diff --git a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/PageLayout.tsx b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/PageLayout.tsx
index 29afbe4477a..8c1a4a4af5a 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/PageLayout.tsx
+++ b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/PageLayout.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {canUseDOM} from '../utils/environment'
 import {useOverflow} from '../hooks/useOverflow'
 import {warning} from '../utils/warning'
 import {getResponsiveAttributes} from '../internal/utils/getResponsiveAttributes'
+import {usePaneWidth} from './usePaneWidth'
 
 import classes from './PageLayout.module.css'
 import type {FCWithSlotMarker, WithSlotMarker} from '../utils/types'
@@ -172,25 +173,18 @@ const VerticalDivider: React.FC<React.PropsWithChildren<DividerProps & Draggable
 
   const {paneRef} = React.useContext(PageLayoutContext)
 
-  const [minWidth, setMinWidth] = React.useState(0)
-  const [maxWidth, setMaxWidth] = React.useState(0)
-  const [currentWidth, setCurrentWidth] = React.useState(0)
+  // Use optimized hook for pane width management with RAF-based resize handling
+  const {minWidth, maxWidth, currentWidth} = usePaneWidth({
+    paneRef,
+    isDragging,
+    isKeyboardDrag,
+  })
 
+  // Track current width locally for synchronous keyboard dragging
+  const currentWidthRef = React.useRef(currentWidth)
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (paneRef.current !== null) {
-      const paneStyles = getComputedStyle(paneRef.current as Element)
-      const maxPaneWidthDiffPixels = paneStyles.getPropertyValue('--pane-max-width-diff')
-      const minWidthPixels = paneStyles.getPropertyValue('--pane-min-width')
-      const paneWidth = paneRef.current.getBoundingClientRect().width
-      const maxPaneWidthDiff = Number(maxPaneWidthDiffPixels.split('px')[0])
-      const minPaneWidth = Number(minWidthPixels.split('px')[0])
-      const viewportWidth = window.innerWidth
-      const maxPaneWidth = viewportWidth > maxPaneWidthDiff ? viewportWidth - maxPaneWidthDiff : viewportWidth
-      setMinWidth(minPaneWidth)
-      setMaxWidth(maxPaneWidth)
-      setCurrentWidth(paneWidth || 0)
-    }
-  }, [paneRef, isKeyboardDrag, isDragging])
+    currentWidthRef.current = currentWidth
+  }, [currentWidth])
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     stableOnDrag.current = onDrag
@@ -215,14 +209,14 @@ const VerticalDivider: React.FC<React.PropsWithChildren<DividerProps & Draggable
     function handleKeyDrag(event: KeyboardEvent) {
       let delta = 0
       // https://github.com/github/accessibility/issues/5101#issuecomment-1822870655
-      if ((event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowDown') && currentWidth > minWidth) {
+      if ((event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowDown') && currentWidthRef.current > minWidth) {
         delta = -3
-      } else if ((event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowUp') && currentWidth < maxWidth) {
+      } else if ((event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowUp') && currentWidthRef.current < maxWidth) {
         delta = 3
       } else {
         return
       }
-      setCurrentWidth(currentWidth + delta)
+      currentWidthRef.current = currentWidthRef.current + delta
       stableOnDrag.current?.(delta, true)
       event.preventDefault()
     }
diff --git a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/__snapshots__/PageLayout.test.tsx.snap b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/__snapshots__/PageLayout.test.tsx.snap
index 5ac82e6ca02..56a6806088c 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/__snapshots__/PageLayout.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/__snapshots__/PageLayout.test.tsx.snap
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ exports[`PageLayout > renders condensed layout 1`] = `
           />
           <div
             class="prc-PageLayout-Pane-g6fEI"
-            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px;"
+            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px; --pane-max-width-visual: 321px;"
           >
             Pane
           </div>
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ exports[`PageLayout > renders default layout 1`] = `
           />
           <div
             class="prc-PageLayout-Pane-g6fEI"
-            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px;"
+            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px; --pane-max-width-visual: 321px;"
           >
             Pane
           </div>
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ exports[`PageLayout > renders pane in different position when narrow 1`] = `
           />
           <div
             class="prc-PageLayout-Pane-g6fEI"
-            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px;"
+            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px; --pane-max-width-visual: 321px;"
           >
             Pane
           </div>
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ exports[`PageLayout > renders with dividers 1`] = `
           />
           <div
             class="prc-PageLayout-Pane-g6fEI"
-            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px;"
