diff --git a/docs/docs/api/Pool.md b/docs/docs/api/Pool.md
index ee0a0d3fe81..c83a37d084d 100644
--- a/docs/docs/api/Pool.md
+++ b/docs/docs/api/Pool.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Extends: [`ClientOptions`](/docs/docs/api/Client.md#parameter-clientoptions)
 * **factory** `(origin: URL, opts: Object) => Dispatcher` - Default: `(origin, opts) => new Client(origin, opts)`
 * **connections** `number | null` (optional) - Default: `null` - The number of `Client` instances to create. When set to `null`, the `Pool` instance will create an unlimited amount of `Client` instances.
 * **clientTtl** `number | null` (optional) - Default: `null` - The amount of time before a `Client` instance is removed from the `Pool` and closed.   When set to `null`, `Client` instances will not be removed or closed based on age.
+* **maxIdle** `number` (optional) - Default: `Infinity` - Limits the number of open connections that do not have an active request.
 
 ## Instance Properties
 
diff --git a/lib/core/symbols.js b/lib/core/symbols.js
index fd7af0c10e1..80227ef7755 100644
--- a/lib/core/symbols.js
+++ b/lib/core/symbols.js
@@ -70,5 +70,6 @@ module.exports = {
   kPingInterval: Symbol('ping interval'),
   kNoProxyAgent: Symbol('no proxy agent'),
   kHttpProxyAgent: Symbol('http proxy agent'),
-  kHttpsProxyAgent: Symbol('https proxy agent')
+  kHttpsProxyAgent: Symbol('https proxy agent'),
+  kMaxIdle: Symbol('max idle')
 }
diff --git a/lib/dispatcher/pool-base.js b/lib/dispatcher/pool-base.js
index 6c1f2388766..a36a298e613 100644
--- a/lib/dispatcher/pool-base.js
+++ b/lib/dispatcher/pool-base.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 const { PoolStats } = require('../util/stats.js')
 const DispatcherBase = require('./dispatcher-base')
 const FixedQueue = require('./fixed-queue')
-const { kConnected, kSize, kRunning, kPending, kQueued, kBusy, kFree, kUrl, kClose, kDestroy, kDispatch } = require('../core/symbols')
+const { kConnected, kSize, kRunning, kPending, kQueued, kBusy, kFree, kUrl, kClose, kDestroy, kDispatch, kMaxIdle } = require('../core/symbols')
 
 const kClients = Symbol('clients')
 const kNeedDrain = Symbol('needDrain')
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ class PoolBase extends DispatcherBase {
       needDrain = !client.dispatch(item.opts, item.handler)
     }
 
+    if (this[kMaxIdle] < Infinity && this[kFree] > this[kMaxIdle]) {
+      for (let i = 0; i < this[kClients].length; i++) {
+        const client = this[kClients][i]
+        if (!client[kNeedDrain]) {
+          if (client.ttl && client.ttl > Date.now()) continue
+          this[kRemoveClient](client)
+        }
+        if (this[kFree] <= this[kMaxIdle]) break
+      }
+    }
+
     client[kNeedDrain] = needDrain
 
     if (!needDrain && this[kNeedDrain]) {
diff --git a/lib/dispatcher/pool.js b/lib/dispatcher/pool.js
index 77fd5326696..964decd1219 100644
--- a/lib/dispatcher/pool.js
+++ b/lib/dispatcher/pool.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const {
   InvalidArgumentError
 } = require('../core/errors')
 const util = require('../core/util')
-const { kUrl } = require('../core/symbols')
+const { kUrl, kMaxIdle } = require('../core/symbols')
 const buildConnector = require('../core/connect')
 
 const kOptions = Symbol('options')
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ class Pool extends PoolBase {
     autoSelectFamilyAttemptTimeout,
     allowH2,
     clientTtl,
+    maxIdle = Infinity,
     ...options
   } = {}) {
     if (connections != null && (!Number.isFinite(connections) || connections < 0)) {
@@ -51,6 +52,10 @@ class Pool extends PoolBase {
       throw new InvalidArgumentError('connect must be a function or an object')
     }
 
