diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 00cd4384b..8f77059cd 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ APP_PORT=3000
 # Point this at your library root; use an absolute path on NAS/Portainer installs.
 BOOKS_HOST_PATH=./books
 
+# Optional: host folder for the Book Dock drop zone (maps to /data/book-dock inside the container).
+# Copy or move ebook files here and they will be automatically picked up and processed by Book Dock.
+# If not set, the drop folder lives inside ./data/app/book-dock (the default app data volume).
+# Use an absolute path when mounting a NAS share or a folder managed outside the app data directory.
+# BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH=/mnt/nas/book-drop
+
 # Container runtime UID/GID for files written to app-managed data folders.
 # Most users can leave these defaults.
 PUID=1000
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1b1655f66..e0d1279aa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ BookOrbit is a self-hosted digital library and reading platform. Organize and re
 
 **Kobo and KOReader sync:** Auto-push books to Kobo; two-way reading progress sync via KOReader over OPDS.
 
-**OPDS, email delivery, and Book Dock:** OPDS for compatible apps, Send-to-Kindle via email, and browser drag-and-drop uploads.
+**OPDS, email delivery, and Book Dock:** OPDS for compatible apps, Send-to-Kindle via email, browser drag-and-drop uploads, and a configurable drop folder for automated ingestion.
 
 **Multi-user with multi-provider OIDC/SSO:** Granular per-user permissions, isolated reading data, and simultaneous support for Authentik, Keycloak, Authelia, etc.
 
@@ -92,6 +92,18 @@ JWT_SECRET=                # signs login tokens          - openssl rand -hex 32
 SETUP_BOOTSTRAP_TOKEN=     # one-time setup wizard token - openssl rand -hex 16
 ```
 
+**Optional: Book Dock drop folder**
+
+To automatically ingest books placed in a folder (for example, a NAS share or a folder managed by another tool), set `BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH` in `.env`:
+
+```dotenv
+BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH=/mnt/nas/book-drop
+```
+
+Any ebook file copied or moved into that folder is automatically picked up and processed by Book Dock. The container-internal path it maps to is shown in Settings - Book Dock. Subdirectories are supported. Covers are stored in a `covers/` subdirectory inside the drop folder. Files are removed from the drop folder when finalized into a library.
+
+If `BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH` is not set, the drop folder defaults to `./data/app/book-dock` inside the app data volume.
+
 Then start:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/client/src/features/settings/BookDockSettings.vue b/client/src/features/settings/BookDockSettings.vue
index 7617c9d8b..b56d074e5 100644
--- a/client/src/features/settings/BookDockSettings.vue
+++ b/client/src/features/settings/BookDockSettings.vue
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import ToggleSwitch from '@/components/ui/ToggleSwitch.vue'
 import SettingsPageHeader from './SettingsPageHeader.vue'
 import { api } from '@/lib/api'
 import { useLibraries } from '@/features/library/composables/useLibraries'
+import { useAppInfo } from './composables/useAppInfo'
 
 const props = withDefaults(defineProps<{ embedded?: boolean }>(), { embedded: false })
 const autoFetch = ref(true)
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ const loading = ref(true)
 const saving = ref(false)
 
 const { libraries, fetchLibraries } = useLibraries()
+const { bookDockPath, loadAppInfo } = useAppInfo()
 
 const autoFinalizeLibrary = computed(() => libraries.value.find((l) => l.id === autoFinalizeLibraryId.value))
 const autoFinalizeFolders = computed(() => autoFinalizeLibrary.value?.folders ?? [])
@@ -26,7 +28,7 @@ const isThresholdApplicable = computed(() => autoFinalizeMetadataMode.value !==
 
 onMounted(async () => {
   try {
-    const [res] = await Promise.all([api('/api/v1/app-settings'), fetchLibraries()])
+    const [res] = await Promise.all([api('/api/v1/app-settings'), fetchLibraries(), loadAppInfo()])
     if (res.ok) {
       const settings: { key: string; value: string }[] = await res.json()
       const get = (key: string) => settings.find((s) => s.key === key)?.value
@@ -151,6 +153,30 @@ async function onMetadataModeChange(event: Event) {
   </div>
 
   <div v-else class="mt-5 md:mt-0 space-y-6">
+    <div>
+      <p class="settings-group-label">Drop folder</p>
+      <div class="mt-4 border border-border rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow-xs">
+        <div class="px-4 py-3.5 bg-card md:px-5 md:py-4">
+          <p class="settings-label">Container path</p>
+          <p class="settings-hint mb-2">
+            Copy or move book files into this folder and they will be automatically picked up and processed by Book Dock. Subdirectories are
+            supported.
