diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index b2ec31e2..b9ec41b2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@ ai-devkit skill list --global --env claude codex
 ai-devkit memory store
 ```
 
+## UI Formatting Standards
+
+Shared CLI presentation helpers live in `src/util/`. Commands should use
+`status.ts` for status labels and chalk colors, `time-format.ts` for relative
+or `Mon D · HH:mm` time labels with an injectable `now` clock, and
+`pluralize.ts` for count labels. Keep JSON output independent from these
+terminal-only helpers so machine-readable shapes stay stable.
+
 Template example:
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/pluralize.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/pluralize.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..59745082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/pluralize.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import { pluralize } from "../../util/pluralize.js";
+
+describe("pluralize util", () => {
+  it("uses the singular word for exactly one item", () => {
+    expect(pluralize(1, "provider")).toBe("1 provider");
+  });
+
+  it("appends s for other counts by default", () => {
+    expect(pluralize(0, "provider")).toBe("0 providers");
+    expect(pluralize(2, "provider")).toBe("2 providers");
+  });
+
+  it("uses an explicit plural word when provided", () => {
+    expect(pluralize(2, "entry", "entries")).toBe("2 entries");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/status.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e81fc526
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import chalk from "chalk";
+import {
+  colorStatus,
+  getStatusDisplay,
+  getStatusKeyByLabel,
+  STATUS_DISPLAY,
+} from "../../util/status.js";
+
+describe("status util", () => {
+  it("maps status keys to labels and colors", () => {
+    expect(STATUS_DISPLAY.ok).toEqual({ label: "OK", color: "green" });
+    expect(STATUS_DISPLAY.limited).toEqual({
+      label: "LIMITED",
+      color: "yellow",
+    });
+    expect(STATUS_DISPLAY["not-authenticated"]).toEqual({
+      label: "NOT AUTHENTICATED",
+      color: "yellow",
+    });
+    expect(STATUS_DISPLAY.exhausted).toEqual({
+      label: "EXHAUSTED",
+      color: "red",
+    });
+    expect(STATUS_DISPLAY.unknown).toEqual({
+      label: "UNKNOWN",
+      color: "dim",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to unknown display values for unsupported keys", () => {
+    expect(getStatusDisplay("missing")).toEqual(STATUS_DISPLAY.unknown);
+  });
+
+  it("finds a status key by its display label", () => {
+    expect(getStatusKeyByLabel("LIMITED")).toBe("limited");
+    expect(getStatusKeyByLabel(" NOT AUTHENTICATED ")).toBe(
+      "not-authenticated",
+    );
+    expect(getStatusKeyByLabel("missing")).toBe("unknown");
+  });
+
+  it("colors labels with the mapped chalk color", () => {
+    expect(colorStatus("ok")).toBe(chalk.green("OK"));
+    expect(colorStatus("missing")).toBe(chalk.dim("UNKNOWN"));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/time-format.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/time-format.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2aa49564
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/util/time-format.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import {
+  formatClockTime,
+  formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime,
+} from "../../util/time-format.js";
+
+const now = new Date("2026-08-09T10:00:00.000Z");
+const localClock = (date: Date) =>
+  `${String(date.getHours()).padStart(2, "0")}:${String(date.getMinutes()).padStart(2, "0")}`;
+
+describe("time format util", () => {
+  it("formats local clock time as HH:mm", () => {
+    expect(formatClockTime(new Date(2026, 0, 5, 3, 4))).toBe("03:04");
+    expect(formatClockTime(new Date(2026, 0, 5, 23, 59))).toBe("23:59");
+  });
+
+  it("formats nearby future times with relative labels and clock time", () => {
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T10:05:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`in 5m · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-09T10:05:00.000Z"))}`);
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T14:53:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`in 4h 53m · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-09T14:53:00.000Z"))}`);
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T12:00:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`in 2h · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-09T12:00:00.000Z"))}`);
+  });
+
+  it("formats nearby past times with relative labels and clock time", () => {
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T09:55:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`5m ago · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-09T09:55:00.000Z"))}`);
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T07:07:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`2h 53m ago · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-09T07:07:00.000Z"))}`);
+  });
+
