diff --git a/.claude/commands/rank.md b/.claude/commands/rank.md
index 5fbca36..1b97dff 100644
--- a/.claude/commands/rank.md
+++ b/.claude/commands/rank.md
@@ -12,24 +12,28 @@ Follow these steps **in order**.
 
 `$ARGUMENTS` may contain:
 
-- Nothing → rank all jobs with status `new` in `job_scraper/seen_jobs.json`
+- Nothing → rank up to 10 jobs with status `new` in `job_scraper/seen_jobs.json`
 - A focus area (e.g. `/rank data science`) → rank only jobs whose title or stored fit-notes match the focus
 - `--all` → re-rank every job that has not been applied to, including previously ranked ones (useful after the profile changes)
+- `--limit <N>` → maximum number of jobs to score this run (default 10)
 - `--top <N>` → shortlist size (default 5)
 
+`--limit` bounds the expensive fetch-and-score work; `--top` only bounds how many scored jobs appear in the shortlist. They are independent: jobs beyond `--limit` are deferred, not silently discarded.
+
 ---
 
 ## Step 1: Load State
 
 1. Read `job_scraper/seen_jobs.json`. If the file is missing or has no entries, tell the user to run `/scrape` first and stop.
 2. Read `job_search_tracker.csv`. Build the exclusion set: any company+role already in the tracker is out of scope regardless of flags - it has been applied to or consciously tracked.
-3. Select candidates: entries with status `new` (or entries of any status with `--all`), minus the exclusion set, filtered by the focus area if one was given.
-4. If no candidates remain, say so ("Nothing new to rank - run /scrape to find fresh postings") and stop.
-5. Read the scoring framework and profile **once**:
+3. Select eligible candidates: entries with status `new` (or entries of any status with `--all`), minus the exclusion set, filtered by the focus area if one was given.
+4. Apply `--limit` after those filters. Keep at most N eligible candidates for this run and count every remaining eligible candidate as deferred. Deferred jobs keep their current status so a later `/rank` run continues the backlog.
+5. If no candidates remain, say so ("Nothing new to rank - run /scrape to find fresh postings") and stop.
+6. Read the scoring framework and profile **once**:
    - `.claude/skills/job-application-assistant/04-job-evaluation.md`
    - `.claude/skills/job-application-assistant/01-candidate-profile.md`
 
-State how many jobs will be ranked before proceeding.
+State how many jobs will be ranked and how many are deferred before proceeding.
 
 ---
 
@@ -117,6 +121,7 @@ Do not modify `job_search_tracker.csv` - that file records applications, and `/r
 
 Ranked <N> new postings (<X> shortlisted, <Y> below threshold, <Z> expired/vetoed).
 Swept <S> previously ranked entries (<E> newly expired, <C> closing soon).
+<D> jobs deferred to the next run - re-run `/rank` to continue.
 
 ### Shortlist
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fd15ef6..3a32c78 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ per-file diff commands.
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- **`/rank` now bounds each scoring batch** (#395) - a bare run scores at most 10
+  eligible jobs instead of attempting the entire backlog. `--limit <N>` controls
+  scoring independently of `--top`, and the report makes deferred work visible so
+  re-running `/rank` can continue it.
+
 - **The portal CLIs' unknown-flag guard no longer lets a single-dash flag through** (#426) -
   the guard in the four bunli-based CLIs (`jobnet`, `jobbank`, `jobindex`, `jobdanmark`) inspected
   only tokens starting with `--`, so an undefined *short* flag bypassed it entirely: bunli
diff --git a/tests/test_rank_command.py b/tests/test_rank_command.py
index 583d480..9dd8069 100644
--- a/tests/test_rank_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_rank_command.py
@@ -484,5 +484,38 @@ class PostedDateStalenessSpec(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+class RankBatchLimitSpec(unittest.TestCase):
+    """The expensive fetch-and-score batch is bounded independently of output."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.sections = _sections(COMMAND.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+
+    def test_step0_documents_default_limit_distinct_from_top(self):
+        step0 = self.sections.get("Step 0: Parse Input", "")
+        self.assertIn("`--limit <N>`", step0)
+        self.assertIn("default 10", step0)
+        self.assertIn("`--top <N>`", step0)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "They are independent",
+            step0,
+            "--limit must bound scoring without being confused with shortlist size",
+        )
+
+    def test_step1_applies_limit_after_eligibility_filters(self):
+        step1 = self.sections.get("Step 1: Load State", "")
+        self.assertIn("Apply `--limit` after those filters", step1)
+        self.assertIn("count every remaining eligible candidate as deferred", step1)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "keep their current status",
+            step1,
+            "deferred jobs must remain eligible for a later run",
+        )
+
+    def test_step5_reports_deferral_and_how_to_continue(self):
+        report = self.sections.get("Job Ranking - YYYY-MM-DD", "")
+        self.assertIn("jobs deferred", report)
+        self.assertIn("re-run `/rank` to continue", report)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()