+          </p>
+          <code
+            v-if="bookDockPath"
+            data-testid="book-dock-path"
+            class="block mt-1 px-3 py-2 rounded-md bg-muted text-foreground text-xs font-mono break-all select-all"
+            >{{ bookDockPath }}</code
+          >
+          <p class="settings-hint mt-2">
+            To use a custom host path, set <code class="text-xs font-mono">BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH</code> in your
+            <code class="text-xs font-mono">.env</code> file and add the corresponding volume to
+            <code class="text-xs font-mono">docker-compose.yml</code>. The path shown above is the container-internal path to bind-mount.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
     <p class="settings-group-label">Metadata</p>
 
     <div class="border border-border rounded-lg overflow-hidden divide-y divide-border shadow-xs">
diff --git a/client/src/features/settings/composables/__tests__/useAppInfo.test.ts b/client/src/features/settings/composables/__tests__/useAppInfo.test.ts
index 1e5b5d18f..8aa98bae7 100644
--- a/client/src/features/settings/composables/__tests__/useAppInfo.test.ts
+++ b/client/src/features/settings/composables/__tests__/useAppInfo.test.ts
@@ -25,19 +25,21 @@ function makeErrorResponse(status: number): Response {
 describe('useAppInfo', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks()
-    const { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, isLoading, error } = useAppInfo()
+    const { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, bookDockPath, isLoading, error } = useAppInfo()
     version.value = ''
     updateAvailable.value = null
     latestVersion.value = null
+    bookDockPath.value = ''
     isLoading.value = false
     error.value = null
   })
 
   it('starts in idle state before loadAppInfo is called', () => {
-    const { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, isLoading, error } = useAppInfo()
+    const { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, bookDockPath, isLoading, error } = useAppInfo()
     expect(version.value).toBe('')
     expect(updateAvailable.value).toBeNull()
     expect(latestVersion.value).toBeNull()
+    expect(bookDockPath.value).toBe('')
     expect(isLoading.value).toBe(false)
     expect(error.value).toBeNull()
   })
@@ -147,4 +149,45 @@ describe('useAppInfo', () => {
 
     expect(mockApi).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
   })
+
+  it('populates bookDockPath from API response', async () => {
+    mockApi.mockResolvedValue(
+      makeOkResponse({
+        version: 'v1.2.3',
+        updateAvailable: false,
+        latestVersion: 'v1.2.3',
+        bookDockPath: '/data/book-dock',
+      }),
+    )
+
+    const { bookDockPath, loadAppInfo } = useAppInfo()
+    await loadAppInfo()
+
+    expect(bookDockPath.value).toBe('/data/book-dock')
+  })
+
+  it('defaults bookDockPath to empty string when field is absent from response', async () => {
+    mockApi.mockResolvedValue(
+      makeOkResponse({
+        version: 'v1.2.3',
+        updateAvailable: false,
+        latestVersion: 'v1.2.3',
+      }),
+    )
+
+    const { bookDockPath, loadAppInfo } = useAppInfo()
+    await loadAppInfo()
+
+    expect(bookDockPath.value).toBe('')
+  })
+
+  it('does not change bookDockPath on API error', async () => {
+    mockApi.mockRejectedValue(new Error('fail'))
+
+    const { bookDockPath, loadAppInfo } = useAppInfo()
+    bookDockPath.value = '/data/book-dock'
+    await loadAppInfo()
+
+    expect(bookDockPath.value).toBe('/data/book-dock')
+  })
 })
diff --git a/client/src/features/settings/composables/useAppInfo.ts b/client/src/features/settings/composables/useAppInfo.ts
index 0d998893e..0b84ab9bd 100644
--- a/client/src/features/settings/composables/useAppInfo.ts
+++ b/client/src/features/settings/composables/useAppInfo.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { api } from '@/lib/api'
 const version = ref('')
 const updateAvailable = ref<boolean | null>(null)
 const latestVersion = ref<string | null>(null)
+const bookDockPath = ref('')
 const isLoading = ref(false)
 const error = ref<string | null>(null)
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export function useAppInfo() {
       version.value = data.version
       updateAvailable.value = data.updateAvailable
       latestVersion.value = data.latestVersion
+      bookDockPath.value = data.bookDockPath ?? ''
     } catch (e) {
       error.value = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to load app info'
     } finally {
@@ -29,5 +31,5 @@ export function useAppInfo() {
     }
   }
 
-  return { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, isLoading, error, loadAppInfo }
+  return { version, updateAvailable, latestVersion, bookDockPath, isLoading, error, loadAppInfo }
 }
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 9fc945f8d..b19ed210f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - ${BOOKS_HOST_PATH:-./books}:/books
       - ./data/app:/data
