diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineBars.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineBars.svelte
index fb0db1ca..c5784028 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineBars.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineBars.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
-import { formatTickLabel } from '$lib/document/timeline';
+import { formatTickLabel } from '$lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets';
 import { getLocale } from '$lib/paraglide/runtime';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte
index 5f7b8946..61eda139 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
 	selectionBoundaryFrom,
 	selectionBoundaryTo,
 	formatTickLabel
-} from '$lib/document/timeline';
+} from '$lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets';
 import { createTimelineDrag } from '$lib/document/useTimelineDrag.svelte';
 import { getLocale } from '$lib/paraglide/runtime';
 import TimelineBars from '$lib/document/TimelineBars.svelte';
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte.spec.ts
index 404d913b..1227cb1c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineDensityFilter.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
 import { page } from 'vitest/browser';
 import { tick } from 'svelte';
 import TimelineDensityFilter from './TimelineDensityFilter.svelte';
-import { formatTickLabel } from './timeline';
+import { formatTickLabel } from '$lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets';
 import { getLocale } from '$lib/paraglide/runtime';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineXAxis.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineXAxis.svelte
index b63975d7..7fe8ef86 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineXAxis.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/TimelineXAxis.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-import { formatTickLabel, tickIndicesFor } from '$lib/document/timeline';
+import { formatTickLabel, tickIndicesFor } from '$lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets';
 import { getLocale } from '$lib/paraglide/runtime';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.spec.ts
index 9deca472..37744fd5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.spec.ts
@@ -1,191 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
-import {
-	monthBoundaryFrom,
-	monthBoundaryTo,
-	buildMonthSequence,
-	fillDensityGaps,
-	fetchDensity,
-	buildDensityUrl,
-	aggregateToYears,
-	selectionBoundaryFrom,
-	selectionBoundaryTo,
-	clipBucketsToRange,
-	tickIndicesFor,
-	formatTickLabel
-} from './timeline';
-
-describe('monthBoundaryFrom', () => {
-	it('returns the first day of the given month', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryFrom('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-01');
-	});
-
-	it('handles January', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryFrom('1920-01')).toBe('1920-01-01');
-	});
-});
-
-describe('monthBoundaryTo', () => {
-	it('returns the last day of a 31-day month', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-31');
-	});
-
-	it('returns the last day of a 30-day month', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-04')).toBe('1915-04-30');
-	});
-
-	it('returns 28 for February in a non-leap year', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-02')).toBe('1915-02-28');
-	});
-
-	it('returns 29 for February in a leap year', () => {
-		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1916-02')).toBe('1916-02-29');
-	});
-});
-
-describe('buildMonthSequence', () => {
-	it('returns a single month when min and max are in the same month', () => {
-		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-03', '1915-08-22')).toEqual(['1915-08']);
-	});
-
-	it('returns months from minDate through maxDate inclusive', () => {
-		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-03', '1915-11-15')).toEqual([
-			'1915-08',
-			'1915-09',
-			'1915-10',
-			'1915-11'
-		]);
-	});
-
-	it('crosses year boundaries correctly', () => {
-		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-11-30', '1916-02-01')).toEqual([
-			'1915-11',
-			'1915-12',
-			'1916-01',
-			'1916-02'
-		]);
-	});
-
-	it('returns empty array when minDate or maxDate is null', () => {
-		expect(buildMonthSequence(null, '1915-08-01')).toEqual([]);
-		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-01', null)).toEqual([]);
-		expect(buildMonthSequence(null, null)).toEqual([]);
-	});
-});
-
-describe('fillDensityGaps', () => {
-	it('returns empty array when minDate or maxDate is null', () => {
-		expect(fillDensityGaps([], null, null)).toEqual([]);
-	});
-
-	it('preserves existing buckets and adds zero-count buckets for missing months', () => {
-		const buckets = [
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
-			{ month: '1915-11', count: 2 }
-		];
-
-		const result = fillDensityGaps(buckets, '1915-08-03', '1915-11-30');
-
-		expect(result).toEqual([
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 0 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 0 },
-			{ month: '1915-11', count: 2 }
-		]);
-	});
-