+    if (typeof maxIdle !== 'number' || Number.isNaN(maxIdle) || maxIdle <= 0) {
+      throw new InvalidArgumentError('maxIdle must be a number greater than 0')
+    }
+
     if (typeof connect !== 'function') {
       connect = buildConnector({
         ...tls,
@@ -67,16 +72,17 @@ class Pool extends PoolBase {
 
     this[kConnections] = connections || null
     this[kUrl] = util.parseOrigin(origin)
-    this[kOptions] = { ...util.deepClone(options), connect, allowH2, clientTtl }
+    this[kOptions] = { ...util.deepClone(options), connect, allowH2, clientTtl, maxIdle }
     this[kOptions].interceptors = options.interceptors
       ? { ...options.interceptors }
       : undefined
     this[kFactory] = factory
+    this[kMaxIdle] = maxIdle
 
     this.on('connect', (origin, targets) => {
       if (clientTtl != null && clientTtl > 0) {
         for (const target of targets) {
-          Object.assign(target, { ttl: Date.now() })
+          Object.assign(target, { ttl: Date.now() + clientTtl })
         }
       }
     })
@@ -100,7 +106,7 @@ class Pool extends PoolBase {
     const clientTtlOption = this[kOptions].clientTtl
     for (const client of this[kClients]) {
       // check ttl of client and if it's stale, remove it from the pool
-      if (clientTtlOption != null && clientTtlOption > 0 && client.ttl && ((Date.now() - client.ttl) > clientTtlOption)) {
+      if (clientTtlOption != null && clientTtlOption > 0 && client.ttl && (client.ttl <= Date.now())) {
         this[kRemoveClient](client)
       } else if (!client[kNeedDrain]) {
         return client
diff --git a/lib/dispatcher/round-robin-pool.js b/lib/dispatcher/round-robin-pool.js
index b113aa9d039..c89d7f0e3f3 100644
--- a/lib/dispatcher/round-robin-pool.js
+++ b/lib/dispatcher/round-robin-pool.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class RoundRobinPool extends PoolBase {
     this.on('connect', (origin, targets) => {
       if (clientTtl != null && clientTtl > 0) {
         for (const target of targets) {
-          Object.assign(target, { ttl: Date.now() })
+          Object.assign(target, { ttl: Date.now() + clientTtl })
         }
       }
     })
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class RoundRobinPool extends PoolBase {
       const client = this[kClients][this[kIndex]]
 
       // Check if client is stale (TTL expired)
-      if (clientTtlOption != null && clientTtlOption > 0 && client.ttl && ((Date.now() - client.ttl) > clientTtlOption)) {
+      if (clientTtlOption != null && clientTtlOption > 0 && client.ttl && (client.ttl <= Date.now())) {
         this[kRemoveClient](client)
         checked++
         continue
diff --git a/test/client.js b/test/client.js
index 1627ad4fe99..2f7385f775d 100644
--- a/test/client.js
+++ b/test/client.js
@@ -1671,6 +1671,35 @@ test('emit disconnect after destroy', async t => {
   await t.completed
 })
 
+test('emit idle', async t => {
+  t = tspl(t, { plan: 1 })
+
+  const server = createServer({ joinDuplicateHeaders: true }, (req, res) => {
+    req.pipe(res)
+  })
+  after(() => server.close())
+
+  server.listen(0, () => {
+    const url = new URL(`http://localhost:${server.address().port}`)
+    const client = new Client(url)
+
+    t.strictEqual(client[kConnected], false)
+    client[kConnect](() => {
+      t.strictEqual(client[kConnected], true)
+      let idle = false
+      client.on('idle', () => {
+        idle = true
+        t.ok(true, 'pass')
+      })
+      client.destroy(() => {
+        t.strictEqual(idle, true)
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  await t.completed
+})
+
 test('end response before request', async t => {
   t = tspl(t, { plan: 2 })
 
diff --git a/test/node-test/agent.js b/test/node-test/agent.js
index d9aee46b597..a8aba59d8d7 100644
--- a/test/node-test/agent.js
+++ b/test/node-test/agent.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const {
   getGlobalDispatcher
 } = require('../..')
 const { tspl } = require('@matteo.collina/tspl')
-const { closeServerAsPromise } = require('../utils/node-http')
+const { closeServerAsPromise, closeClientAndServerAsPromise } = require('../utils/node-http')
 
 describe('setGlobalDispatcher', () => {
   after(() => {
@@ -77,6 +77,112 @@ test('Agent enforces maxOrigins', async (t) => {
   await p.completed
 })
 