+      - ${BOOK_DROP_HOST_PATH:-./data/app/book-dock}:/data/book-dock
     read_only: true
     tmpfs:
       - /tmp
diff --git a/packages/types/src/app-info.ts b/packages/types/src/app-info.ts
index 8fa9d232c..393c3c061 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/app-info.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/app-info.ts
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ export interface AppInfoResponse {
   version: string;
   updateAvailable: boolean | null;
   latestVersion: string | null;
+  bookDockPath: string;
 }
diff --git a/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.test.ts b/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.test.ts
index 4b21113e6..529a48679 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.test.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,14 @@ import { AppSettingsService } from '../app-settings/app-settings.service';
 import { GITHUB_RELEASES_API } from './app-info.constants';
 import { AppInfoService } from './app-info.service';
 
-function makeConfig(version = 'v1.2.3'): jest.Mocked<ConfigService> {
-  return { get: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(version) } as unknown as jest.Mocked<ConfigService>;
+function makeConfig(version = 'v1.2.3', appDataPath = '/data'): jest.Mocked<ConfigService> {
+  return {
+    get: vi.fn().mockImplementation((key: string) => {
+      if (key === 'storage.appDataPath') return appDataPath;
+      if (key === 'app.version') return version;
+      return undefined;
+    }),
+  } as unknown as jest.Mocked<ConfigService>;
 }
 
 function makeAppSettings(enabled = true): jest.Mocked<AppSettingsService> {
@@ -54,6 +60,28 @@ describe('AppInfoService', () => {
       expect(info.updateAvailable).toBeNull();
       expect(info.latestVersion).toBeNull();
     });
+
+    it('returns bookDockPath as appDataPath/book-dock', () => {
+      const service = new AppInfoService(makeConfig('v1.0.0', '/custom/data'), makeAppSettings());
+      expect(service.getAppInfo().bookDockPath).toBe('/custom/data/book-dock');
+    });
+
+    it('falls back to /data/book-dock when storage.appDataPath is not configured', () => {
+      const config = { get: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined) } as unknown as ConfigService;
+      const service = new AppInfoService(config, makeAppSettings());
+      expect(service.getAppInfo().bookDockPath).toBe('/data/book-dock');
+    });
+
+    it('includes bookDockPath in full response shape', () => {
+      const service = new AppInfoService(makeConfig('v1.2.3', '/app/data'), makeAppSettings());
+      const info = service.getAppInfo();
+      expect(info).toMatchObject({
+        version: 'v1.2.3',
+        updateAvailable: null,
+        latestVersion: null,
+        bookDockPath: '/app/data/book-dock',
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('onApplicationBootstrap', () => {
diff --git a/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.ts b/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.ts
index 6d23aec9a..56483cfc8 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/app-info/app-info.service.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Injectable, Logger, OnApplicationBootstrap } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 import type { AppInfoResponse } from '@bookorbit/types';
 
@@ -30,10 +31,12 @@ export class AppInfoService implements OnApplicationBootstrap {
   }
 
   getAppInfo(): AppInfoResponse {
+    const appDataPath = this.config.get<string>('storage.appDataPath') ?? '/data';
     return {
       version: this.config.get<string>('app.version') ?? 'Local build',
       updateAvailable: this.updateAvailable,
       latestVersion: this.latestVersion,
+      bookDockPath: join(appDataPath, 'book-dock'),
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.test.ts b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.test.ts
index 0142b0eec..ea6043ac4 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import { BadRequestException, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { Readable } from 'stream';
-import { stat } from 'fs/promises';
+import { mkdir, realpath, stat } from 'fs/promises';
 
 import { BookDockIngestService } from './book-dock-ingest.service';
 
 vi.mock('fs/promises', () => ({
+  mkdir: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+  realpath: vi.fn().mockImplementation((p: string) => Promise.resolve(p)),
   stat: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
@@ -77,6 +79,17 @@ describe('BookDockIngestService', () => {
     vi.spyOn(Logger.prototype, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {});
   });
 
+  it('onApplicationBootstrap resolves bookDockPath to its real path', async () => {
+    const { service } = makeService();
+    vi.mocked(realpath).mockResolvedValue('/real/books/book-dock');
+
+    await service.onApplicationBootstrap();
+
+    expect(mkdir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/books/book-dock', { recursive: true });
+    expect(realpath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/books/book-dock');
