depth?: number; note: Note }) {
+  return (
+    <li>
+      <Link
+        className="flex items-center gap-2 py-3 pr-4 text-ink no-underline hover:bg-line-soft"
+        style={{ paddingLeft: `${1 + depth * 1.25}rem` }}
+        to={`/notes/${note.id}`}
+      >
+        <span aria-hidden="true" className="w-5 shrink-0 text-center">
+          {note.icon ?? '·'}
+        </span>
+        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{noteTitle(note)}</span>
+        {note.pinnedAt && <span className="text-xs text-faint">Pinned</span>}
+      </Link>
+    </li>
+  );
+}
+
 export function SpaceNotes() {
   const auth = useAuth();
   const space = useSpace();
@@ -17,48 +35,57 @@ export function SpaceNotes() {
 
   if (notes.error) return <LoadError error={notes.error} onRetry={notes.reload} />;
   if (!notes.data) return <ListSkeleton label="Loading the pages in this space" rows={4} />;
-  const branches = flattenTree(notes.data);
+  const pages = notes.data.filter((note) => !note.template);
+  const templates = notes.data.filter((note) => note.template);
+  const branches = flattenTree(pages);
+
+  function create(body: Record<string, string>) {
+    void creating.run(async () => {
+      const created = await auth.request<Note>(`/spaces/${space.id}/notes`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(body) });
+      navigate(`/notes/${created.id}`);
+      return '';
+    }, 'Could not create the page');
+  }
 
   return (
     <div className="fade-in grid max-w-3xl gap-6">
       {editable && (
-        <button
-          className="primary-button w-fit px-3 py-2 text-sm"
-          disabled={creating.busy}
-          onClick={() =>
-            void creating.run(async () => {
-              const created = await auth.request<Note>(`/spaces/${space.id}/notes`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({}) });
-              navigate(`/notes/${created.id}`);
-              return '';
-            }, 'Could not create the page')
-          }
-          type="button"
-        >
-          <Icon name="plus" size={16} />
-          New page
-        </button>
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+          <button className="primary-button px-3 py-2 text-sm" disabled={creating.busy} onClick={() => create({})} type="button">
+            <Icon name="plus" size={16} />
+            New page
+          </button>
+          <Menu
+            items={[
+              ...builtInTemplates.map(([template, label]) => ({ label, onSelect: () => create({ template, title: label }) })),
+              ...templates.map((note, index) => ({ label: noteTitle(note), onSelect: () => create({ fromNoteId: note.id, title: note.title }), separated: index === 0 })),
+            ]}
+            label="Templates"
+            trigger="From a template"
+            triggerClassName="secondary-button px-3 py-2 text-sm"
+            triggerLabel="Start a page from a template"
+          />
+        </div>
       )}
       {branches.length === 0 ? (
         <EmptyState title="No pages yet" />
       ) : (
         <ul className="panel-rows m-0 grid list-none p-0">
           {branches.map(({ note, depth }) => (
-            <li key={note.id}>
-              <Link
-                className="flex items-center gap-2 py-3 pr-4 text-ink no-underline hover:bg-line-soft"
-                style={{ paddingLeft: `${1 + depth * 1.25}rem` }}
-                to={`/notes/${note.id}`}
-              >
-                <span aria-hidden="true" className="w-5 shrink-0 text-center">
-                  {note.icon ?? '·'}
-                </span>
-                <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{noteTitle(note)}</span>
-                {note.pinnedAt && <span className="text-xs text-faint">Pinned</span>}
-              </Link>
-            </li>
+            <PageRow depth={depth} key={note.id} note={note} />
           ))}
         </ul>
       )}
+      {templates.length > 0 && (
+        <section className="grid gap-2">
+          <h2 className="m-0 text-sm font-medium text-muted">Templates in this space</h2>
+          <ul className="panel-rows m-0 grid list-none p-0">
+            {templates.map((note) => (
+              <PageRow key={note.id} note={note} />
+            ))}
+          </ul>
+        </section>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/app/frontend/test/dashboard.spec.tsx b/app/frontend/test/dashboard.spec.tsx
index 90585e7..6321f45 100644
--- a/app/frontend/test/dashboard.spec.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/test/dashboard.spec.tsx
@@ -275,4 +275,59 @@ describe('Home dashboard', () => {
     expect(news.querySelector('a')?.getAttribute('rel')).toBe('noopener noreferrer');
     expect(news.textContent).toContain('1 of 3 feeds didn’t load.');
   });
+
+  it('saves a quick note as a page or as a task in the chosen space', async () => {
+    const quick = { ...home, layout: { widgets: [{ id: 'jot', type: 'capture', size: 'medium', settings: {} }] } };
+    const spaces = [