+test('Agent passes maxIdle to each Pool (per-origin limit)', async (t) => {
+  const p = tspl(t, { plan: 2 })
+  const dispatcher = new Agent({
+    maxIdle: 3,
+    keepAliveTimeout: 1000
+  })
+
+  const handler = (_req, res) => res.end('ok')
+  const server1 = http.createServer({ joinDuplicateHeaders: true }, handler)
+  const server2 = http.createServer({ joinDuplicateHeaders: true }, handler)
+
+  server1.listen(0)
+  await once(server1, 'listening')
+  t.after(closeServerAsPromise(server1))
+
+  server2.listen(0)
+  await once(server2, 'listening')
+  t.after(closeServerAsPromise(server2))
+
+  const host1 = `http://localhost:${server1.address().port}`
+  const host2 = `http://localhost:${server2.address().port}`
+
+  await Promise.all([
+    request(host1, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host1, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host1, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host1, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host1, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host2, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host2, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host2, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host2, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host2, { dispatcher })
+  ])
+
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10))
+
+  const host1Free = dispatcher.stats[host1]?.free ?? 0
+  p.ok(host1Free <= 3, `Host 1 should have 3 or fewer free connections, found ${host1Free}`)
+  const host2Free = dispatcher.stats[host2]?.free ?? 0
+  p.ok(host2Free <= 3, `Host 2 should have 3 or fewer free connections, found ${host2Free}`)
+
+  await p.completed
+})
+
+test('Pool enforces maxIdle', async (t) => {
+  const p = tspl(t, { plan: 1 })
+
+  const handler = (_req, res) => res.end('ok')
+  const server = http.createServer({ joinDuplicateHeaders: true }, handler)
+  server.listen(0)
+  await once(server, 'listening')
+
+  const host = `http://localhost:${server.address().port}`
+  const dispatcher = new Pool(host, {
+    maxIdle: 3,
+    keepAliveTimeout: 1000
+  })
+
+  t.after(closeClientAndServerAsPromise(dispatcher, server))
+
+  await Promise.all([
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher })
+  ])
+
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1))
+  p.ok(dispatcher.stats.free <= 3, `Should be 3 or fewer free connections, found ${dispatcher.stats.free}`)
+
+  await p.completed
+})
+
+test('maxIdle respects clientTtl', async (t) => {
+  const p = tspl(t, { plan: 1 })
+
+  const handler = (_req, res) => res.end('ok')
+  const server = http.createServer({ joinDuplicateHeaders: true }, handler)
+  server.listen(0)
+  await once(server, 'listening')
+
+  const host = `http://localhost:${server.address().port}`
+  const dispatcher = new Pool(host, {
+    maxIdle: 3,
+    clientTtl: 2000,
+    keepAliveTimeout: 1000
+  })
+
+  t.after(closeClientAndServerAsPromise(dispatcher, server))
+
+  await Promise.all([
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher }),
+    request(host, { dispatcher })
+  ])
+
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1))
+  p.equal(dispatcher.stats.free, 5)
+
+  await p.completed
+})
+
 test('agent should call callback after closing internal pools', async (t) => {
   const p = tspl(t, { plan: 2 })
 
@@ -698,13 +804,23 @@ test('stream: fails with invalid onInfo', async (t) => {
   }
 })
 
-test('constructor validations', t => {
+test('Agent constructor validations', t => {
   const p = tspl(t, { plan: 3 })
   p.throws(() => new Agent({ factory: 'ASD' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on invalid opts argument')
   p.throws(() => new Agent({ maxOrigins: -1 }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'maxOrigins must be a number greater than 0')
   p.throws(() => new Agent({ maxOrigins: 'foo' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'maxOrigins must be a number greater than 0')
 })
 
+test('Pool constructor validatons', t => {
+  const p = tspl(t, { plan: 6 })
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ connections: 'ASD' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on non-number')
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ connect: 'ASD' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws if not a function or object')
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ factory: 'ASD' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on non-function')
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ maxIdle: -1 }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on negative number')
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ maxIdle: 'foo' }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on non-number')
+  p.throws(() => new Pool({ maxIdle: NaN }), errors.InvalidArgumentError, 'throws on NaN')
+})
+
 test('dispatch validations', async t => {
   const dispatcher = new Agent()
 
diff --git a/types/pool.d.ts b/types/pool.d.ts
index 120bb8b25ef..4a7832830a1 100644
--- a/types/pool.d.ts
+++ b/types/pool.d.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ declare namespace Pool {
     connections?: number | null;
     /** The amount of time before a client is removed from the pool and closed. `null` if no time limit. Default `null` */
     clientTtl?: number | null;
+    /** The max number of idle connections to keep open per origin. Default `Infinity`. */
+    maxIdle?: number;
 
     interceptors?: { Pool?: readonly Dispatcher.DispatchInterceptor[] } & Client.Options['interceptors']
   }