diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.cc b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.cc
index 8052931885..12bf656a68 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.cc
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.cc
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ ChartsWidget::ChartsWidget() {
     if (index != -1) updateLayout();
   }));
 
-  setIsDocked(true);
   newTab();
 }
 
@@ -153,11 +152,6 @@ void ChartsWidget::setMaxChartRange(int value) {
   updateState();
 }
 
-void ChartsWidget::setIsDocked(bool docked) {
-  is_docked_ = docked;
-  if (!docked) float_window_init_ = true;
-}
-
 void ChartsWidget::drawToolBar() {
   float slider_width = 150.0f;
   const bool is_zoomed = can->timeRange().has_value();
@@ -170,11 +164,6 @@ void ChartsWidget::drawToolBar() {
   items.push_back({iconButtonWidth(), [this]() {
     if (iconButton("new_tab_btn", icon::WINDOW_PLUS, "New Tab")) newTab();
   }});
-  const std::string title_label = "Charts: " + std::to_string(charts_.size());
-  items.push_back({ImGui::CalcTextSize(title_label.c_str()).x, [&title_label]() {
-    ImGui::AlignTextToFramePadding();
-    ImGui::TextUnformatted(title_label.c_str());
-  }});
 
   const int type_count = (int)std::size(SERIES_TYPE_NAMES);
   const std::string chart_type_text = std::string("Type:  ") + SERIES_TYPE_NAMES[std::clamp(settings.chart_series_type, 0, type_count - 1)];
@@ -247,9 +236,6 @@ void ChartsWidget::drawToolBar() {
     }});
   }
   items.push_back(toolbarAction("remove_all_btn", icon::TRASH, "Remove all charts", [this]() { removeAll(); }, !charts_.empty()));
-  const char *dock_btn_icon = is_docked_ ? icon::BOX_ARROW_UP_RIGHT : icon::BOX_ARROW_IN_DOWN_LEFT;
-  const char *dock_label = is_docked_ ? "Float the charts window" : "Dock the charts window";
-  items.push_back(toolbarAction("dock_btn", dock_btn_icon, dock_label, [this]() { toggleChartsDocking(); }));
 
   // the slider shrinks first, the buttons stay pinned to the right edge
   if (slider_index != (size_t)-1) {
@@ -575,15 +561,6 @@ void ChartsWidget::handleEvents() {
 
 void ChartsWidget::draw() {
   deleted_charts_.clear();
-  // the floating window is a top level window sized to its contents: keep it inside the main viewport so its
-  // toolbar stays reachable, then let the user resize it
-  if (float_window_init_ && !is_docked_) {
-    float_window_init_ = false;
-    const ImGuiViewport *viewport = ImGui::GetMainViewport();
-    const ImVec2 size(viewport->WorkSize.x * 0.6f, viewport->WorkSize.y * 0.6f);
-    ImGui::SetWindowSize(size);
-    ImGui::SetWindowPos(viewport->WorkPos + (viewport->WorkSize - size) * 0.5f);
-  }
   ImGui::PushID(this);
   if (auto_scroll_timer_active_ && ImGui::GetTime() >= auto_scroll_timer_next_) {
     auto_scroll_timer_next_ = ImGui::GetTime() + 0.05;
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.h b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.h
index c8c1ef7e13..16e1700631 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.h
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/chart/chartswidget.h
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ class ChartsWidget {
 public:
   ChartsWidget();
   ~ChartsWidget();  // out of line: the header users only see a forward declared ChartView
-  void draw();  // content only; MainWindow wraps it in a child region or the floating window
+  void draw();  // content only; MainWindow owns the dockable panel
+  size_t chartCount() const { return charts_.size(); }
   void showChart(const MessageId &id, const cabana::Signal *sig, bool show, bool merge);
   inline bool hasSignal(const MessageId &id, const cabana::Signal *sig) { return findChart(id, sig) != nullptr; }
   std::vector<std::string> serializeChartIds() const;
@@ -77,9 +78,7 @@ public:
 
   void setColumnCount(int n);
   void removeAll();
-  void setIsDocked(bool dock);
 
