diff --git a/src/cachier/config.py b/src/cachier/config.py
index 003f6b0b..cb908a4a 100644
--- a/src/cachier/config.py
+++ b/src/cachier/config.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import os
 import pickle
 import threading
-from dataclasses import dataclass, replace
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import Any, Optional, Union
 
@@ -18,6 +18,36 @@ def _default_hash_func(args, kwds):
     return hashlib.sha256(serialized).hexdigest()
 
 
+def _default_cache_dir():
+    """Return default cache directory based on XDG specification.
+
+    Uses $XDG_CACHE_HOME if defined, otherwise falls back to ~/.cachier/
+
+    """
+    xdg_cache_home = os.environ.get("XDG_CACHE_HOME")
+    if xdg_cache_home:
+        # Use XDG-compliant cache directory
+        return os.path.join(xdg_cache_home, "cachier")
+    # Default fallback if XDG is not set
+    return os.path.expanduser("~/.cachier/")
+
+
+class LazyCacheDir:
+    """Lazily resolve the default cache directory using $XDG_CACHE_HOME."""
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return the resolved cache directory path as a string."""
+        return _default_cache_dir()
+
+    def __fspath__(self):
+        """Return the path for filesystem operations."""
+        return self.__str__()
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        """Compare the resolved path to another path."""
+        return str(self) == str(other)
+
+
 @dataclass
 class Params:
     """Default definition for cachier parameters."""
@@ -28,7 +58,7 @@ class Params:
     mongetter: Optional[Mongetter] = None
     stale_after: timedelta = timedelta.max
     next_time: bool = False
-    cache_dir: Union[str, os.PathLike] = "~/.cachier/"
+    cache_dir: Union[str, os.PathLike] = field(default_factory=LazyCacheDir)
     pickle_reload: bool = True
     separate_files: bool = False
     wait_for_calc_timeout: int = 0
diff --git a/tests/test_defaults.py b/tests/test_defaults.py
index 374ebd82..012fb1b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_defaults.py
+++ b/tests/test_defaults.py
@@ -97,6 +97,43 @@ def global_test_2():
     assert global_test_2.cache_dpath() == str(tmpdir / "2")
 
 
+def test_cache_dir_respects_xdg(monkeypatch, tmpdir):
+    xdg_path = str(tmpdir / "xdg_home")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME", xdg_path)
+
+    expected_path = os.path.join(xdg_path, "cachier")
+
+    @cachier.cachier(backend="pickle")
+    def my_func():
+        return 123
+
+    actual_path = my_func.cache_dpath()
+    assert str(actual_path) == expected_path
+
+    my_func()  # Create cache file
+    assert os.path.exists(expected_path)
+    files = os.listdir(expected_path) if os.path.exists(expected_path) else []
+    assert any(os.path.isfile(os.path.join(expected_path, f)) for f in files)
+
+
+def test_cache_dir_default_fallback(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.delenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME", raising=False)
+
+    @cachier.cachier()
+    def my_func():
+        return 123
+
+    expected_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.cachier/")
+    assert my_func.cache_dpath().startswith(expected_path)
+
+
+def test_lazy_cache_dir_eq_triggered():
+    default_dir = cachier.get_global_params().cache_dir
+
+    assert default_dir == str(default_dir)
+    assert default_dir != "/some/random/path"
+
+
 def test_separate_files_default_param(tmpdir):
     cachier.set_global_params(separate_files=True)