diff --git a/src/client/config.rs b/src/client/config.rs
index d0dcb74..2e7217e 100644
--- a/src/client/config.rs
+++ b/src/client/config.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 ///
 /// Configuration for an authenticated Open Payments client.
@@ -49,6 +50,23 @@ pub struct ClientConfig {
     ///
     /// This is the URL of the wallet address that will be used to send and receive payments.
     pub wallet_address_url: String,
+
+    /// Optional request timeout duration.
+    ///
+    /// If set, all HTTP requests made by this client will be subject to
+    /// this timeout. Defaults to 30 seconds if not specified.
+    ///
+    /// Payment APIs are latency-sensitive — a missing timeout can cause
+    /// requests to hang indefinitely if the server stops responding.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub request_timeout: Option<Duration>,
+
+    /// Optional connection timeout duration.
+    ///
+    /// Limits how long the client will wait to establish a TCP connection.
+    /// Defaults to 10 seconds if not specified.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub connect_timeout: Option<Duration>,
 }
 
 impl Default for ClientConfig {
@@ -76,6 +94,8 @@ impl Default for ClientConfig {
             private_key_path: PathBuf::from("private.key"),
             jwks_path: None,
             wallet_address_url: "".into(),
+            request_timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(30)),
+            connect_timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(10)),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/client/core.rs b/src/client/core.rs
index 1f0f99d..23efe55 100644
--- a/src/client/core.rs
+++ b/src/client/core.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,18 @@ impl AuthenticatedOpenPaymentsClient {
     /// - `validation_errors`: List of validation errors (if applicable)
     /// - `details`: Additional error details (if applicable)
     pub fn new(config: ClientConfig) -> Result<Self> {
-        let http_client = ReqwestClient::new();
+        let mut builder = ReqwestClient::builder();
+
+        if let Some(timeout) = config.request_timeout {
+            builder = builder.timeout(timeout);
+        }
+        if let Some(connect_timeout) = config.connect_timeout {
+            builder = builder.connect_timeout(connect_timeout);
+        }
+
+        let http_client = builder.build().map_err(|e| {
+            OpClientError::other(format!("Failed to build HTTP client: {e}"))
+        })?;
 
         let signing_key = load_or_generate_key(&config.private_key_path).map_err(|e| {
             OpClientError::signature(format!("Failed to load or generate signing key: {e}"))
diff --git a/tests/client_request_tests.rs b/tests/client_request_tests.rs
index 27356dd..bb448b1 100644
--- a/tests/client_request_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/client_request_tests.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ fn dummy_config(base: &str) -> ClientConfig {
         private_key_path: std::path::PathBuf::from("tests/private.key"),
         jwks_path: None,
         wallet_address_url: format!("{base}/alice"),
+        request_timeout: None,
+        connect_timeout: None,
     }
 }
 
@@ -337,3 +339,59 @@ async fn cancel_grant_204_no_content_succeeds() {
         .await;
     assert!(res.is_ok());
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn client_with_timeouts_builds_successfully() {
+    use std::time::Duration;
+
+    let server = MockServer::start().await;
+    let base = Url::parse(&server.uri()).unwrap();
+
+    Mock::given(method("GET"))
+        .and(path(base.join("alice").unwrap().path()))
+        .respond_with(ResponseTemplate::new(200).set_body_json(serde_json::json!({
+            "id": format!("{}/alice", server.uri()),
+            "publicName": "Alice",
+            "assetCode": "USD",
+            "assetScale": 2,
+            "authServer": format!("{}/auth", server.uri()),
+            "resourceServer": server.uri()
+        })))
+        .mount(&server)
+        .await;
+
+    let tmp = tempdir().unwrap();
+    let config = ClientConfig {
+        key_id: "test-key".into(),
+        private_key_path: tmp.path().join("private.key"),
+        jwks_path: None,
+        wallet_address_url: format!("{}/alice", server.uri()),
+        request_timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(5)),
+        connect_timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(2)),
+    };
+
+    // Verify client builds with timeouts
+    let client = AuthenticatedClient::new(config).unwrap();
+
+    // Verify it can still make requests
+    let res: Result<WalletAddress, _> = client
+        .wallet_address()
+        .get(base.join("alice").unwrap().as_ref())
+        .await;
+    assert!(res.is_ok());
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn client_default_config_has_timeouts() {
+    let config = ClientConfig::default();
+    assert!(config.request_timeout.is_some());
+    assert!(config.connect_timeout.is_some());
+    assert_eq!(
+        config.request_timeout.unwrap(),
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(30)
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        config.connect_timeout.unwrap(),
+        std::time::Duration::from_secs(10)
+    );
+}