-  Observable<> toggleChartsDocking;
   Observable<> seriesChanged;
   Observable<double> showTip;
 
@@ -116,8 +115,6 @@ private:
   void drawDragPreview();
 
   LogSlider range_slider_{1000};
-  bool is_docked_ = true;
-  bool float_window_init_ = false;  // the floating window geometry is set once, right after undocking
 
   UndoStack zoom_undo_stack_;
 
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.cc b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.cc
index 2243690600..4dffec494f 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.cc
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ void readLine(ImGuiContext *, ImGuiSettingsHandler *, void *entry, const char *l
     state->video_splitter_ratio = ratio;
   } else if (sscanf(line, "MessagesVisible=%d", &flag) == 1) {
     state->messages_visible = flag != 0;
+  } else if (sscanf(line, "ChartsVisible=%d", &flag) == 1) {
+    state->charts_visible = flag != 0;
   } else if (sscanf(line, "VideoVisible=%d", &flag) == 1) {
     state->video_visible = flag != 0;
   }
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ void writeAll(ImGuiContext *, ImGuiSettingsHandler *handler, ImGuiTextBuffer *bu
   buf->appendf("VideoSplitterRatio=%.4f\n", main_window.video_splitter_ratio);
   buf->appendf("MessagesVisible=%d\n", main_window.messages_visible ? 1 : 0);
   buf->appendf("VideoVisible=%d\n", main_window.video_visible ? 1 : 0);
+  buf->appendf("ChartsVisible=%d\n", main_window.charts_visible ? 1 : 0);
   buf->append("\n");
 }
 
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.h b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.h
index a460802d24..fd17c7e98e 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.h
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/inistate.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ struct MainWindowState {
   float video_splitter_ratio = -1.0f;  // < 0: video at its size hint
   bool messages_visible = true;
   bool video_visible = true;
+  bool charts_visible = true;
 };
 
 extern MainWindowState main_window;
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.cc b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.cc
index 0683116424..777f947804 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.cc
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.cc
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ constexpr const char *CHARTS_WINDOW = "Charts###ChartsWindow";
 MainWindow::MainWindow(GLFWwindow *window, std::unique_ptr<AbstractStream> stream, StreamLoader stream_loader,
                        const std::string &dbc_file) : window_(window) {
   can = &dummy_;
-  video_splitter_ratio_ = inistate::main_window.video_splitter_ratio;
   messages_visible_ = inistate::main_window.messages_visible;
   video_visible_ = inistate::main_window.video_visible;
+  charts_visible_ = inistate::main_window.charts_visible;
   loadFingerprints();
   std::error_code ec;
   for (const auto &entry : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(OPENDBC_FILE_PATH, ec)) {
@@ -162,10 +162,10 @@ void MainWindow::drawMenuBar() {
     ImGui::Separator();
     dropdown::Item(messages_widget_ ? messages_widget_->title().c_str() : "MESSAGES", nullptr, &messages_visible_);
     dropdown::Item(video_dock_title_.empty() ? "Video" : video_dock_title_.c_str(), nullptr, &video_visible_);
+    dropdown::Item("Charts", nullptr, &charts_visible_);
     ImGui::Separator();
     if (dropdown::Item("Reset Window Layout")) {
-      messages_visible_ = video_visible_ = true;
-      video_splitter_ratio_ = -1.0f;
+      messages_visible_ = video_visible_ = charts_visible_ = true;
       reset_layout_ = true;
     }
     dropdown::EndMenu();
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ void MainWindow::createDockWidgets() {
   charts_widget_ = std::make_unique<ChartsWidget>();
   center_widget_.setChartsWidget(charts_widget_.get());
   video_widget_ = std::make_unique<VideoWidget>();
-  widget_connections_.push_back(charts_widget_->toggleChartsDocking.connect([this]() { toggleChartsDocking(); }));
 }
 
 void MainWindow::showStatusMessage(const std::string &msg, int timeout_ms) {
@@ -578,11 +577,6 @@ void MainWindow::updateDownloadProgress(uint64_t cur, uint64_t total, bool succe
   }
 }
 