+      { id: 'mine', name: 'Mine', color: 'teal', kind: 'personal', role: 'owner', createdAt: '2026-10-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'flat', name: 'Flat', color: 'blue', kind: 'shared', role: 'editor', createdAt: '2026-10-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'club', name: 'Club', color: 'red', kind: 'shared', role: 'viewer', createdAt: '2026-10-01T00:00:00Z' },
+    ];
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn((input: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const path = input.replace('/api/v1', '');
+      if (path === '/auth/refresh') return Promise.resolve(json({ accessToken: 'token', user }));
+      if (path === '/spaces') return Promise.resolve(json(spaces));
+      if (path === '/me/inbox/summary') return Promise.resolve(json({ unread: 0 }));
+      if (path === '/me/dashboards') return Promise.resolve(json([quick]));
+      if (init?.method === 'POST') return Promise.resolve(json({ id: 'new' }, 201));
+      return Promise.resolve(new Response(null, { status: 404 }));
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+    await act(async () =>
+      root.render(
+        <MemoryRouter initialEntries={['/']}>
+          <AuthProvider>
+            <App />
+          </AuthProvider>
+        </MemoryRouter>,
+      ),
+    );
+    await act(async () => {});
+
+    const widget = container.querySelector('article[aria-label="Quick note"]')!;
+    const note = widget.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>('textarea')!;
+    const space = widget.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>('select')!;
+    expect([...space.options].map((option) => option.textContent)).toEqual(['Mine', 'Flat']);
+    const type = async (text: string) =>
+      act(async () => {
+        Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(HTMLTextAreaElement.prototype, 'value')!.set!.call(note, text);
+        note.dispatchEvent(new Event('input', { bubbles: true }));
+      });
+
+    await type('Call the landlord\nabout the boiler');
+    await act(async () => button('Save as page').click());
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      '/api/v1/spaces/mine/notes',
+      expect.objectContaining({ method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({ text: 'Call the landlord\nabout the boiler' }) }),
+    );
+    expect(note.value).toBe('');
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      space.value = 'flat';
+      space.dispatchEvent(new Event('change', { bubbles: true }));
+    });
+    await type('Buy bin bags\nthe big ones');
+    await act(async () => button('Save as task').click());
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/api/v1/spaces/flat/tasks', expect.objectContaining({ method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({ title: 'Buy bin bags' }) }));
+  });
 });
diff --git a/app/frontend/test/notes.spec.tsx b/app/frontend/test/notes.spec.tsx
index c325527..acac998 100644
--- a/app/frontend/test/notes.spec.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/test/notes.spec.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const note = (id: string, title: string, parentId: string | null = null, positio
   position,
   icon: null,
   pinnedAt: null,
+  template: false,
   createdAt: '2026-10-05T10:00:00Z',
   updatedAt: '2026-10-05T10:00:00Z',
 });
@@ -33,8 +34,10 @@ const pages = [note('trips', 'Trips'), note('lisbon', 'Lisbon', 'trips'), note('
 describe('Notes', () => {
   let container: HTMLDivElement;
   let root: Root;
+  let listed = pages;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    listed = pages;
     container = document.createElement('div');
     document.body.append(container);
     root = createRoot(container);
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ describe('Notes', () => {
       if (path === '/auth/refresh') return Promise.resolve(json({ accessToken: 'token', user }));
       if (path === '/spaces') return Promise.resolve(json([home]));
       if (path === '/me/inbox/summary') return Promise.resolve(json({ unread: 0 }));
-      if (path === '/spaces/home/notes' && !init?.method) return Promise.resolve(json(pages));
+      if (path === '/spaces/home/notes' && !init?.method) return Promise.resolve(json(listed));
       return Promise.resolve(route(path, init) ?? new Response(null, { status: 404 }));
     });
     vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
@@ -204,4 +207,44 @@ describe('Notes', () => {
       ['Book flights', '/spaces/home/tasks'],
     ]);
   });
+
+  it('starts pages from built-in and space templates and marks a page as a template', async () => {
+    const withTemplate = [...pages, { ...note('standup', 'Standup'), template: true }];
+    const created: unknown[] = [];
+    serve((path, init) => {
+      if (path === '/spaces/home/notes' && init?.method === 'POST') {
+        created.push(JSON.parse(String(init.body)));
+        return json(note('fresh', 'Fresh'), 201);
+      }
+      if (path === '/notes/fresh') return json({ ...note('fresh', 'Fresh'), editable: true, path: [] });
+      if (path === '/notes/standup' && init?.method === 'PATCH') {
+        expect(JSON.parse(String(init.body))).toEqual({ template: false });
