diff --git a/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/pom.xml b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/pom.xml
index 6d8b6c79e4..020d9a6329 100644
--- a/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/pom.xml
+++ b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/pom.xml
@@ -13,9 +13,22 @@
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
+    <log4j.version>2.24.3</log4j.version>
+    <gson.version>2.12.1</gson.version>
   </properties>
 
   <dependencies>
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
+      <artifactId>log4j-core</artifactId>
+      <version>${log4j.version}</version>
+      <optional>true</optional>
+    </dependency>
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>com.google.code.gson</groupId>
+      <artifactId>gson</artifactId>
+      <version>${gson.version}</version>
+    </dependency>
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
       <artifactId>junit-jupiter-api</artifactId>
diff --git a/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayout.java b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayout.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..51f2c94c27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayout.java
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google LLC nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package com.google.cloud.sdk.logging;
+
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
+import com.google.gson.JsonParseException;
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
+import java.nio.charset.Charset;
+import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.Layout;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.LogEvent;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.config.Node;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.config.plugins.Plugin;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.config.plugins.PluginBuilderAttribute;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.config.plugins.PluginBuilderFactory;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.layout.AbstractStringLayout;
+
+@Plugin(
+    name = "SDKLoggingJsonLayout",
+    category = Node.CATEGORY,
+    elementType = Layout.ELEMENT_TYPE,
+    printObject = true)
+public final class SDKLoggingJsonLayout extends AbstractStringLayout {
+
+  private final Gson gson = new Gson();
+  private static final String TIME_STAMP = "timestamp";
+  private static final String LEVEL = "level";
+  private static final String LOGGER_NAME = "logger_name";
+  private static final String THREAD_NAME = "thread_name";
+  private static final String THREAD_ID = "thread_ID";
+  private static final String MESSAGE = "message";
+
+  private SDKLoggingJsonLayout(final Builder builder) {
+    super(builder.getCharset());
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public String toSerializable(LogEvent event) {
+    // use LinkedHashMap to fix iteration order.
+    Map<String, Object> jsonMap = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+    extractNonMdc(event, jsonMap);
+
+    Map<String, String> mdcMap = new LinkedHashMap<>(event.getContextData().toMap());
+    for (Map.Entry<String, String> entry : mdcMap.entrySet()) {
+      String key = entry.getKey();
+      String value = entry.getValue();
+      if (key == null || value == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      try {
+        jsonMap.put(key, toJsonElement(value));
+      } catch (JsonParseException e) {
+        // in case of conversion exception, just use String
+        jsonMap.put(key, value);
+      }
+    }
+
+    return String.format("%s\n", gson.toJson(jsonMap));
+  }
+
+  private void extractNonMdc(LogEvent event, Map<String, Object> jsonMap) {
+    jsonMap.put(TIME_STAMP, event.getTimeMillis());
+    jsonMap.put(LEVEL, event.getLevel().toString());
+    jsonMap.put(LOGGER_NAME, event.getLoggerName());
+    jsonMap.put(THREAD_NAME, event.getThreadName());
+    jsonMap.put(THREAD_ID, event.getThreadId());
+    jsonMap.put(MESSAGE, event.getMessage().getFormattedMessage());
+  }
+
+  private JsonElement toJsonElement(String jsonString) throws JsonParseException {
+    return JsonParser.parseString(jsonString);
+  }
+
+  @PluginBuilderFactory
+  public static Builder newBuilder() {
+    return new Builder();
+  }
+
+  public static final class Builder
+      implements org.apache.logging.log4j.core.util.Builder<SDKLoggingJsonLayout> {
+
+    @PluginBuilderAttribute private Charset charset = StandardCharsets.UTF_8;
+
+    public Charset getCharset() {
+      return charset;
+    }
+
+    public Builder setCharset(final Charset charset) {
+      this.charset = charset;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public SDKLoggingJsonLayout build() {
+      return new SDKLoggingJsonLayout(this);
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayoutTest.java b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayoutTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..044707ac25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java-sdk-logging/log4j2-extension/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/sdk/logging/SDKLoggingJsonLayoutTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google LLC nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package com.google.cloud.sdk.logging;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertDoesNotThrow;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
+
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.LogEvent;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.message.SimpleMessage;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.util.ReadOnlyStringMap;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+public class SDKLoggingJsonLayoutTest {
+  private final SDKLoggingJsonLayout sdkLoggingJsonLayout =
+      SDKLoggingJsonLayout.newBuilder().build();
+  private final LogEvent logEvent = mock(LogEvent.class);
+  private final ReadOnlyStringMap map = mock(ReadOnlyStringMap.class);
+  private final Map<String, String> mdcMap = new HashMap<>();
+
+  @BeforeEach
+  void init() {
+    when(logEvent.getTimeMillis()).thenReturn(10000L);
+    when(logEvent.getLevel()).thenReturn(Level.DEBUG);
+    when(logEvent.getLoggerName()).thenReturn("com.example.Example");
+    when(logEvent.getThreadName()).thenReturn("example thread name");
+    when(logEvent.getThreadId()).thenReturn(123L);
+    when(logEvent.getMessage()).thenReturn(new SimpleMessage("example message"));
+    when(logEvent.getContextData()).thenReturn(map);
+    when(map.toMap()).thenReturn(mdcMap);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testToSerializableContainsNonMdcContents() {
+    assertEquals(
+        "{\"timestamp\":10000,\"level\":\"DEBUG\",\"logger_name\":\"com.example.Example\",\"thread_name\":\"example thread name\",\"thread_ID\":123,\"message\":\"example message\"}\n",
+        sdkLoggingJsonLayout.toSerializable(logEvent));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testToSerializableSkipNullKey() {
+    mdcMap.put(null, "example value");
+    String logString = sdkLoggingJsonLayout.toSerializable(logEvent);
+    assertFalse(logString.contains("example value"));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testToSerializableSkipNullValue() {
+    mdcMap.put("example key", null);
+    String logString = sdkLoggingJsonLayout.toSerializable(logEvent);
+    assertFalse(logString.contains("example key"));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testToSerializableInvalidJsonValueWriteString() {
+    // the last colon is invalid.
+    mdcMap.put("example key", "{key:value,jsonKey:{nestedKey:nestedValue,}}");
+    assertEquals(
+        "{\"timestamp\":10000,\"level\":\"DEBUG\",\"logger_name\":\"com.example.Example\",\"thread_name\":\"example thread name\",\"thread_ID\":123,\"message\":\"example message\",\"example key\":\"{key:value,jsonKey:{nestedKey:nestedValue,}}\"}\n",
+        sdkLoggingJsonLayout.toSerializable(logEvent));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void testToSerializableValidJsonValueWriteJson() {
+    // the last colon is invalid.
+    mdcMap.put("example key", "{key:value,jsonKey:{nestedKey:nestedValue}}");
+    String log = sdkLoggingJsonLayout.toSerializable(logEvent);
+    assertEquals(
+        "{\"timestamp\":10000,\"level\":\"DEBUG\",\"logger_name\":\"com.example.Example\",\"thread_name\":\"example thread name\",\"thread_ID\":123,\"message\":\"example message\",\"example key\":{\"key\":\"value\",\"jsonKey\":{\"nestedKey\":\"nestedValue\"}}}\n",
+        log);
+    assertDoesNotThrow(() -> JsonParser.parseString(log));
+  }
+}