-void MainWindow::toggleChartsDocking() {
-  charts_floating_ = !charts_floating_;
-  charts_widget_->setIsDocked(!charts_floating_);
-}
-
 void MainWindow::close() {
   if (closing_) return;
   closing_ = true;
@@ -604,9 +598,9 @@ void MainWindow::finishClose() {
     glfwGetWindowSize(window_, &state.size[0], &state.size[1]);
   }
   state.has_geometry = state.size[0] > 0 && state.size[1] > 0;
-  state.video_splitter_ratio = video_splitter_ratio_;
   state.messages_visible = messages_visible_;
   state.video_visible = video_visible_;
+  state.charts_visible = charts_visible_;
   settings.ui_state = inistate::save();
 
   saveSessionState();
@@ -787,15 +781,18 @@ void MainWindow::drawDockspace() {
   ImGui::SetCursorPosY(ImGui::GetCursorPosY() + top_gap);
   const ImVec2 dock_size(ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail().x, ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail().y - status_height);
   const ImGuiID dock_id = ImGui::GetID("cabana_dockspace");
-  if (reset_layout_ || ImGui::DockBuilderGetNode(dock_id) == nullptr) {
-    // messages left, video (with charts) right, center widget in the middle
+  if (reset_layout_ || ImGui::DockBuilderGetNode(dock_id) == nullptr ||
+      (!ImGui::FindWindowByName(CHARTS_WINDOW) && !ImGui::FindWindowSettingsByID(ImHashStr(CHARTS_WINDOW)))) {
+    // Messages left, route above charts on the right, details in the middle.
     ImGui::DockBuilderRemoveNode(dock_id);
     ImGui::DockBuilderAddNode(dock_id, ImGuiDockNodeFlags_DockSpace);
     ImGui::DockBuilderSetNodePos(dock_id, ImGui::GetCursorScreenPos());
     ImGui::DockBuilderSetNodeSize(dock_id, dock_size);
-    ImGuiID center = dock_id, left = 0, right = 0;
+    ImGuiID center = dock_id, left = 0, right = 0, charts = 0;
     ImGui::DockBuilderSplitNode(center, ImGuiDir_Left, 0.28f, &left, &center);
     ImGui::DockBuilderSplitNode(center, ImGuiDir_Right, 0.4f, &right, &center);
+    ImGui::DockBuilderSplitNode(right, ImGuiDir_Down, 0.55f, &charts, &right);
+    ImGui::DockBuilderDockWindow(CHARTS_WINDOW, charts);
     ImGui::DockBuilderDockWindow(MESSAGES_PANEL_ID, left);
     ImGui::DockBuilderDockWindow(VIDEO_PANEL, right);
     ImGui::DockBuilderDockWindow(CENTER_PANEL, center);
@@ -856,66 +853,10 @@ void MainWindow::drawVideoPanel() {
   if (video_widget_ && !video_open) {
     video_widget_->setVisible(false);  // the dock is collapsed or tabbed behind another one, like hideEvent
   } else if (video_widget_) {
-    const ImVec2 avail = ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail();
-    const bool live = can->liveStreaming();
-    // the bordered child pads its content, so the heights the widget asks for grow by the padding
-    const float video_padding = ImGui::GetStyle().WindowPadding.y * 2.0f;
-    // the camera is as wide as the child's content region, not the panel
-    const float default_h = video_widget_->defaultHeight(avail.x - ImGui::GetStyle().WindowPadding.x * 2.0f) + video_padding;
-    const float video_hint = video_splitter_ratio_ >= 0.0f ? avail.y * video_splitter_ratio_ : default_h;
-    float video_h = charts_floating_ ? avail.y : std::clamp(video_hint, 0.0f, avail.y - 1.0f);
-    if (live) video_h = default_h;  // display video at minimum size.
-    // Collapse panes below half their minimum height to keep partially clipped controls out of view.
-    bool charts_collapsed = false;
-    const float splitter_h = ImGui::GetStyle().WindowPadding.x * 2.0f + 2.0f;
-    if (!charts_floating_ && !live) {
