diff --git a/app/controllers/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies_controller.rb
index 1807d6afb..0150cb677 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies_controller.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ class Api::V1::Accounts::AssignmentPoliciesController < Api::V1::Accounts::BaseC
   def assignment_policy_params
     params.require(:assignment_policy).permit(
       :name, :description, :assignment_order, :conversation_priority,
-      :fair_distribution_limit, :fair_distribution_window, :enabled
+      :fair_distribution_limit, :fair_distribution_window, :enabled,
+      :exclude_older_than_hours
     )
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/i18n/locale/en/settings.json b/app/javascript/dashboard/i18n/locale/en/settings.json
index 5e2543698..0a87b4cbe 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/i18n/locale/en/settings.json
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/i18n/locale/en/settings.json
@@ -798,10 +798,14 @@
         },
         "FAIR_DISTRIBUTION": {
           "LABEL": "Fair distribution policy",
-          "DESCRIPTION": "Set the maximum number of conversations that can be assigned per agent within a time window to avoid overloading any one agent. This required field defaults to 100 conversations per hour.",
+          "DESCRIPTION": "Cap conversations per agent within a time window to avoid overload. Defaults to 100 per hour.",
           "INPUT_MAX": "Assign max",
           "DURATION": "Conversations per agent in every"
         },
+        "EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN": {
+          "LABEL": "Skip stale conversations",
+          "DESCRIPTION": "Skip unassigned conversations older than this. Defaults to 7 days; clear to disable."
+        },
         "INBOXES": {
           "LABEL": "Added inboxes",
           "DESCRIPTION": "Add inboxes for which this policy will be applicable.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/constants.js b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/constants.js
index 350faa60c..028688c75 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/constants.js
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/constants.js
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ export const LONGEST_WAITING = 'longest_waiting';
 export const DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_LIMIT = 100;
 export const DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_WINDOW = 3600;
 
+// Default age threshold for excluding stale unassigned conversations (7 days)
+export const DEFAULT_EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN_HOURS = 168;
+
 // Options groupings
 export const OPTIONS = {
   ORDER: [ROUND_ROBIN, BALANCED],
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/AgentAssignmentEditPage.vue b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/AgentAssignmentEditPage.vue
index dfae60350..0550e7364 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/AgentAssignmentEditPage.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/AgentAssignmentEditPage.vue
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ const formData = computed(() => ({
     selectedPolicy.value?.conversationPriority || EARLIEST_CREATED,
   fairDistributionLimit: selectedPolicy.value?.fairDistributionLimit || 100,
   fairDistributionWindow: selectedPolicy.value?.fairDistributionWindow || 3600,
+  excludeOlderThanHours: selectedPolicy.value?.excludeOlderThanHours ?? null,
 }));
 
 const handleDeleteInbox = async inboxId => {
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/components/AgentAssignmentPolicyForm.vue b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/components/AgentAssignmentPolicyForm.vue
index cbf22b4d2..36c131ee2 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/components/AgentAssignmentPolicyForm.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/pages/components/AgentAssignmentPolicyForm.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import RadioCard from 'dashboard/components-next/radioCard/RadioCard.vue';
 import FairDistribution from 'dashboard/components-next/AssignmentPolicy/components/FairDistribution.vue';
 import DataTable from 'dashboard/components-next/AssignmentPolicy/components/DataTable.vue';
 import AddDataDropdown from 'dashboard/components-next/AssignmentPolicy/components/AddDataDropdown.vue';
+import DurationInput from 'dashboard/components-next/input/DurationInput.vue';
+import { DURATION_UNITS } from 'dashboard/components-next/input/constants';
 import WithLabel from 'v3/components/Form/WithLabel.vue';
 import Button from 'dashboard/components-next/button/Button.vue';
 import {
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   EARLIEST_CREATED,
   DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_LIMIT,
   DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_WINDOW,
+  DEFAULT_EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN_HOURS,
 } from 'dashboard/routes/dashboard/settings/assignmentPolicy/constants';
 
 const props = defineProps({
@@ -28,6 +31,7 @@ const props = defineProps({
       conversationPriority: EARLIEST_CREATED,
       fairDistributionLimit: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_LIMIT,
       fairDistributionWindow: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_WINDOW,
+      excludeOlderThanHours: DEFAULT_EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN_HOURS,
     }),
   },
   mode: {
@@ -56,7 +60,6 @@ const props = defineProps({
     default: false,
   },
 });
-
 const emit = defineEmits([
   'submit',
   'addInbox',
@@ -64,6 +67,9 @@ const emit = defineEmits([
   'navigateToInbox',
   'validationChange',
 ]);
+// Duration limits for the stale-conversation threshold: 1 hour to 999 days (in minutes)
+const MIN_EXCLUSION_MINUTES = 60;
+const MAX_EXCLUSION_MINUTES = 1438560;
 
 const { t } = useI18n();
 const route = useRoute();
@@ -83,12 +89,28 @@ const state = reactive({
   conversationPriority: EARLIEST_CREATED,
   fairDistributionLimit: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_LIMIT,
   fairDistributionWindow: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_WINDOW,
+  excludeOlderThanHours: DEFAULT_EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN_HOURS,
 });
 
 const validationState = ref({
   isValid: false,
 });
 
