diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte
index 514f808f..f2bdfd3c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ let {
 }: Props = $props();
 
 const MIN_HEIGHT = 52; // drag handle (8px) + tab bar (~44px)
-const DEFAULT_HEIGHT = 320;
 
 let isDragging = $state(false);
 let dragStartY = 0;
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ function openTab(tab: Tab) {
 	activeTab = tab;
 	if (!open) {
 		open = true;
-		if (height <= MIN_HEIGHT) height = DEFAULT_HEIGHT;
+		if (height <= MIN_HEIGHT) height = Math.floor(window.innerHeight * 0.8);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ function onDragMove(e: PointerEvent) {
 		open = false;
 	} else {
 		open = true;
-		height = Math.max(DEFAULT_HEIGHT / 4, Math.min(newHeight, maxHeight));
+		height = Math.max(80, Math.min(newHeight, maxHeight));
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
index b866dc0f..5e26f946 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ const LS_KEY_HEIGHT = 'doc-panel-height';
 const LS_KEY_TAB = 'doc-panel-tab';
 
 let panelOpen = $state(false);
-let panelHeight = $state(320);
+let panelHeight = $state(0); // set to 80vh on mount
 let activeTab = $state<Tab>('metadata');
 let localStorageRestored = $state(false);
 
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ onMount(() => {
 	if (savedTab && ['metadata', 'transcription', 'discussion', 'history'].includes(savedTab)) {
 		activeTab = savedTab as Tab;
 	}
+	panelHeight = Math.floor(window.innerHeight * 0.8);
 	if (savedHeight) {
 		const h = parseInt(savedHeight, 10);
 		if (!isNaN(h) && h >= 80) panelHeight = h;