+  it("formats distant times as Mon D plus clock time", () => {
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-09-01T00:52:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`Sep 1 · ${localClock(new Date("2026-09-01T00:52:00.000Z"))}`);
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-01T00:52:00.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(`Aug 1 · ${localClock(new Date("2026-08-01T00:52:00.000Z"))}`);
+  });
+
+  it("returns fallback text for missing, invalid, or effectively current times", () => {
+    expect(formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime(null, { now: () => now })).toBe("—");
+    expect(formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("nope", { now: () => now })).toBe("—");
+    expect(
+      formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime("2026-08-09T10:00:10.000Z", {
+        now: () => now,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("now");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/capacity/render.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/capacity/render.ts
index 46f263fc..609562db 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/capacity/render.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/capacity/render.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,18 @@
 import chalk from "chalk";
 import { ui } from "../../util/terminal-ui.js";
+import {
+  colorStatus,
+  getStatusDisplay,
+  getStatusKeyByLabel,
+  type StatusKey,
+} from "../../util/status.js";
+import { formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime } from "../../util/time-format.js";
+import { pluralize } from "../../util/pluralize.js";
 import type { CapacityReport, CapacityWindow } from "@ai-devkit/agent-manager";
 
 const BAR_WIDTH = 10;
 const ELEVATED_USAGE = 70;
 const HIGH_USAGE = 90;
-const MONTHS = [
-  "Jan",
-  "Feb",
-  "Mar",
-  "Apr",
-  "May",
-  "Jun",
-  "Jul",
-  "Aug",
-  "Sep",
-  "Oct",
-  "Nov",
-  "Dec",
-];
 const PROVIDER_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
   zai: "z.ai",
   openai: "OpenAI",
@@ -35,30 +29,19 @@ function percent(value: number | null): string {
   return `${Number.isInteger(value) ? value : value.toFixed(1)}%`;
 }
 
-type ReportStatus = keyof typeof STATUS_STYLES;
-
-const STATUS_STYLES = {
-  OK: chalk.green,
-  LIMITED: chalk.yellow,
-  "NOT AUTHENTICATED": chalk.yellow,
-  EXHAUSTED: chalk.red,
-  UNKNOWN: chalk.dim,
-} as const;
-
-function reportStatus(report: CapacityReport): ReportStatus {
-  if (report.authenticated === false) return "NOT AUTHENTICATED";
-  if (report.available === "no") return "EXHAUSTED";
-  if (report.available === "unknown") return "UNKNOWN";
+function reportStatus(report: CapacityReport): StatusKey {
+  if (report.authenticated === false) return "not-authenticated";
+  if (report.available === "no") return "exhausted";
+  if (report.available === "unknown") return "unknown";
   const maxUsed = report.windows.reduce(
     (max, window) => Math.max(max, window.usedPercent ?? 0),
     0,
   );
-  return maxUsed >= HIGH_USAGE ? "LIMITED" : "OK";
+  return maxUsed >= HIGH_USAGE ? "limited" : "ok";
 }
 
 function statusStyle(text: string): string {
-  const style = STATUS_STYLES[text.trim() as ReportStatus] ?? chalk.dim;
-  return style(text);
+  return colorStatus(getStatusKeyByLabel(text), text);
 }
 
 function usageStyle(text: string): string {
@@ -90,24 +73,10 @@ function usageCell(window: CapacityWindow): string {
   return cell;
 }
 
-function localClock(date: Date): string {
-  return `${String(date.getHours()).padStart(2, "0")}:${String(date.getMinutes()).padStart(2, "0")}`;
-}
-
 function resetLabel(resetsAt: string | null | undefined, now: Date): string {
   if (!resetsAt) return "—";
-  const target = new Date(resetsAt);
-  if (Number.isNaN(target.getTime())) return "—";
-  const remainingMs = target.getTime() - now.getTime();
-  if (remainingMs <= 0) return "now";
-  const minutes = Math.round(remainingMs / 60000);
-  const clock = localClock(target);
-  if (minutes < 60) return `in ${minutes}m · ${clock}`;
-  const hours = Math.floor(minutes / 60);
-  const rest = minutes % 60;
-  if (minutes < 24 * 60)
-    return `in ${hours}h${rest ? ` ${rest}m` : ""} · ${clock}`;
-  return `${MONTHS[target.getMonth()]} ${target.getDate()} · ${clock}`;
+  if (new Date(resetsAt).getTime() <= now.getTime()) return "now";
+  return formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime(resetsAt, { now: () => now });
 }
 
 function sortedWindows(windows: CapacityWindow[]): CapacityWindow[] {
@@ -122,16 +91,24 @@ function sortedWindows(windows: CapacityWindow[]): CapacityWindow[] {
 
 function reportRows(report: CapacityReport, now: Date): string[][] {
   const status = reportStatus(report);
+  const statusLabel = getStatusDisplay(status).label;
   const windows = sortedWindows(report.windows);
   if (windows.length === 0) {
     return [
-      [report.harness, providerLabel(report.provider), status, "—", "—", "—"],
+      [
+        report.harness,
+        providerLabel(report.provider),
+        statusLabel,
+        "—",