-      const float min_h = std::min(video_widget_->sizeHintHeight() + video_padding, avail.y - 1.0f);
-      video_h = video_h < min_h / 2 ? 0.0f : std::max(video_h, min_h);
-      const float charts_min_h = ImGui::GetFrameHeight() + video_padding + ImGui::GetStyle().ChildBorderSize * 2.0f;
-      const float charts_h = avail.y - video_h - splitter_h;
-      if (charts_h < charts_min_h / 2) {
-        charts_collapsed = true;
-        video_h = avail.y - splitter_h;
-      } else if (charts_h < charts_min_h) {
-        video_h = avail.y - splitter_h - charts_min_h;
-      }
-    }
-    // Replay uses a splitter for the gap; live streams use normal item spacing.
-    if (video_h > 0.0f) {
-      ImGui::BeginChild("video", ImVec2(0, video_h), ImGuiChildFlags_Borders);
-      help_overlay_.add(video_widget_->whatsThis(), ImGui::GetCurrentWindow()->Rect());
-      video_widget_->draw();
-      ImGui::EndChild();
-      // The splitter supplies the pane gap; keep normal spacing inside the video child.
-      if (!charts_floating_ && !live) ImGui::SetCursorPosY(ImGui::GetCursorPosY() - ImGui::GetStyle().ItemSpacing.y);
-    } else {
-      video_widget_->setVisible(false);  // the splitter collapsed the video: stop the vipc thread
-    }
-    if (!charts_floating_ && !live) {
-      ImGui::PushStyleVar(ImGuiStyleVar_ItemSpacing, ImVec2(ImGui::GetStyle().ItemSpacing.x, 0.0f));
-      ImGui::InvisibleButton("##splitter", ImVec2(-1.0f, splitter_h));
-      const bool splitter_hovered = ImGui::IsItemHovered() && !live, splitter_active = ImGui::IsItemActive() && !live;
-      if (splitter_active) {
-        // the size of the video is the position of the handle inside the splitter
-        const float top = ImGui::GetWindowPos().y + ImGui::GetCursorStartPos().y;
-        video_splitter_ratio_ = std::clamp((ImGui::GetMousePos().y - top) / avail.y, 0.0f, 1.0f);
-      }
-      if (splitter_hovered) ImGui::SetMouseCursor(ImGuiMouseCursor_ResizeNS);
-      const ImRect splitter(ImGui::GetItemRectMin(), ImGui::GetItemRectMax());
-      const float line_y = std::floor(splitter.GetCenter().y) - 1.0f;
-      ImGui::GetWindowDrawList()->AddRectFilled(ImVec2(splitter.Min.x, line_y), ImVec2(splitter.Max.x, line_y + 2.0f),
-                                                ImGui::GetColorU32(splitter_active ? ImGuiCol_SeparatorActive : splitter_hovered ? ImGuiCol_SeparatorHovered : ImGuiCol_Border));
-      ImGui::PopStyleVar();
-    }
-    if (!charts_floating_) {
-      if (!charts_collapsed) {
-        // the chart list scrolls in its own child, the container itself never scrolls
-        ImGui::BeginChild("charts", ImVec2(0, 0), ImGuiChildFlags_Borders, ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollbar | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollWithMouse);
-        help_overlay_.add(charts_widget_->whatsThis(), ImGui::GetCurrentWindow()->Rect());
-        charts_widget_->draw();
-        ImGui::EndChild();
-      }
-    }
+    ImGui::BeginChild("video", ImVec2(0, 0), ImGuiChildFlags_Borders);
+    help_overlay_.add(video_widget_->whatsThis(), ImGui::GetCurrentWindow()->Rect());
+    video_widget_->draw();
+    ImGui::EndChild();
   }
   ImGui::End();
   if (!video_visible_ && floating) video_visible_ = reset_layout_ = true;
@@ -952,16 +893,16 @@ void MainWindow::draw() {
   if (messages_visible_) drawMessagesPanel();
   if (video_widget_ && !video_visible_) video_widget_->setVisible(false);
   if (video_visible_) drawVideoPanel();
-  if (charts_widget_ && charts_floating_) {
-    bool open = true;