+const exclusionUnit = ref(DURATION_UNITS.DAYS);
+
+// DurationInput works in minutes; the policy stores hours, so bridge the two
+const excludeOlderThanMinutes = computed({
+  get() {
+    return state.excludeOlderThanHours == null
+      ? null
+      : state.excludeOlderThanHours * 60;
+  },
+  set(minutes) {
+    state.excludeOlderThanHours =
+      minutes == null ? null : Math.round(minutes / 60);
+  },
+});
+
 const createOption = (
   type,
   key,
@@ -170,6 +192,7 @@ const resetForm = () => {
     conversationPriority: EARLIEST_CREATED,
     fairDistributionLimit: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_LIMIT,
     fairDistributionWindow: DEFAULT_FAIR_DISTRIBUTION_WINDOW,
+    excludeOlderThanHours: DEFAULT_EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN_HOURS,
   });
 };
 
@@ -177,10 +200,17 @@ const handleSubmit = () => {
   emit('submit', { ...state });
 };
 
+// Pick the display unit from the stored value so non-day thresholds (e.g. 25h) don't get floored
+const detectExclusionUnit = hours => {
+  exclusionUnit.value =
+    hours && hours % 24 !== 0 ? DURATION_UNITS.HOURS : DURATION_UNITS.DAYS;
+};
+
 watch(
   () => props.initialData,
   newData => {
     Object.assign(state, newData);
+    detectExclusionUnit(newData.excludeOlderThanHours);
   },
   { immediate: true, deep: true }
 );
@@ -247,6 +277,27 @@ defineExpose({
           v-model:window-unit="state.windowUnit"
         />
       </div>
+
+      <div class="pt-4 pb-2 flex-col flex gap-4">
+        <div class="flex flex-col items-start gap-1 py-1">
+          <label class="text-sm font-medium text-n-slate-12 py-1">
+            {{ t(`${BASE_KEY}.FORM.EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN.LABEL`) }}
+          </label>
+          <p class="mb-0 text-n-slate-11 text-sm">
+            {{ t(`${BASE_KEY}.FORM.EXCLUDE_OLDER_THAN.DESCRIPTION`) }}
+          </p>
+        </div>
+        <div
+          class="flex items-center gap-2 [&>select]:!bg-n-alpha-2 [&>select]:!outline-none [&>select]:hover:brightness-110"
+        >
+          <DurationInput
+            v-model:unit="exclusionUnit"
+            v-model:model-value="excludeOlderThanMinutes"
+            :min="MIN_EXCLUSION_MINUTES"
+            :max="MAX_EXCLUSION_MINUTES"
+          />
+        </div>
+      </div>
     </div>
 
     <Button
diff --git a/app/models/assignment_policy.rb b/app/models/assignment_policy.rb
index a76893d61..69b619581 100644
--- a/app/models/assignment_policy.rb
+++ b/app/models/assignment_policy.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #  conversation_priority    :integer          default("earliest_created"), not null
 #  description              :text
 #  enabled                  :boolean          default(TRUE), not null
+#  exclude_older_than_hours :integer          default(168)
 #  fair_distribution_limit  :integer          default(100), not null
 #  fair_distribution_window :integer          default(3600), not null
 #  name                     :string(255)      not null
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ class AssignmentPolicy < ApplicationRecord
   validates :name, presence: true, uniqueness: { scope: :account_id }
   validates :fair_distribution_limit, numericality: { greater_than: 0 }
   validates :fair_distribution_window, numericality: { greater_than: 0 }
+  validates :exclude_older_than_hours, numericality: { only_integer: true, greater_than: 0 }, allow_nil: true
 
   enum conversation_priority: { earliest_created: 0, longest_waiting: 1 }
 
diff --git a/app/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb b/app/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
index 0ad8a9004..c4c494d57 100644
--- a/app/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
@@ -35,8 +35,11 @@ class AutoAssignment::AssignmentService
   def unassigned_conversations(limit)
     scope = inbox.conversations.unassigned.open
 