-	it('returns all-zero sequence when buckets array is empty', () => {
-		const result = fillDensityGaps([], '1915-08-03', '1915-10-15');
-
-		expect(result).toEqual([
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 0 },
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 0 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 0 }
-		]);
-	});
-
-	it('keeps results sorted chronologically even when buckets arrive out of order', () => {
-		const buckets = [
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 3 },
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 1 }
-		];
-
-		const result = fillDensityGaps(buckets, '1915-08-01', '1915-10-31');
-
-		expect(result.map((b) => b.month)).toEqual(['1915-08', '1915-09', '1915-10']);
-	});
-});
-
-describe('aggregateToYears', () => {
-	it('returns empty array for empty input', () => {
-		expect(aggregateToYears([])).toEqual([]);
-	});
-
-	it('sums counts within the same year', () => {
-		const result = aggregateToYears([
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
-		]);
-		expect(result).toEqual([{ month: '1915', count: 15 }]);
-	});
-
-	it('produces one bucket per distinct year, sorted chronologically', () => {
-		const result = aggregateToYears([
-			{ month: '1916-01', count: 3 },
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
-			{ month: '1916-04', count: 7 },
-			{ month: '1914-12', count: 1 }
-		]);
-		expect(result).toEqual([
-			{ month: '1914', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915', count: 5 },
-			{ month: '1916', count: 10 }
-		]);
-	});
-});
-
-describe('clipBucketsToRange', () => {
-	const buckets = [
-		{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
-		{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
-		{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 },
-		{ month: '1915-11', count: 3 }
-	];
-
-	it('returns the original buckets when range bounds are null', () => {
-		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, null, null)).toBe(buckets);
-	});
-
-	it('keeps only buckets whose month falls within the range', () => {
-		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1915-09-01', '1915-10-31')).toEqual([
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
-		]);
-	});
-
-	it('returns an empty array when the range excludes everything', () => {
-		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1916-01-01', '1916-12-31')).toEqual([]);
-	});
-
-	it('treats partial dates correctly when bounds cross month boundaries', () => {
-		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1915-09-15', '1915-10-15')).toEqual([
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
-		]);
-	});
-});
-
-describe('selectionBoundaryFrom / To', () => {
-	it('handles month labels (YYYY-MM)', () => {
-		expect(selectionBoundaryFrom('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-01');
-		expect(selectionBoundaryTo('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-31');
-	});
-
-	it('handles year labels (YYYY)', () => {
-		expect(selectionBoundaryFrom('1915')).toBe('1915-01-01');
-		expect(selectionBoundaryTo('1915')).toBe('1915-12-31');
-	});
-});
+import { fetchDensity, buildDensityUrl } from './timeline';
 
 describe('buildDensityUrl', () => {
 	it('returns the bare endpoint when no filters provided', () => {
@@ -309,84 +123,3 @@ describe('fetchDensity', () => {
 		warn.mockRestore();
 	});
 });
-
-describe('tickIndicesFor', () => {
-	it('returns no indices for an empty bucket list', () => {
-		expect(tickIndicesFor([])).toEqual([]);
-	});
-
-	it('picks years divisible by 25 when the year span exceeds 120', () => {
-		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 150 }, (_, i) => ({
-			month: String(1875 + i),
-			count: 1
-		}));
-		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
-		const labels = ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month);
-		expect(labels).toEqual(['1875', '1900', '1925', '1950', '1975', '2000']);
-	});
-
-	it('picks years divisible by 10 for medium ranges (~50 years)', () => {
-		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 50 }, (_, i) => ({
-			month: String(1900 + i),
-			count: 1
-		}));
-		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
-		const labels = ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month);
-		expect(labels).toEqual(['1900', '1910', '1920', '1930', '1940']);
-	});
-
-	it('picks January boundaries for long month ranges', () => {
-		const buckets = [
-			{ month: '1914-08', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1914-09', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1914-10', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1914-11', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1914-12', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-01', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-02', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-03', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-04', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-05', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-06', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-07', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-08', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-09', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-10', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-11', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1915-12', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1916-01', count: 1 },