+        return json({ ...note('standup', 'Standup'), template: false });
+      }
+      if (path === '/notes/standup') return json({ ...note('standup', 'Standup'), template: true, editable: true, path: [] });
+      return undefined;
+    });
+    listed = withTemplate;
+    await render('/spaces/home/notes');
+
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('Templates in this space');
+    expect([...container.querySelectorAll('main ul')][0]!.textContent).not.toContain('Standup');
+    const menu = container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('button[aria-label="Start a page from a template"]')!;
+    await act(async () => menu.click());
+    await act(async () => [...document.querySelectorAll('[role="menuitem"]')].find((item) => item.textContent === 'Meeting notes')!.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true })));
+    expect(created[0]).toEqual({ template: 'meeting', title: 'Meeting notes' });
+
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+    root = createRoot(container);
+    await render('/spaces/home/notes');
+    await act(async () => container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('button[aria-label="Start a page from a template"]')!.click());
+    await act(async () => [...document.querySelectorAll('[role="menuitem"]')].find((item) => item.textContent === 'Standup')!.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true })));
+    expect(created[1]).toEqual({ fromNoteId: 'standup', title: 'Standup' });
+
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+    root = createRoot(container);
+    await render('/notes/standup');
+    await act(async () => [...container.querySelectorAll('button')].find((button) => button.textContent === 'Stop using as a template')!.click());
+    expect([...container.querySelectorAll('button')].some((button) => button.textContent === 'Use as a template')).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/app/frontend/test/search.spec.tsx b/app/frontend/test/search.spec.tsx
index f2117d9..4b47e93 100644
--- a/app/frontend/test/search.spec.tsx
+++ b/app/frontend/test/search.spec.tsx
@@ -74,4 +74,39 @@ describe('Search palette', () => {
     expect(options).toEqual(['Flat rotanote · Flat', 'Flat billsFlat', 'Flat']);
     expect(container.querySelector<HTMLAnchorElement>('[role="option"]')?.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/notes/rota');
   });
+
+  it('creates a page in the personal space from the palette', async () => {
+    const home = { ...flat, id: 'home', name: 'Home', kind: 'personal', role: 'owner' };
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn((input: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const path = input.replace('/api/v1', '');
+      if (path === '/auth/refresh') return Promise.resolve(json({ accessToken: 'token', user }));
+      if (path === '/spaces') return Promise.resolve(json([home, flat]));
+      if (path === '/me/inbox/summary') return Promise.resolve(json({ unread: 0 }));
+      if (path === '/spaces/home/notes' && init?.method === 'POST') return Promise.resolve(json({ id: 'fresh' }, 201));
+      return Promise.resolve(new Response(null, { status: 404 }));
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+    await act(async () =>
+      root.render(
+        <MemoryRouter initialEntries={['/']}>
+          <AuthProvider>
+            <App />
+          </AuthProvider>
+        </MemoryRouter>,
+      ),
+    );
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      document.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'k', ctrlKey: true }));
+    });
+    const labels = [...container.querySelectorAll('[role="option"]')].map((option) => option.textContent);
+    expect(labels).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(['New page', 'New task']));
+    const task = [...container.querySelectorAll<HTMLAnchorElement>('[role="option"]')].find((option) => option.textContent === 'New task')!;
+    expect(task.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/spaces/home/tasks');
+
+    await act(async () =>
+      [...container.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[role="option"]')].find((option) => option.textContent === 'New page')!.click(),
+    );
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/api/v1/spaces/home/notes', expect.objectContaining({ method: 'POST', body: '{}' }));
+  });
 });
diff --git a/app/server/prisma/migrations/20261005060000_note_templates/migration.sql b/app/server/prisma/migrations/20261005060000_note_templates/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6c2eac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/server/prisma/migrations/20261005060000_note_templates/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE "notes" ADD COLUMN "template" BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false;
diff --git a/app/server/prisma/schema.prisma b/app/server/prisma/schema.prisma
index 572fe2e..42602e2 100644
--- a/app/server/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/app/server/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -656,6 +656,7 @@ model Note {
   position Float     @default(0)
   icon     String?
