diff --git a/.changeset/fix_sidebar_badge_alignment.md b/.changeset/fix_sidebar_badge_alignment.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65f35747f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix_sidebar_badge_alignment.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+default: patch
+---
+
+Fix sidebar notification badge positioning so unread and unverified counts align consistently.
diff --git a/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.test.tsx b/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dbcaa5cac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { SidebarItem } from './SidebarItem';
+import { SidebarCountBadge } from './SidebarCountBadge';
+
+describe('SidebarCountBadge', () => {
+  it('uses the UnverifiedTab top-left numbered badge anchor', () => {
+    const { container, getByText } = render(<SidebarCountBadge variant="Warning" count={1} />);
+
+    expect(container.firstElementChild).toHaveStyle({
+      top: '-0.375rem',
+      left: '-0.375rem',
+      right: 'auto',
+    });
+    expect(getByText('1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the top-left anchor even when the parent contains a data-id button', () => {
+    const { container } = render(
+      <SidebarItem>
+        <button type="button" data-id="space-id">
+          space
+        </button>
+        <SidebarCountBadge variant="Warning" count={1} />
+      </SidebarItem>
+    );
+
+    const badge = container.querySelector('div[class*="Sidebar_SidebarItemBadge"]');
+    expect(badge).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(badge).toHaveStyle({
+      top: '-0.375rem',
+      left: '-0.375rem',
+      right: 'auto',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.tsx b/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6ce6de29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/sidebar/SidebarCountBadge.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { Badge, Text, toRem } from 'folds';
+import { millify } from '$plugins/millify';
+import { SidebarItemBadge } from './SidebarItem';
+
+type SidebarCountBadgeProps = {
+  count: number;
+  variant: 'Warning' | 'Success' | 'Secondary';
+};
+
+export function SidebarCountBadge({ count, variant }: Readonly<SidebarCountBadgeProps>) {
+  return (
+    <SidebarItemBadge hasCount style={{ top: toRem(-6), left: toRem(-6), right: 'auto' }}>
+      <Badge variant={variant} size="400" fill="Solid" radii="Pill" outlined={false}>
+        <Text as="span" size="L400">
+          {millify(count)}
+        </Text>
+      </Badge>
+    </SidebarItemBadge>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/app/components/sidebar/index.ts b/src/app/components/sidebar/index.ts
index 49e15b3e1..ba272a90f 100644
--- a/src/app/components/sidebar/index.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/sidebar/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 export * from './Sidebar';
+export * from './SidebarCountBadge';
 export * from './SidebarItem';
 export * from './SidebarContent';
 export * from './SidebarStack';
diff --git a/src/app/components/unread-badge/UnreadBadge.tsx b/src/app/components/unread-badge/UnreadBadge.tsx
index 1ad2605ab..cb7c0b2b5 100644
--- a/src/app/components/unread-badge/UnreadBadge.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/unread-badge/UnreadBadge.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { millify } from '$plugins/millify';
 import { useSetting } from '$state/hooks/settings';
 import { settingsAtom } from '$state/settings';
 
-type UnreadBadgeProps = {
+export type UnreadBadgeProps = {
   highlight?: boolean;
   count: number;
   /** Whether this badge belongs to a DM room. Used with the badgeCountDMsOnly setting. */
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/AccountSwitcherTab.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/AccountSwitcherTab.tsx
index 75a7d099b..18ba4a568 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/AccountSwitcherTab.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/AccountSwitcherTab.tsx
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ import {
   backgroundUnreadCountsAtom,
 } from '$state/sessions';
 import {
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
   SidebarAvatar,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { UserAvatar } from '$components/user-avatar';
 import { nameInitials } from '$utils/common';
@@ -287,12 +287,10 @@ export function AccountSwitcherTab() {
         )}
       </SidebarItemTooltip>
       {(totalBackgroundUnread > 0 || anyBackgroundHighlight) && (
-        <SidebarItemBadge hasCount style={{ left: toRem(-6), right: 'auto' }}>
-          <UnreadBadge
-            highlight={anyBackgroundHighlight}
-            count={anyBackgroundHighlight ? totalBackgroundHighlight : totalBackgroundUnread}
-          />
-        </SidebarItemBadge>
+        <SidebarCountBadge
+          variant={anyBackgroundHighlight ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+          count={anyBackgroundHighlight ? totalBackgroundHighlight : totalBackgroundUnread}
+        />
       )}
 
       <PopOut
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectDMsList.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectDMsList.tsx