-			{ month: '1916-02', count: 1 }
-		];
-		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
-		expect(ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month)).toEqual(['1915-01', '1916-01']);
-	});
-
-	it('falls back to evenly spaced ticks for short month ranges (12 months)', () => {
-		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 12 }, (_, i) => ({
-			month: `1905-${String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')}`,
-			count: 1
-		}));
-		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
-		expect(ticks.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(5);
-		expect(ticks.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(7);
-		expect(ticks[0]).toBe(0);
-	});
-});
-
-describe('formatTickLabel', () => {
-	it('returns the year string unchanged for year labels', () => {
-		expect(formatTickLabel('1905', 'en-US')).toBe('1905');
-	});
-
-	it('formats month labels with the year by default', () => {
-		const result = formatTickLabel('1905-06', 'en-US');
-		expect(result).toMatch(/Jun/);
-		expect(result).toMatch(/1905/);
-	});
-
-	it('omits the year when omitYear is true', () => {
-		const result = formatTickLabel('1905-06', 'en-US', true);
-		expect(result).toMatch(/Jun/);
-		expect(result).not.toMatch(/1905/);
-	});
-});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.ts b/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.ts
index bc9dcacb..09f1d9a8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/document/timeline.ts
@@ -12,160 +12,6 @@ export type DensityState = {
 const SKIP: DensityState = { density: null, minDate: null, maxDate: null };
 const EMPTY: DensityState = { density: [], minDate: null, maxDate: null };
 
-export function monthBoundaryFrom(yearMonth: string): string {
-	return `${yearMonth}-01`;
-}
-
-export function monthBoundaryTo(yearMonth: string): string {
-	const [year, month] = yearMonth.split('-').map(Number);
-	// Day 0 of `month + 1` rolls back to the last day of `month` — so passing
-	// `month` (1-indexed) into `Date.UTC(year, month, 0)` lands on the last day
-	// of that month. Handles 28/29/30/31 and leap years without a lookup table.
-	const lastDay = new Date(Date.UTC(year, month, 0)).getUTCDate();
-	return `${yearMonth}-${String(lastDay).padStart(2, '0')}`;
-}
-
-export function buildMonthSequence(minDate: string | null, maxDate: string | null): string[] {
-	if (!minDate || !maxDate) return [];
-
-	const [minY, minM] = minDate.split('-').map(Number);
-	const [maxY, maxM] = maxDate.split('-').map(Number);
-
-	const sequence: string[] = [];
-	let year = minY;
-	let month = minM;
-
-	while (year < maxY || (year === maxY && month <= maxM)) {
-		sequence.push(`${year}-${String(month).padStart(2, '0')}`);
-		month += 1;
-		if (month > 12) {
-			month = 1;
-			year += 1;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return sequence;
-}
-
-export function fillDensityGaps(
-	buckets: MonthBucket[],
-	minDate: string | null,
-	maxDate: string | null
-): MonthBucket[] {
-	const sequence = buildMonthSequence(minDate, maxDate);
-	if (sequence.length === 0) return [];
-
-	const counts = new Map(buckets.map((b) => [b.month, b.count]));
-	return sequence.map((month) => ({ month, count: counts.get(month) ?? 0 }));
-}
-
-/**
- * Returns only the month buckets whose YYYY-MM falls inside the provided
- * `[fromInclusive, toInclusive]` ISO date range. When either bound is null the
- * input array is returned unchanged. Used by the timeline's zoom-in tool to
- * narrow the visible bars without refetching data.
- *
- * @internal Sole call site is `TimelineDensityFilter.svelte`. Exported so the
- * unit suite (`timeline.spec.ts`) can pin the boundary semantics directly.
- */
-export function clipBucketsToRange(
-	buckets: MonthBucket[],
-	fromInclusive: string | null,
-	toInclusive: string | null
-): MonthBucket[] {
-	if (!fromInclusive || !toInclusive) return buckets;
-	const fromMonth = fromInclusive.slice(0, 7);
-	const toMonth = toInclusive.slice(0, 7);
-	return buckets.filter((b) => b.month >= fromMonth && b.month <= toMonth);
-}
-
-/**
- * Aggregates month-granular buckets into one entry per year. Month strings are
- * truncated to "YYYY" and counts are summed. Used when the date span is too
- * long for month-granular bars to render at a clickable size.
- */
-export function aggregateToYears(buckets: MonthBucket[]): MonthBucket[] {
-	const totals = new Map<string, number>();
-	for (const b of buckets) {
-		const year = b.month.slice(0, 4);
-		totals.set(year, (totals.get(year) ?? 0) + b.count);
-	}
-	return Array.from(totals.entries())
-		.map(([year, count]) => ({ month: year, count }))
-		.sort((a, b) => a.month.localeCompare(b.month));
-}
-
-/**
- * Boundary helpers for selection. Accept either "YYYY-MM" (month) or "YYYY"
- * (year) and return the matching LocalDate string.