-    # Apply conversation priority using assignment policy if available
+    # Skip stale backlog with no activity beyond the policy's age threshold (defaults to 7 days)
     policy = inbox.assignment_policy
+    scope = apply_age_exclusions(scope, policy&.exclude_older_than_hours)
+
+    # Apply conversation priority using assignment policy if available
     scope = if policy&.longest_waiting?
               scope.reorder(last_activity_at: :asc, created_at: :asc)
             else
@@ -46,6 +49,16 @@ class AutoAssignment::AssignmentService
     scope.limit(limit)
   end
 
+  def apply_age_exclusions(scope, hours_threshold)
+    return scope if hours_threshold.blank?
+
+    hours = hours_threshold.to_i
+    return scope unless hours.positive?
+
+    # Use last_activity_at so reopened/active conversations aren't excluded by their original created_at
+    scope.where('conversations.last_activity_at >= ?', hours.hours.ago)
+  end
+
   def find_available_agent(conversation = nil)
     agents = filter_agents_by_team(inbox.available_agents, conversation)
     return nil if agents.nil?
diff --git a/app/views/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies/_assignment_policy.json.jbuilder b/app/views/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies/_assignment_policy.json.jbuilder
index cf09a2949..b55c229b1 100644
--- a/app/views/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies/_assignment_policy.json.jbuilder
+++ b/app/views/api/v1/accounts/assignment_policies/_assignment_policy.json.jbuilder
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ json.assignment_order assignment_policy.assignment_order
 json.conversation_priority assignment_policy.conversation_priority
 json.fair_distribution_limit assignment_policy.fair_distribution_limit
 json.fair_distribution_window assignment_policy.fair_distribution_window
+json.exclude_older_than_hours assignment_policy.exclude_older_than_hours
 json.enabled assignment_policy.enabled
 json.assigned_inbox_count assignment_policy.inboxes.count
 json.created_at assignment_policy.created_at.to_i
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260617000000_add_exclude_older_than_hours_to_assignment_policies.rb b/db/migrate/20260617000000_add_exclude_older_than_hours_to_assignment_policies.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9a1b23b1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20260617000000_add_exclude_older_than_hours_to_assignment_policies.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+class AddExcludeOlderThanHoursToAssignmentPolicies < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]
+  def change
+    # Default 168 hours (7 days); nil disables the age exclusion for the policy
+    add_column :assignment_policies, :exclude_older_than_hours, :integer, default: 168
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index a3513ca83..15ba36cb6 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema[7.1].define(version: 2026_06_20_000000) do
     t.boolean "enabled", default: true, null: false
     t.datetime "created_at", null: false
     t.datetime "updated_at", null: false
+    t.integer "exclude_older_than_hours", default: 168
     t.index ["account_id", "name"], name: "index_assignment_policies_on_account_id_and_name", unique: true
     t.index ["account_id"], name: "index_assignment_policies_on_account_id"
     t.index ["enabled"], name: "index_assignment_policies_on_enabled"
diff --git a/enterprise/app/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb b/enterprise/app/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
index 66cdc31e5..36bbb6c90 100644
--- a/enterprise/app/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
+++ b/enterprise/app/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ module Enterprise::AutoAssignment::AssignmentService
   def unassigned_conversations(limit)
     scope = inbox.conversations.unassigned.open
 
-    # Apply exclusion rules from capacity policy or assignment policy
+    # First apply the assignment policy's age exclusion (defaults to 7 days)
+    scope = apply_age_exclusions(scope, policy&.exclude_older_than_hours)
+
+    # Then apply the capacity policy's exclusion rules (labels and age)
     scope = apply_exclusion_rules(scope)
 
     # Apply conversation priority using enum methods if policy exists
@@ -86,13 +89,4 @@ module Enterprise::AutoAssignment::AssignmentService
 
     scope.tagged_with(excluded_labels, exclude: true, on: :labels)
   end
-
-  def apply_age_exclusions(scope, hours_threshold)
-    return scope if hours_threshold.blank?
-
-    hours = hours_threshold.to_i
-    return scope unless hours.positive?
-
-    scope.where('conversations.created_at >= ?', hours.hours.ago)
-  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/enterprise/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb b/spec/enterprise/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
index ba1a3eec0..f0b18c57a 100644
--- a/spec/enterprise/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/enterprise/services/enterprise/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ RSpec.describe Enterprise::AutoAssignment::AssignmentService, type: :service do
     end
 
     context 'when excluding conversations by age' do
-      let!(:old_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 25.hours.ago) }
-      let!(:recent_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 1.hour.ago) }
+      let!(:old_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 25.hours.ago) }
+      let!(:recent_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago) }
 
       before do
         capacity_policy.update!(exclusion_rules: {
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ RSpec.describe Enterprise::AutoAssignment::AssignmentService, type: :service do
     context 'when combining exclusion rules' do
       it 'applies both exclusion rules' do
         # Create conversations
-        old_conversation_with_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 25.hours.ago)
-        old_conversation_without_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 25.hours.ago)
-        recent_conversation_with_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 1.hour.ago)
-        recent_conversation_without_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, created_at: 1.hour.ago)
+        old_conversation_with_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 25.hours.ago)
+        old_conversation_without_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 25.hours.ago)
+        recent_conversation_with_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago)
+        recent_conversation_without_label = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago)
 