index 0c01c57d7..371b64497 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectDMsList.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectDMsList.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useMemo, useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
 import * as Sentry from '@sentry/react';
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { Avatar, Text, Box, toRem } from 'folds';
+import { Avatar, Text, Box } from 'folds';
 import { useAtomValue } from 'jotai';
 import { Room } from '$types/matrix-sdk';
 import { useMatrixClient } from '$hooks/useMatrixClient';
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@ import { roomToUnreadAtom } from '$state/room/roomToUnread';
 import { getDirectRoomPath } from '$pages/pathUtils';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
-import { UnreadBadge } from '$components/unread-badge';
 import { RoomAvatar } from '$components/room-avatar';
 import { UserAvatar } from '$components/user-avatar';
 import { getDirectRoomAvatarUrl } from '$utils/room';
@@ -139,19 +138,10 @@ function DMItem({ room, selected }: DMItemProps) {
         )}
       </SidebarItemTooltip>
       {unread && (unread.total > 0 || unread.highlight > 0) && (
-        <SidebarItemBadge
-          hasCount={unread.total > 0}
-          style={{
-            left: unread.total > 0 ? toRem(-6) : toRem(-4),
-            right: 'auto',
-          }}
-        >
-          <UnreadBadge
-            highlight={unread.highlight > 0}
-            count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
-            dm
-          />
-        </SidebarItemBadge>
+        <SidebarCountBadge
+          variant={unread.highlight > 0 ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+          count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
+        />
       )}
     </SidebarItem>
   );
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectTab.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectTab.tsx
index a1ff6ff58..362f0260f 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectTab.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/DirectTab.tsx
@@ -12,12 +12,11 @@ import { getDirectPath, joinPathComponent } from '$pages/pathUtils';
 import { useRoomsUnread } from '$state/hooks/unread';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { useDirectSelected } from '$hooks/router/useDirectSelected';
-import { UnreadBadge } from '$components/unread-badge';
 import { ScreenSize, useScreenSizeContext } from '$hooks/useScreenSize';
 import { useNavToActivePathAtom } from '$state/hooks/navToActivePath';
 import { markAsRead } from '$utils/notifications';
@@ -115,19 +114,10 @@ export function DirectTab() {
         )}
       </SidebarItemTooltip>
       {directUnread && (
-        <SidebarItemBadge
-          hasCount={directUnread.total > 0}
-          style={{
-            left: directUnread.total > 0 ? toRem(-6) : toRem(-4),
-            right: 'auto',
-          }}
-        >
-          <UnreadBadge
-            highlight={directUnread.highlight > 0}
-            count={directUnread.highlight > 0 ? directUnread.highlight : directUnread.total}
-            dm
-          />
-        </SidebarItemBadge>
+        <SidebarCountBadge
+          variant={directUnread.highlight > 0 ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+          count={directUnread.highlight > 0 ? directUnread.highlight : directUnread.total}
+        />
       )}
       {menuAnchor && (
         <PopOut
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/HomeTab.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/HomeTab.tsx
index 7401e4233..2f14c8eb5 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/HomeTab.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/HomeTab.tsx
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@ import { getHomePath, joinPathComponent } from '$pages/pathUtils';
 import { useRoomsUnread } from '$state/hooks/unread';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { useHomeSelected } from '$hooks/router/useHomeSelected';
-import { UnreadBadge } from '$components/unread-badge';
 import { ScreenSize, useScreenSizeContext } from '$hooks/useScreenSize';
 import { useNavToActivePathAtom } from '$state/hooks/navToActivePath';
 import { markAsRead } from '$utils/notifications';
@@ -109,18 +108,10 @@ export function HomeTab() {
         )}
       </SidebarItemTooltip>
       {homeUnread && (
-        <SidebarItemBadge
-          hasCount={homeUnread.total > 0}
-          style={{
-            left: homeUnread.total > 0 ? toRem(-6) : toRem(-4),
-            right: 'auto',
-          }}
-        >
-          <UnreadBadge
-            highlight={homeUnread.highlight > 0}
-            count={homeUnread.highlight > 0 ? homeUnread.highlight : homeUnread.total}
-          />
-        </SidebarItemBadge>
+        <SidebarCountBadge
+          variant={homeUnread.highlight > 0 ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+          count={homeUnread.highlight > 0 ? homeUnread.highlight : homeUnread.total}
+        />
       )}
       {menuAnchor && (
         <PopOut
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/InboxTab.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/InboxTab.tsx