- */
-export function selectionBoundaryFrom(label: string): string {
-	return label.length === 4 ? `${label}-01-01` : `${label}-01`;
-}
-
-export function selectionBoundaryTo(label: string): string {
-	if (label.length === 4) return `${label}-12-31`;
-	return monthBoundaryTo(label);
-}
-
-/**
- * Picks bucket indices that should get an X-axis tick label. The strategy adapts
- * to whether bars are years or months and how many are visible:
- *  - Year bars: pick years divisible by a step that scales with range length
- *    (every 25 yrs for >120 bars, every 20 / 10 / 5 / 1 below).
- *  - Month bars: prefer January boundaries (year breaks). For ≤18 bars (e.g.
- *    one year zoomed in to months), fall back to evenly spaced ticks so we
- *    show ~6 labels even when no January boundary exists.
- */
-export function tickIndicesFor(filled: MonthBucket[]): number[] {
-	if (filled.length === 0) return [];
-	const isYearMode = filled[0].month.length === 4;
-	const indices: number[] = [];
-
-	if (isYearMode) {
-		const years = filled.length;
-		const step =
-			years > 120 ? 25 : years > 60 ? 20 : years > 30 ? 10 : years > 12 ? 5 : years > 6 ? 2 : 1;
-		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i++) {
-			const year = parseInt(filled[i].month, 10);
-			if (year % step === 0) indices.push(i);
-		}
-		return indices;
-	}
-
-	if (filled.length <= 18) {
-		const step = Math.max(1, Math.round(filled.length / 6));
-		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i += step) indices.push(i);
-		return indices;
-	}
-
-	// Long month range — pick January boundaries (year breaks).
-	for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i++) {
-		if (filled[i].month.endsWith('-01')) indices.push(i);
-	}
-	// Fallback if there's no January in the visible range (rare): even spacing.
-	if (indices.length === 0) {
-		const step = Math.max(1, Math.round(filled.length / 6));
-		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i += step) indices.push(i);
-	}
-	return indices;
-}
-
-/**
- * Formats a bucket month label ("YYYY" or "YYYY-MM") for the X-axis. When
- * `omitYear` is true the year is dropped so a 12-month zoomed view reads as
- * "Jan", "Feb", … without repetition.
- */
-export function formatTickLabel(label: string, locale?: string, omitYear = false): string {
-	if (label.length === 4) return label;
-	const [yearStr, monthStr] = label.split('-');
-	const date = new Date(parseInt(yearStr, 10), parseInt(monthStr, 10) - 1, 1);
-	const opts: Intl.DateTimeFormatOptions = omitYear
-		? { month: 'short' }
-		: { month: 'short', year: 'numeric' };
-	return new Intl.DateTimeFormat(locale, opts).format(date);
-}
-
 /**
  * The subset of /documents URL params that should narrow the density chart.
