diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/splits.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/splits.rs
index ca45a6e..5870b1d 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/splits.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/splits.rs
@@ -73,18 +73,45 @@ impl ElyShell {
             .overflow_hidden()
             .bg(rgb(colors::CANVAS));
 
-        let body = match layout.axis() {
-            SplitAxis::Vertical => body.flex().flex_col(),
-            SplitAxis::Horizontal | SplitAxis::Grid => body.flex(),
-        };
+        match layout.axis() {
+            SplitAxis::Horizontal => body
+                .flex()
+                .children(
+                    panes
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .enumerate()
+                        .map(|(index, tab)| self.render_split_pane(index, tab, snapshot, cx)),
+                )
+                .into_any_element(),
+            SplitAxis::Vertical => body
+                .flex()
+                .flex_col()
+                .children(
+                    panes
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .enumerate()
+                        .map(|(index, tab)| self.render_split_pane(index, tab, snapshot, cx)),
+                )
+                .into_any_element(),
+            SplitAxis::Grid => self.render_split_grid(body, panes, snapshot, cx).into_any_element(),
+        }
+    }
 
-        body.children(
-            panes
-                .into_iter()
-                .enumerate()
-                .map(|(index, tab)| self.render_split_pane(index, tab, snapshot, cx)),
-        )
-        .into_any_element()
+    fn render_split_grid(
+        &mut self,
+        body: gpui::Div,
+        panes: Vec<&BrowserTab>,
+        snapshot: &BrowserSnapshot,
+        cx: &mut Context<Self>,
+    ) -> gpui::Div {
+        body.flex().flex_col().children(panes.chunks(2).enumerate().map(|(row_index, row)| {
+            div().flex().flex_1().min_h(px(180.0)).gap_3().children(row.iter().enumerate().map(
+                |(column_index, tab)| {
+                    let pane_index = row_index * 2 + column_index;
+                    self.render_split_pane(pane_index, tab, snapshot, cx)
+                },
+            ))
+        }))
     }
 
     fn render_split_pane(
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/commands.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/commands.rs
index 1ce31b5..f34e311 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/commands.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/commands.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 use std::time::SystemTime;
 
-use ely_domain::{ArchivePolicy, CommandIntent, CommandScope, ProfileId, ProfileKind, SpaceId};
+use ely_domain::{
+    ArchivePolicy, CommandIntent, CommandScope, ProfileId, ProfileKind, SpaceId, SplitAxis,
+};
 
 use crate::{
     CoreError,
@@ -162,6 +164,15 @@ impl BrowserCore {
                 self.split_active_tab_right()?;
                 Ok(true)
             }
+            "split-horizontal" | "split horizontal" => {
+                Ok(self.set_active_split_axis(SplitAxis::Horizontal)?.is_some())
+            }
+            "split-vertical" | "split vertical" => {
+                Ok(self.set_active_split_axis(SplitAxis::Vertical)?.is_some())
+            }
+            "split-grid" | "split grid" => {
+                Ok(self.set_active_split_axis(SplitAxis::Grid)?.is_some())
+            }
             "save-split-view" | "save split view" => Ok(self.save_active_split_view()?.is_some()),
             "split-tab-group" | "split tab group" | "tab-group-to-split" | "tab group to split" => {
                 Ok(self.split_active_tab_group()?.is_some())
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/splits.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/splits.rs
index ddc022b..89e5bc5 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/splits.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/splits.rs
@@ -68,6 +68,20 @@ impl BrowserCore {
         Ok(Some(split_id))
     }
 
+    pub fn set_active_split_axis(&mut self, axis: SplitAxis) -> Result<Option<SplitId>, CoreError> {
+        let Some(split_id) = self.active_tab()?.split_id().cloned() else {
+            return Ok(None);
+        };
+        let layout = self
+            .split_layouts
+            .iter_mut()
+            .find(|layout| layout.id() == &split_id)
+            .ok_or_else(|| CoreError::SplitNotFound { id: split_id.clone() })?;
+
+        layout.set_axis(axis);
+        Ok(Some(split_id))
+    }
+
     pub fn split_active_tab_right(&mut self) -> Result<SplitId, CoreError> {
         let active_index = self.active_tab_index()?;
         let active_tab_id = self.tabs[active_index].id().clone();
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/splits.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/splits.rs
index 70ba2e6..5812e25 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/splits.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/splits.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,77 @@ fn save_split_view_command_preserves_query_without_active_split() -> Result<(),
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn split_axis_commands_update_active_layout() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
+    core.split_active_tab_right()?;
+
+    core.set_command_query(">split-vertical");
+    let vertical_intent = core.submit_command()?;
+    let vertical_snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let vertical_layout = vertical_snapshot.split_layouts.first().ok_or("missing split layout")?;
+
+    assert_eq!(vertical_intent, Some(CommandIntent::Command("split-vertical".to_string())));
+    assert_eq!(vertical_layout.axis(), &SplitAxis::Vertical);
+    assert_eq!(vertical_snapshot.command_query, "");
+
+    core.set_command_query(">split-grid");
+    let grid_intent = core.submit_command()?;
+    let grid_snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let grid_layout = grid_snapshot.split_layouts.first().ok_or("missing split layout")?;
+
+    assert_eq!(grid_intent, Some(CommandIntent::Command("split-grid".to_string())));
+    assert_eq!(grid_layout.axis(), &SplitAxis::Grid);
+    assert_eq!(grid_snapshot.command_query, "");
+
+    core.set_command_query(">split-horizontal");
+    let horizontal_intent = core.submit_command()?;
+    let horizontal_snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let horizontal_layout =
+        horizontal_snapshot.split_layouts.first().ok_or("missing split layout")?;
+
+    assert_eq!(horizontal_intent, Some(CommandIntent::Command("split-horizontal".to_string())));
+    assert_eq!(horizontal_layout.axis(), &SplitAxis::Horizontal);
+    assert_eq!(horizontal_snapshot.command_query, "");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn split_axis_command_preserves_query_without_active_split() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
+    let active_tab_id = core.active_tab()?.id().clone();
+
+    core.set_command_query(">split-grid");
+    let intent = core.submit_command()?;
+    let snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+
+    assert_eq!(intent, Some(CommandIntent::Command("split-grid".to_string())));
+    assert_eq!(snapshot.active_tab_id, active_tab_id);
+    assert!(snapshot.split_layouts.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(snapshot.command_query, ">split-grid");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn split_grid_command_keeps_four_pane_layout() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
+    core.split_active_tab_right()?;
+    core.split_active_tab_right()?;
+    core.split_active_tab_right()?;
+
+    core.set_command_query(">split-grid");
+    let intent = core.submit_command()?;
+    let snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let layout = snapshot.split_layouts.first().ok_or("missing split layout")?;
+
+    assert_eq!(intent, Some(CommandIntent::Command("split-grid".to_string())));
+    assert_eq!(layout.axis(), &SplitAxis::Grid);
+    assert_eq!(layout.pane_count(), 4);
+    assert_eq!(snapshot.tabs.len(), 4);
+    assert_eq!(snapshot.command_query, "");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn close_active_tab_archives_saved_split_view() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
diff --git a/crates/ely_domain/src/split.rs b/crates/ely_domain/src/split.rs
index f2d563c..13e5b6e 100644
--- a/crates/ely_domain/src/split.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_domain/src/split.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ impl SplitLayout {
         &self.axis
     }
 
+    pub fn set_axis(&mut self, axis: SplitAxis) {
+        self.axis = axis;
+    }
+
     #[must_use]
     pub fn panes(&self) -> &[SplitPane] {
         &self.panes