diff --git a/pico-dashboard/ui/dashboard_view_model.py b/pico-dashboard/ui/dashboard_view_model.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3084f51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pico-dashboard/ui/dashboard_view_model.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+def format_value(value, suffix="", decimals=1, missing="--"):
+    if value is None:
+        return missing
+
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        return f"{value}{suffix}"
+
+    if isinstance(value, float):
+        return f"{value:.{decimals}f}{suffix}"
+
+    return f"{value}{suffix}"
+
+
+def format_bool(value, true_text="ON", false_text="OFF"):
+    return true_text if value else false_text
+
+
+class DashboardViewModel:
+    def __init__(self, state, alarms=None):
+        self.state = state
+        self.alarms = alarms or []
+
+    def top_bar(self):
+        soc = format_value(self.state.battery.get("soc"), "%", decimals=0)
+        uart = "UART OK" if self.state.network.get("uart_connected") else "UART LOST"
+        alarm_count = len(self.alarms)
+
+        return {
+            "soc": soc,
+            "comms": uart,
+            "alarms": alarm_count,
+        }
+
+    def battery_summary(self):
+        return {
+            "voltage": format_value(self.state.battery.get("voltage"), "V", decimals=1),
+            "current": format_value(self.state.battery.get("current"), "A", decimals=1),
+            "runtime": format_value(self.state.battery.get("runtime_hours"), " hr", decimals=1),
+        }
+
+    def fridge_summary(self):
+        return {
+            "zone_1": format_value(self.state.temps.get("fridge_zone_1"), "°F", decimals=1),
+            "zone_2": format_value(self.state.temps.get("fridge_zone_2"), "°F", decimals=1),
+        }
+
+    def power_summary(self):
+        return {
+            "starlink": format_bool(self.state.relays.get("starlink")),
+            "fridge": format_bool(self.state.relays.get("fridge")),
+        }
+
+    def as_dict(self):
+        return {
+            "top_bar": self.top_bar(),
+            "battery": self.battery_summary(),
+            "fridge": self.fridge_summary(),
+            "power": self.power_summary(),
+        }
diff --git a/tests/test_pico_core.py b/tests/test_pico_core.py
index 1a375b4..ee329d0 100644
--- a/tests/test_pico_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_pico_core.py
@@ -426,3 +426,59 @@ def test_communication_service_auto_selects_http_fallback_when_uart_down():
 
     assert service.auto_select_transport() is True
     assert service.use_http_fallback is True
+
+
+def test_dashboard_view_model_formats_dashboard_summary():
+    from ui.dashboard_view_model import DashboardViewModel
+
+    state = AppState()
+    state.update_from_status({
+        "battery": {
+            "soc": 82,
+            "voltage": 13.2,
+            "current": -6.4,
+            "runtime_hours": 12.0,
+        },
+        "temps": {
+            "fridge_zone_1": 34.5,
+            "fridge_zone_2": 36.0,
+        },
+        "relays": {
+            "starlink": False,
+            "fridge": True,
+        },
+        "network": {
+            "uart_connected": True,
+        },
+    })
+
+    vm = DashboardViewModel(state, alarms=[]).as_dict()
+
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["soc"] == "82%"
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["comms"] == "UART OK"
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["alarms"] == 0
+
+    assert vm["battery"]["voltage"] == "13.2V"
+    assert vm["battery"]["current"] == "-6.4A"
+    assert vm["battery"]["runtime"] == "12.0 hr"
+
+    assert vm["fridge"]["zone_1"] == "34.5°F"
+    assert vm["fridge"]["zone_2"] == "36.0°F"
+
+    assert vm["power"]["starlink"] == "OFF"
+    assert vm["power"]["fridge"] == "ON"
+
+
+def test_dashboard_view_model_handles_missing_values():
+    from ui.dashboard_view_model import DashboardViewModel
+
+    state = AppState()
+
+    vm = DashboardViewModel(state, alarms=["communication_lost"]).as_dict()
+
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["soc"] == "--"
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["comms"] == "UART LOST"
+    assert vm["top_bar"]["alarms"] == 1
+
+    assert vm["battery"]["voltage"] == "--"
+    assert vm["fridge"]["zone_1"] == "--"