index 9488d1029..31eaa4ab1 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/InboxTab.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/InboxTab.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { Icon, Icons, toRem } from 'folds';
+import { Icon, Icons } from 'folds';
 import { useAtomValue } from 'jotai';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { allInvitesAtom } from '$state/room-list/inviteList';
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
   joinPathComponent,
 } from '$pages/pathUtils';
 import { useInboxSelected } from '$hooks/router/useInbox';
-import { UnreadBadge } from '$components/unread-badge';
 import { ScreenSize, useScreenSizeContext } from '$hooks/useScreenSize';
 import { useNavToActivePathAtom } from '$state/hooks/navToActivePath';
 
@@ -51,11 +50,7 @@ export function InboxTab() {
           </SidebarAvatar>
         )}
       </SidebarItemTooltip>
-      {inviteCount > 0 && (
-        <SidebarItemBadge hasCount style={{ left: toRem(-6), right: 'auto' }}>
-          <UnreadBadge highlight count={inviteCount} />
-        </SidebarItemBadge>
-      )}
+      {inviteCount > 0 && <SidebarCountBadge variant="Success" count={inviteCount} />}
     </SidebarItem>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/SpaceTabs.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/SpaceTabs.tsx
index c751f00cb..5cadc0c66 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/SpaceTabs.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/SpaceTabs.tsx
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ import { allRoomsAtom } from '$state/room-list/roomList';
 import { getSpaceLobbyPath, getSpacePath, joinPathComponent } from '$pages/pathUtils';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
   SidebarStack,
   SidebarStackSeparator,
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ import {
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { RoomUnreadProvider, RoomsUnreadProvider } from '$components/RoomUnreadProvider';
 import { useSelectedSpace } from '$hooks/router/useSelectedSpace';
-import { UnreadBadge } from '$components/unread-badge';
 import { getCanonicalAliasOrRoomId, isRoomAlias } from '$utils/matrix';
 import { RoomAvatar } from '$components/room-avatar';
 import { nameInitials, randomStr } from '$utils/common';
@@ -465,18 +464,10 @@ function SpaceTab({
             )}
           </SidebarItemTooltip>
           {unread && (
-            <SidebarItemBadge
-              hasCount={unread.total > 0}
-              style={{
-                left: unread.total > 0 ? toRem(-6) : toRem(-4),
-                right: 'auto',
-              }}
-            >
-              <UnreadBadge
-                highlight={unread.highlight > 0}
-                count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
-              />
-            </SidebarItemBadge>
+            <SidebarCountBadge
+              variant={unread.highlight > 0 ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+              count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
+            />
           )}
           {menuAnchor && (
             <PopOut
@@ -606,18 +597,10 @@ function ClosedSpaceFolder({
             )}
           </SidebarItemTooltip>
           {unread && (
-            <SidebarItemBadge
-              hasCount={unread.total > 0}
-              style={{
-                left: unread.total > 0 ? toRem(-6) : toRem(-4),
-                right: 'auto',
-              }}
-            >
-              <UnreadBadge
-                highlight={unread.highlight > 0}
-                count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
-              />
-            </SidebarItemBadge>
+            <SidebarCountBadge
+              variant={unread.highlight > 0 ? 'Success' : 'Secondary'}
+              count={unread.highlight > 0 ? unread.highlight : unread.total}
+            />
           )}
         </SidebarItem>
       )}
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/UnverifiedTab.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/UnverifiedTab.tsx
index a6c446b44..745fbdd8d 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/UnverifiedTab.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/sidebar/UnverifiedTab.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
-import { Badge, color, Icon, Icons, Text, toRem } from 'folds';
+import { color, Icon, Icons } from 'folds';
 import {
   SidebarAvatar,
+  SidebarCountBadge,
   SidebarItem,
-  SidebarItemBadge,
   SidebarItemTooltip,
 } from '$components/sidebar';
 import { useDeviceIds, useDeviceList, useSplitCurrentDevice } from '$hooks/useDeviceList';
@@ -66,13 +66,7 @@ function UnverifiedIndicator() {
             )}
           </SidebarItemTooltip>
           {!unverified && unverifiedDeviceCount && unverifiedDeviceCount > 0 && (
-            <SidebarItemBadge hasCount style={{ left: toRem(-6), right: 'auto' }}>
-              <Badge variant="Warning" size="400" fill="Solid" radii="Pill" outlined={false}>
-                <Text as="span" size="L400">
-                  {unverifiedDeviceCount}
-                </Text>
-              </Badge>
-            </SidebarItemBadge>
+            <SidebarCountBadge count={unverifiedDeviceCount} variant="Warning" />
           )}
         </SidebarItem>
       )}