+            style="--spacing: var(--spacing-none); --pane-min-width: 256px; --pane-max-width: calc(100vw - var(--pane-max-width-diff)); --pane-width-size: var(--pane-width-medium); --pane-width: 296px; --pane-max-width-visual: 321px;"
           >
             Pane
           </div>
diff --git a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.test.tsx b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cfd799c3550
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import {render, waitFor} from '@testing-library/react'
+import {describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach} from 'vitest'
+import {usePaneWidth} from './usePaneWidth'
+import {useRef} from 'react'
+
+describe('usePaneWidth', () => {
+  let mockPane: HTMLDivElement
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    // Create a mock pane element
+    mockPane = document.createElement('div')
+    mockPane.style.setProperty('--pane-max-width-diff', '300px')
+    mockPane.style.setProperty('--pane-min-width', '256px')
+
+    // Mock getBoundingClientRect
+    vi.spyOn(mockPane, 'getBoundingClientRect').mockReturnValue({
+      width: 320,
+      height: 600,
+      top: 0,
+      left: 0,
+      right: 320,
+      bottom: 600,
+      x: 0,
+      y: 0,
+      toJSON: () => ({}),
+    })
+
+    // Mock window.innerWidth
+    Object.defineProperty(window, 'innerWidth', {
+      writable: true,
+      configurable: true,
+      value: 1024,
+    })
+
+    document.body.appendChild(mockPane)
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    document.body.removeChild(mockPane)
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  it('should calculate initial pane width metrics', async () => {
+    const TestComponent = () => {
+      const paneRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(mockPane)
+      const {minWidth, maxWidth, currentWidth} = usePaneWidth({paneRef})
+
+      return (
+        <div>
+          <span data-testid="min">{minWidth}</span>
+          <span data-testid="max">{maxWidth}</span>
+          <span data-testid="current">{currentWidth}</span>
+        </div>
+      )
+    }
+
+    const {getByTestId} = render(<TestComponent />)
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(getByTestId('min').textContent).toBe('256')
+      expect(getByTestId('max').textContent).toBe('724') // 1024 - 300
+      expect(getByTestId('current').textContent).toBe('320')
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should use requestAnimationFrame for window resize', async () => {
+    const rafSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame')
+
+    const TestComponent = () => {
+      const paneRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(mockPane)
+      usePaneWidth({paneRef})
+      return <div>Test</div>
+    }
+
+    render(<TestComponent />)
+
+    // Trigger resize event
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event('resize'))
+
+    // Verify requestAnimationFrame was called
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    rafSpy.mockRestore()
+  })
+
+  it('should throttle multiple resize events to one requestAnimationFrame', async () => {
+    const rafSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'requestAnimationFrame')
+
+    const TestComponent = () => {
+      const paneRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(mockPane)
+      usePaneWidth({paneRef})
+      return <div>Test</div>
+    }
+
+    render(<TestComponent />)
+
+    // Dispatch multiple resize events in quick succession
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event('resize'))
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event('resize'))
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event('resize'))
+
+    // Should only schedule one requestAnimationFrame
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(rafSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    rafSpy.mockRestore()
+  })
+
+  it('should clean up event listeners on unmount', () => {
+    const removeEventListenerSpy = vi.spyOn(window, 'removeEventListener')
+
+    const TestComponent = () => {
+      const paneRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(mockPane)
+      usePaneWidth({paneRef})
+      return <div>Test</div>
+    }
+
+    const {unmount} = render(<TestComponent />)
+
+    unmount()
+
+    expect(removeEventListenerSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('resize', expect.any(Function))
+
+    removeEventListenerSpy.mockRestore()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.ts b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a6a5dcc8354
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react/src/PageLayout/usePaneWidth.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+import React from 'react'
+
+export interface PaneWidthMetrics {
+  minWidth: number
+  maxWidth: number
+  currentWidth: number
+}
+
+export interface UsePaneWidthOptions {
+  paneRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>
+  isDragging?: boolean
+  isKeyboardDrag?: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Hook to manage pane width calculations with optimized window resize handling.
+ * Uses requestAnimationFrame for smooth visual updates aligned with browser paint cycle.