  * Date bounds (`from`/`to`) are intentionally excluded — see
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..11f18e23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import {
+	monthBoundaryFrom,
+	monthBoundaryTo,
+	buildMonthSequence,
+	fillDensityGaps,
+	aggregateToYears,
+	selectionBoundaryFrom,
+	selectionBoundaryTo,
+	clipBucketsToRange,
+	tickIndicesFor,
+	formatTickLabel
+} from './monthBuckets';
+
+describe('monthBoundaryFrom', () => {
+	it('returns the first day of the given month', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryFrom('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-01');
+	});
+
+	it('handles January', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryFrom('1920-01')).toBe('1920-01-01');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('monthBoundaryTo', () => {
+	it('returns the last day of a 31-day month', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-31');
+	});
+
+	it('returns the last day of a 30-day month', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-04')).toBe('1915-04-30');
+	});
+
+	it('returns 28 for February in a non-leap year', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1915-02')).toBe('1915-02-28');
+	});
+
+	it('returns 29 for February in a leap year', () => {
+		expect(monthBoundaryTo('1916-02')).toBe('1916-02-29');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('buildMonthSequence', () => {
+	it('returns a single month when min and max are in the same month', () => {
+		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-03', '1915-08-22')).toEqual(['1915-08']);
+	});
+
+	it('returns months from minDate through maxDate inclusive', () => {
+		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-03', '1915-11-15')).toEqual([
+			'1915-08',
+			'1915-09',
+			'1915-10',
+			'1915-11'
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('crosses year boundaries correctly', () => {
+		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-11-30', '1916-02-01')).toEqual([
+			'1915-11',
+			'1915-12',
+			'1916-01',
+			'1916-02'
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('returns empty array when minDate or maxDate is null', () => {
+		expect(buildMonthSequence(null, '1915-08-01')).toEqual([]);
+		expect(buildMonthSequence('1915-08-01', null)).toEqual([]);
+		expect(buildMonthSequence(null, null)).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('fillDensityGaps', () => {
+	it('returns empty array when minDate or maxDate is null', () => {
+		expect(fillDensityGaps([], null, null)).toEqual([]);
+	});
+
+	it('preserves existing buckets and adds zero-count buckets for missing months', () => {
+		const buckets = [
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
+			{ month: '1915-11', count: 2 }
+		];
+
+		const result = fillDensityGaps(buckets, '1915-08-03', '1915-11-30');
+
+		expect(result).toEqual([
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 0 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 0 },
+			{ month: '1915-11', count: 2 }
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('returns all-zero sequence when buckets array is empty', () => {
+		const result = fillDensityGaps([], '1915-08-03', '1915-10-15');
+
+		expect(result).toEqual([
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 0 },
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 0 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 0 }
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('keeps results sorted chronologically even when buckets arrive out of order', () => {
+		const buckets = [
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 3 },
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 1 }
+		];
+
+		const result = fillDensityGaps(buckets, '1915-08-01', '1915-10-31');
+
+		expect(result.map((b) => b.month)).toEqual(['1915-08', '1915-09', '1915-10']);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('aggregateToYears', () => {
+	it('returns empty array for empty input', () => {
+		expect(aggregateToYears([])).toEqual([]);
+	});
+
+	it('sums counts within the same year', () => {
+		const result = aggregateToYears([
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
+		]);
+		expect(result).toEqual([{ month: '1915', count: 15 }]);
+	});
+
+	it('produces one bucket per distinct year, sorted chronologically', () => {
+		const result = aggregateToYears([
+			{ month: '1916-01', count: 3 },
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
+			{ month: '1916-04', count: 7 },
+			{ month: '1914-12', count: 1 }
+		]);
+		expect(result).toEqual([
+			{ month: '1914', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915', count: 5 },
+			{ month: '1916', count: 10 }
+		]);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('clipBucketsToRange', () => {
+	const buckets = [
+		{ month: '1915-08', count: 5 },
+		{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
+		{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 },
+		{ month: '1915-11', count: 3 }
+	];
+
+	it('returns the original buckets when range bounds are null', () => {
+		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, null, null)).toBe(buckets);
+	});
+
+	it('keeps only buckets whose month falls within the range', () => {
+		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1915-09-01', '1915-10-31')).toEqual([
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('returns an empty array when the range excludes everything', () => {
+		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1916-01-01', '1916-12-31')).toEqual([]);
+	});
+
+	it('treats partial dates correctly when bounds cross month boundaries', () => {
+		expect(clipBucketsToRange(buckets, '1915-09-15', '1915-10-15')).toEqual([
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 2 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 8 }
+		]);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('selectionBoundaryFrom / To', () => {
+	it('handles month labels (YYYY-MM)', () => {
+		expect(selectionBoundaryFrom('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-01');
+		expect(selectionBoundaryTo('1915-08')).toBe('1915-08-31');