+        "—",
+        "—",
+      ],
     ];
   }
   return windows.map((window) => [
     report.harness,
     providerLabel(report.provider),
-    status,
+    statusLabel,
     window.label,
     usageCell(window),
     resetLabel(window.resetsAt, now),
@@ -172,7 +149,12 @@ export function renderCapacityReports(
       `${report.harness} · ${providerLabel(report.provider)}`,
     );
     ui.breakline();
-    ui.text(`${identity} capacity · ${STATUS_STYLES[status](status)}`);
+    ui.text(
+      `${identity} capacity · ${colorStatus(
+        status,
+        getStatusDisplay(status).label,
+      )}`,
+    );
     if (report.windows.length === 0) {
       ui.text(chalk.dim("  No usage windows reported."));
     } else {
@@ -196,7 +178,7 @@ export function renderCapacityReports(
   }
 
   ui.breakline();
-  ui.text(chalk.bold(`Capacity · ${reports.length} providers`));
+  ui.text(chalk.bold(`Capacity · ${pluralize(reports.length, "provider")}`));
   ui.table({
     headers: ["Harness", "Provider", "Status", "Quota", "Usage", "Resets"],
     rows: reports.flatMap((report) => reportRows(report, now)),
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/util/pluralize.ts b/packages/cli/src/util/pluralize.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fd31661
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/util/pluralize.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+export function pluralize(
+  count: number,
+  singular: string,
+  plural = `${singular}s`,
+): string {
+  return `${count} ${count === 1 ? singular : plural}`;
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/util/status.ts b/packages/cli/src/util/status.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..69f2d07f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/util/status.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import chalk from "chalk";
+
+export type StatusColor = "green" | "yellow" | "red" | "dim";
+
+export interface StatusDisplay {
+  label: string;
+  color: StatusColor;
+}
+
+export const STATUS_DISPLAY = {
+  ok: { label: "OK", color: "green" },
+  limited: { label: "LIMITED", color: "yellow" },
+  "not-authenticated": { label: "NOT AUTHENTICATED", color: "yellow" },
+  exhausted: { label: "EXHAUSTED", color: "red" },
+  unknown: { label: "UNKNOWN", color: "dim" },
+} as const satisfies Record<string, StatusDisplay>;
+
+export type StatusKey = keyof typeof STATUS_DISPLAY;
+
+export function getStatusDisplay(status: string): StatusDisplay {
+  return STATUS_DISPLAY[status as StatusKey] ?? STATUS_DISPLAY.unknown;
+}
+
+export function getStatusKeyByLabel(label: string): StatusKey {
+  return (
+    (Object.entries(STATUS_DISPLAY).find(
+      ([, display]) => display.label === label.trim(),
+    )?.[0] as StatusKey | undefined) ?? "unknown"
+  );
+}
+
+export function colorStatus(status: string, text?: string): string {
+  const display = getStatusDisplay(status);
+  return chalk[display.color](text ?? display.label);
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/util/time-format.ts b/packages/cli/src/util/time-format.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76c89c2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/util/time-format.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+const MONTHS = [
+  "Jan",
+  "Feb",
+  "Mar",
+  "Apr",
+  "May",
+  "Jun",
+  "Jul",
+  "Aug",
+  "Sep",
+  "Oct",
+  "Nov",
+  "Dec",
+];
+
+const MINUTE_MS = 60_000;
+const HOUR_MINUTES = 60;
+const DAY_MINUTES = 24 * HOUR_MINUTES;
+
+export interface RelativeOrAbsoluteTimeOptions {
+  now?: () => Date;
+  fallback?: string;
+}
+
+export function formatClockTime(date: Date): string {
+  return `${String(date.getHours()).padStart(2, "0")}:${String(date.getMinutes()).padStart(2, "0")}`;
+}
+
+export function formatRelativeOrAbsoluteTime(
+  value: string | Date | null | undefined,
+  options: RelativeOrAbsoluteTimeOptions = {},
+): string {
+  const fallback = options.fallback ?? "—";
+  if (!value) return fallback;
+
+  const target = value instanceof Date ? value : new Date(value);
+  if (Number.isNaN(target.getTime())) return fallback;
+
+  const now = options.now?.() ?? new Date();
+  const deltaMinutes = Math.round(
+    (target.getTime() - now.getTime()) / MINUTE_MS,
+  );
+  const absoluteMinutes = Math.abs(deltaMinutes);
+  const clock = formatClockTime(target);
+
+  if (absoluteMinutes === 0) return "now";
+
+  if (absoluteMinutes < HOUR_MINUTES) {
+    return relativeLabel(deltaMinutes, `${absoluteMinutes}m`, clock);
+  }
+
+  if (absoluteMinutes < DAY_MINUTES) {
+    const hours = Math.floor(absoluteMinutes / HOUR_MINUTES);
+    const minutes = absoluteMinutes % HOUR_MINUTES;
+    const duration = `${hours}h${minutes ? ` ${minutes}m` : ""}`;
+    return relativeLabel(deltaMinutes, duration, clock);
+  }
+
+  return `${MONTHS[target.getMonth()]} ${target.getDate()} · ${clock}`;
+}
+
+function relativeLabel(
+  deltaMinutes: number,
+  duration: string,
+  clock: string,
+): string {
+  return deltaMinutes > 0
+    ? `in ${duration} · ${clock}`
+    : `${duration} ago · ${clock}`;
+}