   pinnedAt DateTime? @map("pinned_at")
+  template Boolean   @default(false)
   item     Item      @relation("NoteItem", fields: [itemId], references: [id], onDelete: Cascade)
   parent   Item?     @relation("NoteParent", fields: [parentId], references: [id], onDelete: SetNull)
 
diff --git a/app/server/src/dashboards/dto/dashboards.dto.ts b/app/server/src/dashboards/dto/dashboards.dto.ts
index b637282..7802ffb 100644
--- a/app/server/src/dashboards/dto/dashboards.dto.ts
+++ b/app/server/src/dashboards/dto/dashboards.dto.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { ArrayMaxSize, IsArray, IsIn, IsObject, IsOptional, IsString, Length, Va
 import { IsOptionalNotNull } from '../../validation/is-optional-not-null.decorator';
 import { Trimmed } from '../../validation/trimmed.decorator';
 
-export const widgetTypes = ['clock', 'today', 'tasks', 'shortcuts', 'recurring', 'inbox', 'agenda', 'countdown', 'focus', 'tidy', 'weather', 'news'] as const;
+export const widgetTypes = ['clock', 'today', 'tasks', 'shortcuts', 'recurring', 'inbox', 'agenda', 'countdown', 'focus', 'tidy', 'weather', 'news', 'capture'] as const;
 export const widgetSizes = ['small', 'medium', 'wide', 'full'] as const;
 export const templates = ['morning', 'work', 'student', 'travel'] as const;
 
diff --git a/app/server/src/notes/dto/notes.dto.ts b/app/server/src/notes/dto/notes.dto.ts
index 70d738f..fa16c8c 100644
--- a/app/server/src/notes/dto/notes.dto.ts
+++ b/app/server/src/notes/dto/notes.dto.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { IsBoolean, IsNumber, IsOptional, IsString, IsUUID, MaxLength, ValidateIf } from 'class-validator';
+import { IsBoolean, IsIn, IsNumber, IsOptional, IsString, IsUUID, MaxLength, ValidateIf } from 'class-validator';
+import { builtInTemplates } from '../templates';
 import { IsOptionalNotNull } from '../../validation/is-optional-not-null.decorator';
 import { Trimmed } from '../../validation/trimmed.decorator';
 
@@ -12,6 +13,19 @@ export class CreateNoteDto {
   @IsOptional()
   @IsUUID('all', { message: 'Choose a page from this space.' })
   parentId?: string;
+
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsIn(Object.keys(builtInTemplates), { message: 'Choose a template from the list.' })
+  template?: string;
+
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsUUID('all', { message: 'Choose a template from this space.' })
+  fromNoteId?: string;
+
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsString()
+  @MaxLength(10_000, { message: 'Quick notes are at most 10,000 characters long.' })
+  text?: string;
 }
 
 export class UpdateNoteDto {
@@ -39,4 +53,8 @@ export class UpdateNoteDto {
   @IsOptionalNotNull()
   @IsBoolean()
   pinned?: boolean;
+
+  @IsOptionalNotNull()
+  @IsBoolean()
+  template?: boolean;
 }
diff --git a/app/server/src/notes/notes.service.ts b/app/server/src/notes/notes.service.ts
index 809378f..69a22c6 100644
--- a/app/server/src/notes/notes.service.ts
+++ b/app/server/src/notes/notes.service.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import { BadRequestException, Injectable, NotFoundException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { ItemKind, Prisma, SpaceRole } from '@prisma/client';
+import * as Y from 'yjs';
 import { AccessService } from '../access/access.service';
 import { ActivityService } from '../activity/activity.service';
 import { PrismaService } from '../prisma/prisma.service';
+import { documentText } from './document-text';
 import { CreateNoteDto, UpdateNoteDto } from './dto/notes.dto';
+import { templateDocument, textDocument, type BuiltInTemplate } from './templates';
 
 const noteFields = {
   id: true,
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ const noteFields = {
   title: true,
   createdAt: true,
   updatedAt: true,
-  note: { select: { parentId: true, position: true, icon: true, pinnedAt: true } },
+  note: { select: { parentId: true, position: true, icon: true, pinnedAt: true, template: true } },
 } satisfies Prisma.ItemSelect;
 
 type NoteRow = Prisma.ItemGetPayload<{ select: typeof noteFields }>;
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ function present(row: NoteRow) {