+ */
+export function usePaneWidth({paneRef, isDragging = false, isKeyboardDrag = false}: UsePaneWidthOptions) {
+  const [minWidth, setMinWidth] = React.useState(0)
+  const [maxWidth, setMaxWidth] = React.useState(0)
+  const [currentWidth, setCurrentWidth] = React.useState(0)
+
+  // Refs to track pending updates
+  const rafIdRef = React.useRef<number | null>(null)
+  const idleIdRef = React.useRef<number | null>(null)
+
+  const updateMetrics = React.useCallback(() => {
+    if (paneRef.current === null) return
+
+    const paneStyles = getComputedStyle(paneRef.current as Element)
+    const maxPaneWidthDiffPixels = paneStyles.getPropertyValue('--pane-max-width-diff')
+    const minWidthPixels = paneStyles.getPropertyValue('--pane-min-width')
+    const paneWidth = paneRef.current.getBoundingClientRect().width
+    const maxPaneWidthDiff = Number(maxPaneWidthDiffPixels.split('px')[0])
+    const minPaneWidth = Number(minWidthPixels.split('px')[0])
+    const viewportWidth = window.innerWidth
+    const maxPaneWidth = viewportWidth > maxPaneWidthDiff ? viewportWidth - maxPaneWidthDiff : viewportWidth
+
+    // Update CSS variable immediately for visual clamping - this prevents overflow during resize
+    paneRef.current.style.setProperty('--pane-max-width-visual', `${maxPaneWidth}px`)
+
+    return {
+      minPaneWidth,
+      maxPaneWidth,
+      paneWidth: paneWidth || 0,
+    }
+  }, [paneRef])
+
+  const updateStateAndAria = React.useCallback(
+    (metrics: {minPaneWidth: number; maxPaneWidth: number; paneWidth: number}) => {
+      // Defer state updates to avoid blocking during active resize
+      // Use requestIdleCallback with fallback to setTimeout
+      const hasIdleCallback = typeof window !== 'undefined' && 'requestIdleCallback' in window
+      const idleCallback = hasIdleCallback
+        ? window.requestIdleCallback!
+        : (cb: IdleRequestCallback) => setTimeout(cb, 1) as unknown as number
+
+      if (idleIdRef.current !== null) {
+        if (hasIdleCallback) {
+          window.cancelIdleCallback!(idleIdRef.current)
+        } else {
+          clearTimeout(idleIdRef.current)
+        }
+      }
+
+      idleIdRef.current = idleCallback(() => {
+        setMinWidth(metrics.minPaneWidth)
+        setMaxWidth(metrics.maxPaneWidth)
+        setCurrentWidth(metrics.paneWidth)
+        idleIdRef.current = null
+      })
+    },
+    [],
+  )
+
+  // Initial setup and dragging state changes
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const metrics = updateMetrics()
+    if (metrics) {
+      // For initial mount and dragging state changes, update immediately
+      setMinWidth(metrics.minPaneWidth)
+      setMaxWidth(metrics.maxPaneWidth)
+      setCurrentWidth(metrics.paneWidth)
+    }
+  }, [paneRef, isKeyboardDrag, isDragging, updateMetrics])
+
+  // Window resize handler with requestAnimationFrame
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const handleResize = () => {
+      // Only schedule one animation frame at a time
+      if (rafIdRef.current !== null) return
+
+      rafIdRef.current = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        const metrics = updateMetrics()
+        if (metrics) {
+          // Defer non-critical state updates
+          updateStateAndAria(metrics)
+        }
+        rafIdRef.current = null
+      })
+    }
+
+    // eslint-disable-next-line github/prefer-observers
+    window.addEventListener('resize', handleResize)
+
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('resize', handleResize)
+
+      // Cleanup pending animation frames
+      if (rafIdRef.current !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafIdRef.current)
+        rafIdRef.current = null
+      }
+
+      // Cleanup pending idle callbacks
+      const hasIdleCallback = typeof window !== 'undefined' && 'requestIdleCallback' in window
+      if (idleIdRef.current !== null) {
+        if (hasIdleCallback) {
+          window.cancelIdleCallback!(idleIdRef.current)
+        } else {
+          clearTimeout(idleIdRef.current)
+        }
+        idleIdRef.current = null
+      }
+    }
+  }, [updateMetrics, updateStateAndAria])
+
+  return {minWidth, maxWidth, currentWidth}
+}