+	});
+
+	it('handles year labels (YYYY)', () => {
+		expect(selectionBoundaryFrom('1915')).toBe('1915-01-01');
+		expect(selectionBoundaryTo('1915')).toBe('1915-12-31');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('tickIndicesFor', () => {
+	it('returns no indices for an empty bucket list', () => {
+		expect(tickIndicesFor([])).toEqual([]);
+	});
+
+	it('picks years divisible by 25 when the year span exceeds 120', () => {
+		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 150 }, (_, i) => ({
+			month: String(1875 + i),
+			count: 1
+		}));
+		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
+		const labels = ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month);
+		expect(labels).toEqual(['1875', '1900', '1925', '1950', '1975', '2000']);
+	});
+
+	it('picks years divisible by 10 for medium ranges (~50 years)', () => {
+		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 50 }, (_, i) => ({
+			month: String(1900 + i),
+			count: 1
+		}));
+		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
+		const labels = ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month);
+		expect(labels).toEqual(['1900', '1910', '1920', '1930', '1940']);
+	});
+
+	it('picks January boundaries for long month ranges', () => {
+		const buckets = [
+			{ month: '1914-08', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1914-09', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1914-10', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1914-11', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1914-12', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-01', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-02', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-03', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-04', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-05', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-06', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-07', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-08', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-09', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-10', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-11', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1915-12', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1916-01', count: 1 },
+			{ month: '1916-02', count: 1 }
+		];
+		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
+		expect(ticks.map((i) => buckets[i].month)).toEqual(['1915-01', '1916-01']);
+	});
+
+	it('falls back to evenly spaced ticks for short month ranges (12 months)', () => {
+		const buckets = Array.from({ length: 12 }, (_, i) => ({
+			month: `1905-${String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')}`,
+			count: 1
+		}));
+		const ticks = tickIndicesFor(buckets);
+		expect(ticks.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(5);
+		expect(ticks.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(7);
+		expect(ticks[0]).toBe(0);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('formatTickLabel', () => {
+	it('returns the year string unchanged for year labels', () => {
+		expect(formatTickLabel('1905', 'en-US')).toBe('1905');
+	});
+
+	it('formats month labels with the year by default', () => {
+		const result = formatTickLabel('1905-06', 'en-US');
+		expect(result).toMatch(/Jun/);
+		expect(result).toMatch(/1905/);
+	});
+
+	it('omits the year when omitYear is true', () => {
+		const result = formatTickLabel('1905-06', 'en-US', true);
+		expect(result).toMatch(/Jun/);
+		expect(result).not.toMatch(/1905/);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.ts b/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46a28212
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/utils/monthBuckets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+/**
+ * Pure month-bucket math shared by the document density chart (`lib/document/`)
+ * and the global timeline strip (`lib/timeline/`). Reuses the generated
+ * `MonthBucket` schema type so both surfaces stay coupled to the backend shape.
+ * No I/O, no DOM — relocated here so `lib/timeline/` never imports `lib/document/`.
+ */
+export type MonthBucket = components['schemas']['MonthBucket'];
+
+export function monthBoundaryFrom(yearMonth: string): string {
+	return `${yearMonth}-01`;
+}
+
+export function monthBoundaryTo(yearMonth: string): string {
+	const [year, month] = yearMonth.split('-').map(Number);
+	// Day 0 of `month + 1` rolls back to the last day of `month` — so passing
+	// `month` (1-indexed) into `Date.UTC(year, month, 0)` lands on the last day
+	// of that month. Handles 28/29/30/31 and leap years without a lookup table.
+	const lastDay = new Date(Date.UTC(year, month, 0)).getUTCDate();
+	return `${yearMonth}-${String(lastDay).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+export function buildMonthSequence(minDate: string | null, maxDate: string | null): string[] {
+	if (!minDate || !maxDate) return [];
+
+	const [minY, minM] = minDate.split('-').map(Number);
+	const [maxY, maxM] = maxDate.split('-').map(Number);
+
+	const sequence: string[] = [];
+	let year = minY;
+	let month = minM;
+
+	while (year < maxY || (year === maxY && month <= maxM)) {
+		sequence.push(`${year}-${String(month).padStart(2, '0')}`);
+		month += 1;
+		if (month > 12) {
+			month = 1;
+			year += 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return sequence;
+}
+
+export function fillDensityGaps(
+	buckets: MonthBucket[],
+	minDate: string | null,
+	maxDate: string | null
+): MonthBucket[] {
+	const sequence = buildMonthSequence(minDate, maxDate);
+	if (sequence.length === 0) return [];
+
+	const counts = new Map(buckets.map((b) => [b.month, b.count]));
+	return sequence.map((month) => ({ month, count: counts.get(month) ?? 0 }));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns only the month buckets whose YYYY-MM falls inside the provided
+ * `[fromInclusive, toInclusive]` ISO date range. When either bound is null the
+ * input array is returned unchanged. Used by the timeline's zoom-in tool to
+ * narrow the visible bars without refetching data.