         # Add labels
         old_conversation_with_label.update_labels([label1.title])
@@ -182,5 +182,23 @@ RSpec.describe Enterprise::AutoAssignment::AssignmentService, type: :service do
         expect(conversation2.reload.assignee).to be_present
       end
     end
+
+    context 'when excluding by age via the assignment policy' do
+      let!(:old_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 25.hours.ago) }
+      let!(:recent_conversation) { create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago) }
+
+      before do
+        InboxCapacityLimit.destroy_all
+        assignment_policy.update!(exclude_older_than_hours: 24)
+      end
+
+      it 'skips conversations older than the policy threshold without a capacity policy' do
+        assigned_count = assignment_service.perform_bulk_assignment(limit: 10)
+
+        expect(assigned_count).to eq(1)
+        expect(old_conversation.reload.assignee).to be_nil
+        expect(recent_conversation.reload.assignee).to be_present
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/assignment_policy_spec.rb b/spec/models/assignment_policy_spec.rb
index 1a97bbda0..2eb9ac57b 100644
--- a/spec/models/assignment_policy_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/assignment_policy_spec.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,19 @@ RSpec.describe AssignmentPolicy do
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'exclude_older_than_hours validations' do
+    it 'requires exclude_older_than_hours to be greater than 0' do
+      policy = build(:assignment_policy, exclude_older_than_hours: 0)
+      expect(policy).not_to be_valid
+      expect(policy.errors[:exclude_older_than_hours]).to include('must be greater than 0')
+    end
+
+    it 'allows exclude_older_than_hours to be nil' do
+      policy = build(:assignment_policy, exclude_older_than_hours: nil)
+      expect(policy).to be_valid
+    end
+  end
+
   describe 'enum values' do
     let(:assignment_policy) { create(:assignment_policy) }
 
diff --git a/spec/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
index eb6ebf060..75dfaa532 100644
--- a/spec/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/auto_assignment/assignment_service_spec.rb
@@ -192,6 +192,55 @@ RSpec.describe AutoAssignment::AssignmentService do
       end
     end
 
+    context 'with age-based exclusion' do
+      let(:rate_limiter) { instance_double(AutoAssignment::RateLimiter) }
+
+      before do
+        allow(OnlineStatusTracker).to receive(:get_available_users).and_return({ agent.id.to_s => 'online' })
+
+        round_robin_selector = instance_double(AutoAssignment::RoundRobinSelector)
+        allow(AutoAssignment::RoundRobinSelector).to receive(:new).and_return(round_robin_selector)
+        allow(round_robin_selector).to receive(:select_agent).and_return(agent)
+
+        allow(AutoAssignment::RateLimiter).to receive(:new).and_return(rate_limiter)
+        allow(rate_limiter).to receive(:within_limit?).and_return(true)
+        allow(rate_limiter).to receive(:track_assignment)
+      end
+
+      it 'skips conversations inactive beyond the policy threshold' do
+        assignment_policy.update!(exclude_older_than_hours: 24)
+        old_conversation = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 25.hours.ago)
+        recent_conversation = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago)
+
+        assigned_count = service.perform_bulk_assignment(limit: 10)
+
+        expect(assigned_count).to eq(1)
+        expect(old_conversation.reload.assignee).to be_nil
+        expect(recent_conversation.reload.assignee).to eq(agent)
+      end
+
+      it 'assigns reopened conversations created long ago but recently active' do
+        assignment_policy.update!(exclude_older_than_hours: 24)
+        reopened_conversation = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil,
+                                                      created_at: 30.days.ago, last_activity_at: 1.hour.ago)
+
+        assigned_count = service.perform_bulk_assignment(limit: 10)
+
+        expect(assigned_count).to eq(1)
+        expect(reopened_conversation.reload.assignee).to eq(agent)
+      end
+
+      it 'assigns conversations regardless of age when threshold is nil' do
+        assignment_policy.update!(exclude_older_than_hours: nil)
+        old_conversation = create(:conversation, inbox: inbox, assignee: nil, last_activity_at: 30.days.ago)
+
+        assigned_count = service.perform_bulk_assignment(limit: 10)
+
+        expect(assigned_count).to eq(1)
+        expect(old_conversation.reload.assignee).to eq(agent)
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'with fair distribution' do
       before do
         create(:inbox_member, inbox: inbox, user: agent2)