+    expect((service as any).bookDockPath).toBe('/real/books/book-dock');
+  });
+
   describe('ingestUpload', () => {
     it('succeeds and returns the row ID', async () => {
       const { service, validator, storage, repo } = makeService();
diff --git a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.ts b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.ts
index 80695892b..2583bc136 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-ingest.service.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { BadRequestException, Injectable, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { BadRequestException, Injectable, Logger, OnApplicationBootstrap } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
 import { basename, extname, join } from 'path';
-import { stat } from 'fs/promises';
+import { mkdir, realpath, stat } from 'fs/promises';
 import { Readable } from 'stream';
 
 import type { BookDockMetadata } from '@bookorbit/types';
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import { BookDockEventsService, BOOK_DOCK_FILE_INGESTED } from './book-dock-even
 import { BookDockGateway } from './book-dock.gateway';
 
 @Injectable()
-export class BookDockIngestService {
+export class BookDockIngestService implements OnApplicationBootstrap {
   private readonly logger = new Logger(BookDockIngestService.name);
-  private readonly bookDockPath: string;
+  private bookDockPath: string;
 
   constructor(
     private readonly config: ConfigService,
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ export class BookDockIngestService {
     this.bookDockPath = join(appDataPath, 'book-dock');
   }
 
+  async onApplicationBootstrap(): Promise<void> {
+    await mkdir(this.bookDockPath, { recursive: true });
+    this.bookDockPath = await realpath(this.bookDockPath);
+  }
+
   async ingestUpload(rawFilename: string, fileStream: Readable, uploadedBy?: number): Promise<number> {
     const filename = this.validator.sanitizeFilename(rawFilename);
     const ext = extname(filename).toLowerCase().slice(1);
diff --git a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.test.ts b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.test.ts
index 911eefb48..ade249895 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ vi.mock('../scanner/lib/stability', () => ({
 vi.mock('fs/promises', () => ({
   mkdir: vi.fn(),
   readdir: vi.fn(),
+  realpath: vi.fn().mockImplementation((p: string) => Promise.resolve(p)),
   unlink: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ vi.mock('@parcel/watcher', () => ({
   subscribe: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
-import { mkdir, readdir, unlink } from 'fs/promises';
+import { mkdir, readdir, realpath, unlink } from 'fs/promises';
 import { subscribe } from '@parcel/watcher';
 
 import { isPrimaryFormat } from '../scanner/lib/classify';
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ describe('BookDockWatcherService', () => {
     await (service as any).startWatcher();
 
     expect(mkdir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/data/book-dock', { recursive: true });
+    expect(realpath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/data/book-dock');
     expect(subscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/data/book-dock', expect.any(Function));
   });
 
diff --git a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.ts b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.ts
index 5877b4006..dbd36a3c8 100644
--- a/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.ts
+++ b/server/src/modules/book-dock/book-dock-watcher.service.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Injectable, Logger, OnApplicationBootstrap, OnModuleDestroy } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
 import { Dirent } from 'fs';
-import { readdir, unlink } from 'fs/promises';
+import { mkdir, readdir, realpath, unlink } from 'fs/promises';
 import { join } from 'path';
 import type { AsyncSubscription } from '@parcel/watcher';
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const COVERS_DIR = 'covers';
 @Injectable()
 export class BookDockWatcherService implements OnApplicationBootstrap, OnModuleDestroy {
   private readonly logger = new Logger(BookDockWatcherService.name);
-  private readonly bookDockPath: string;
+  private bookDockPath: string;
   private subscription: AsyncSubscription | null = null;
   private readonly pendingTimers = new Map<string, { timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>; type: EventType }>();
 
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ export class BookDockWatcherService implements OnApplicationBootstrap, OnModuleD
 
   private async startWatcher(): Promise<void> {
     try {
-      const { mkdir } = await import('fs/promises');
       await mkdir(this.bookDockPath, { recursive: true });
+      this.bookDockPath = await realpath(this.bookDockPath);
 
       const { subscribe } = await import('@parcel/watcher');
       this.subscription = await subscribe(this.bookDockPath, (err, events) => {