+ *
+ * @internal Sole call site is `TimelineDensityFilter.svelte`. Exported so the
+ * unit suite (`monthBuckets.spec.ts`) can pin the boundary semantics directly.
+ */
+export function clipBucketsToRange(
+	buckets: MonthBucket[],
+	fromInclusive: string | null,
+	toInclusive: string | null
+): MonthBucket[] {
+	if (!fromInclusive || !toInclusive) return buckets;
+	const fromMonth = fromInclusive.slice(0, 7);
+	const toMonth = toInclusive.slice(0, 7);
+	return buckets.filter((b) => b.month >= fromMonth && b.month <= toMonth);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Aggregates month-granular buckets into one entry per year. Month strings are
+ * truncated to "YYYY" and counts are summed. Used when the date span is too
+ * long for month-granular bars to render at a clickable size.
+ */
+export function aggregateToYears(buckets: MonthBucket[]): MonthBucket[] {
+	const totals = new Map<string, number>();
+	for (const b of buckets) {
+		const year = b.month.slice(0, 4);
+		totals.set(year, (totals.get(year) ?? 0) + b.count);
+	}
+	return Array.from(totals.entries())
+		.map(([year, count]) => ({ month: year, count }))
+		.sort((a, b) => a.month.localeCompare(b.month));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Boundary helpers for selection. Accept either "YYYY-MM" (month) or "YYYY"
+ * (year) and return the matching LocalDate string.
+ */
+export function selectionBoundaryFrom(label: string): string {
+	return label.length === 4 ? `${label}-01-01` : `${label}-01`;
+}
+
+export function selectionBoundaryTo(label: string): string {
+	if (label.length === 4) return `${label}-12-31`;
+	return monthBoundaryTo(label);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Picks bucket indices that should get an X-axis tick label. The strategy adapts
+ * to whether bars are years or months and how many are visible:
+ *  - Year bars: pick years divisible by a step that scales with range length
+ *    (every 25 yrs for >120 bars, every 20 / 10 / 5 / 1 below).
+ *  - Month bars: prefer January boundaries (year breaks). For ≤18 bars (e.g.
+ *    one year zoomed in to months), fall back to evenly spaced ticks so we
+ *    show ~6 labels even when no January boundary exists.
+ */
+export function tickIndicesFor(filled: MonthBucket[]): number[] {
+	if (filled.length === 0) return [];
+	const isYearMode = filled[0].month.length === 4;
+	const indices: number[] = [];
+
+	if (isYearMode) {
+		const years = filled.length;
+		const step =
+			years > 120 ? 25 : years > 60 ? 20 : years > 30 ? 10 : years > 12 ? 5 : years > 6 ? 2 : 1;
+		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i++) {
+			const year = parseInt(filled[i].month, 10);
+			if (year % step === 0) indices.push(i);
+		}
+		return indices;
+	}
+
+	if (filled.length <= 18) {
+		const step = Math.max(1, Math.round(filled.length / 6));
+		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i += step) indices.push(i);
+		return indices;
+	}
+
+	// Long month range — pick January boundaries (year breaks).
+	for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i++) {
+		if (filled[i].month.endsWith('-01')) indices.push(i);
+	}
+	// Fallback if there's no January in the visible range (rare): even spacing.
+	if (indices.length === 0) {
+		const step = Math.max(1, Math.round(filled.length / 6));
+		for (let i = 0; i < filled.length; i += step) indices.push(i);
+	}
+	return indices;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Formats a bucket month label ("YYYY" or "YYYY-MM") for the X-axis. When
+ * `omitYear` is true the year is dropped so a 12-month zoomed view reads as
+ * "Jan", "Feb", … without repetition.
+ */
+export function formatTickLabel(label: string, locale?: string, omitYear = false): string {
+	if (label.length === 4) return label;
+	const [yearStr, monthStr] = label.split('-');
+	const date = new Date(parseInt(yearStr, 10), parseInt(monthStr, 10) - 1, 1);
+	const opts: Intl.DateTimeFormatOptions = omitYear
+		? { month: 'short' }
+		: { month: 'short', year: 'numeric' };
+	return new Intl.DateTimeFormat(locale, opts).format(date);
+}