     position: row.note?.position ?? 0,
     icon: row.note?.icon ?? null,
     pinnedAt: row.note?.pinnedAt ?? null,
+    template: row.note?.template ?? false,
     createdAt: row.createdAt,
     updatedAt: row.updatedAt,
   };
@@ -51,6 +55,7 @@ export class NotesService {
   async create(userId: string, spaceId: string, input: CreateNoteDto) {
     await this.access.assertSpace(userId, spaceId, 'edit');
     if (input.parentId) await this.parentIn(spaceId, input.parentId);
+    const initial = await this.initialState(spaceId, input);
     const last = await this.prisma.note.aggregate({
       where: { parentId: input.parentId ?? null, item: { spaceId, trashedAt: null } },
       _max: { position: true },
@@ -68,6 +73,10 @@ export class NotesService {
         select: noteFields,
       });
       await this.activity.record(transaction, { spaceId, actorId: userId, itemId: item.id, verb: 'item.created', data: { title: item.title } });
+      if (initial) {
+        await transaction.noteDocument.create({ data: { itemId: item.id, state: Buffer.from(Y.encodeStateAsUpdate(initial)) } });
+        await transaction.searchDocument.updateMany({ where: { itemId: item.id }, data: { bodyText: documentText(initial) } });
+      }
       return item;
     });
     return present(created);
@@ -105,12 +114,14 @@ export class NotesService {
           position: position ?? 0,
           icon: input.icon ?? null,
           pinnedAt: input.pinned ? new Date() : null,
+          template: input.template ?? false,
         },
         update: {
           parentId: input.parentId,
           position,
           icon: input.icon,
           pinnedAt: input.pinned === undefined ? undefined : input.pinned ? new Date() : null,
+          template: input.template,
         },
       });
       const item = await transaction.item.update({
@@ -139,6 +150,20 @@ export class NotesService {
     return found;
   }
 
+  private async initialState(spaceId: string, input: CreateNoteDto) {
+    if (input.template) return templateDocument(input.template as BuiltInTemplate);
+    if (input.text?.trim()) return textDocument(input.text.trim());
+    if (!input.fromNoteId) return null;
+    const source = await this.prisma.note.findFirst({
+      where: { itemId: input.fromNoteId, template: true, item: { spaceId, trashedAt: null } },
+      select: { item: { select: { noteDocument: { select: { state: true } } } } },
+    });
+    if (!source) throw new BadRequestException('Choose a template from this space');
+    const document = new Y.Doc();
+    if (source.item.noteDocument) Y.applyUpdate(document, new Uint8Array(source.item.noteDocument.state));
+    return document;
+  }
+
   private async parentIn(spaceId: string, parentId: string) {
     const parent = await this.prisma.item.findFirst({
       where: { id: parentId, spaceId, kind: ItemKind.NOTE, trashedAt: null },
diff --git a/app/server/src/notes/templates.ts b/app/server/src/notes/templates.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4aa5b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/server/src/notes/templates.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import * as Y from 'yjs';
+
+type Block = ['heading', string] | ['paragraph', string] | ['bullets', string[]] | ['numbers', string[]] | ['tasks', string[]];
+
+export const builtInTemplates = {
+  meeting: [
+    ['heading', 'Attendees'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Agenda'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Notes'],
+    ['paragraph', ''],
+    ['heading', 'Actions'],
+    ['tasks', ['']],
+  ],
+  journal: [
+    ['heading', 'Today'],
+    ['paragraph', ''],
+    ['heading', 'Grateful for'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Tomorrow'],
+    ['tasks', ['']],
+  ],
+  project: [
+    ['heading', 'Goal'],
+    ['paragraph', ''],
+    ['heading', 'Scope'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Milestones'],
+    ['tasks', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Risks'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+  ],
+  recipe: [
+    ['heading', 'Ingredients'],