-    ImGui::SetNextWindowSize(ImGui::GetMainViewport()->WorkSize, ImGuiCond_Appearing);
-    setNextWindowFloatsOut();
-    if (ImGui::Begin(CHARTS_WINDOW, &open, ImGuiWindowFlags_NoSavedSettings | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollbar | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollWithMouse)) {
-      help_overlay_.add(charts_widget_->whatsThis(), ImGui::GetCurrentWindow()->Rect());
-      charts_widget_->draw();
+  if (charts_visible_) {
+    const std::string charts_title = "Charts: " + std::to_string(charts_widget_ ? charts_widget_->chartCount() : 0) + "###ChartsWindow";
+    setNextPanelClass();
+    if (beginPanel(charts_title.c_str(), &charts_visible_, ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollbar | ImGuiWindowFlags_NoScrollWithMouse)) {
+      if (charts_widget_) {
+        help_overlay_.add(charts_widget_->whatsThis(), ImGui::GetCurrentWindow()->Rect());
+        charts_widget_->draw();
+      }
     }
     ImGui::End();
-    if (!open) toggleChartsDocking();
   }
   for (auto it = tool_dialogs_.begin(); it != tool_dialogs_.end();) {
     it = (*it)->draw() ? it + 1 : tool_dialogs_.erase(it);
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.h b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.h
index 72c24a3464..840ca0990a 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.h
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/mainwin.h
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ public:
   MainWindow(GLFWwindow *window, std::unique_ptr<AbstractStream> stream, StreamLoader stream_loader, const std::string &dbc_file);
   ~MainWindow();
   void draw();
-  void toggleChartsDocking();
   void close();  // remind unsaved changes, save state, exit
   bool exited() const { return exited_; }
   void showStatusMessage(const std::string &msg, int timeout_ms = 0);
@@ -105,13 +104,12 @@ private:
   std::string video_dock_title_;
   bool messages_visible_ = true;
   bool video_visible_ = true;
+  bool charts_visible_ = true;
   bool reset_layout_ = false;
   bool full_screen_ = false;
 #ifndef __APPLE__
   int windowed_rect_[4] = {0, 0, 1600, 900};
 #endif
-  bool charts_floating_ = false;
-  float video_splitter_ratio_ = -1.0f;  // < 0: the video widget is at its size hint
   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<ToolDialog>> tool_dialogs_;
   bool closing_ = false;
   bool exited_ = false;
diff --git a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/widgets/videowidget.cc b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/widgets/videowidget.cc
index 8b269fa8b2..5c8a9ede3c 100644
--- a/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/widgets/videowidget.cc
+++ b/openpilot/tools/cabana/ui/widgets/videowidget.cc
@@ -278,9 +278,9 @@ void VideoWidget::drawCameraWidget() {
   ImGui::PushStyleVar(ImGuiStyleVar_ItemSpacing, ImVec2(ImGui::GetStyle().ItemSpacing.x, 0.0f));
   camera_tab_->draw();
 
-  // cam_widget_: minimum height MIN_VIDEO_HEIGHT, takes the space left by the slider and the toolbar
+  // Reserve the timeline and playback controls even when the native dock is short.
   const ImVec2 avail = ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail();
-  const float cam_height = std::max((float)MIN_VIDEO_HEIGHT, avail.y - SLIDER_HEIGHT - toolbar_height);
+  const float cam_height = std::max(1.0f, avail.y - SLIDER_HEIGHT - toolbar_height);
   cam_widget_->draw(ImVec2(avail.x, cam_height), thumbnail_display_time_);
 
   if (!slider_->isSliderDown()) slider_->setCurrentSecond(can->currentSec());