+    ['bullets', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Steps'],
+    ['numbers', ['']],
+    ['heading', 'Notes'],
+    ['paragraph', ''],
+  ],
+} satisfies Record<string, Block[]>;
+
+export type BuiltInTemplate = keyof typeof builtInTemplates;
+
+function element(name: string, children: (Y.XmlElement | Y.XmlText)[], attributes: Record<string, number | boolean> = {}) {
+  const node = new Y.XmlElement(name);
+  for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(attributes)) node.setAttribute(key, value as never);
+  node.insert(0, children);
+  return node;
+}
+
+const paragraph = (text: string) => element('paragraph', text ? [new Y.XmlText(text)] : []);
+
+function list(name: string, itemName: string, lines: string[], attributes: Record<string, number | boolean> = {}) {
+  return element(
+    name,
+    lines.map((line) => element(itemName, [paragraph(line)], attributes)),
+  );
+}
+
+function build(blocks: Block[]) {
+  const document = new Y.Doc();
+  document.getXmlFragment('default').push(
+    blocks.map(([kind, content]) => {
+      if (kind === 'heading') return element('heading', [new Y.XmlText(content)], { level: 2 });
+      if (kind === 'paragraph') return paragraph(content);
+      if (kind === 'bullets') return list('bulletList', 'listItem', content);
+      if (kind === 'numbers') return list('orderedList', 'listItem', content);
+      return list('taskList', 'taskItem', content, { checked: false });
+    }),
+  );
+  return document;
+}
+
+export function templateDocument(template: BuiltInTemplate) {
+  return build(builtInTemplates[template]);
+}
+
+export function textDocument(text: string) {
+  return build(
+    text
+      .split(/\r?\n/)
+      .map((line) => line.trimEnd())
+      .map((line): Block => ['paragraph', line]),
+  );
+}
diff --git a/app/server/test/integration/notes.spec.ts b/app/server/test/integration/notes.spec.ts
index 88c8b41..b71b541 100644
--- a/app/server/test/integration/notes.spec.ts
+++ b/app/server/test/integration/notes.spec.ts
@@ -240,4 +240,33 @@ describe('Notes and real-time editing against Postgres', () => {
     realtime.hocuspocus.flushPendingStores();
     expect(await until(links, (rows) => rows.length === 1)).toEqual([{ kind: 'ATTACHMENT', targetItemId: picture.id }]);
   });
+
+  it('starts pages from built-in templates, space templates or captured text', async () => {
+    const owner = await member('templater');
+    const space = owner.personalSpaceId;
+    const stored = async (id: string) => {
+      const row = await strata.prisma.noteDocument.findUnique({ where: { itemId: id } });
+      const document = new Y.Doc();
+      if (row) Y.applyUpdate(document, new Uint8Array(row.state));
+      return document;
+    };
+
+    const meeting = (await owner.call('POST', `/spaces/${space}/notes`, { title: 'Standup', template: 'meeting' })).body;
+    const meetingDocument = await stored(meeting.id);
+    expect(textOf(meetingDocument)).toContain('<heading level="2">Attendees</heading>');
+    expect(textOf(meetingDocument)).toContain('<tasklist><taskitem checked="false"><paragraph></paragraph></taskitem></tasklist>');
+    expect((await owner.call('POST', `/spaces/${space}/notes`, { template: 'diary' })).status).toBe(400);
+
+    const captured = (await owner.call('POST', `/spaces/${space}/notes`, { text: 'Call the bank\nAsk about fees' })).body;
+    expect((await strata.prisma.searchDocument.findUnique({ where: { itemId: captured.id } }))?.bodyText).toBe('Call the bank\nAsk about fees');
+
+    expect((await owner.call('POST', `/spaces/${space}/notes`, { fromNoteId: captured.id })).status).toBe(400);
+    expect((await owner.call('PATCH', `/notes/${captured.id}`, { template: true })).body.template).toBe(true);
+    const copy = (await owner.call('POST', `/spaces/${space}/notes`, { title: 'Copy', fromNoteId: captured.id })).body;
+    expect(copy.template).toBe(false);
+    expect(textOf(await stored(copy.id))).toBe(textOf(await stored(captured.id)));
+
+    const elsewhere = await member('borrower');
+    expect((await elsewhere.call('POST', `/spaces/${elsewhere.personalSpaceId}/notes`, { fromNoteId: captured.id })).status).toBe(400);
+  });
 });